JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- City officials have confirmed to Action News a deal to bring a new Samsung distribution center to Jacksonville. It's a deal that could bring as many as 200 new jobs to the area.
Right now, piles of blueprints lay on the floor and a 400,000 square foot warehouse remains mostly vacant in Northwest Jacksonville. But the electronics giant Samsung is planning to open a massive operation here in the Westlake Industrial Park just north I-10 and just west I-295.
"Similar types of operations have led to 200 plus jobs," said Paul Crawford, executive director of Jacksonville's Office of Economic Development. The operation will impact ports, rail and interstate systems."
Crawford works to attract business to the River City and often it takes financial incentives to get big corporations to open shop here. But not this time, because Jacksonville apparently was not competing with any other city for Samsung.
"There was no other city," said Crawford, "There was no gap to meet. So we went ahead and engaged without any tax incentives."
Samsung already posted its first new job in Jacksonville for a home appliance warehouse manager. It's expected to be the first of many once this quiet warehouse gets busy.
"This is another business attracted to Jacksonville for its workforce, logistics, because of its quality of life," said Crawford.
