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Two deals, 250+ jobs proposed for Jacksonville

Two new economic development proposals could mean hundreds of new jobs for Jacksonville.

An agreement known only as “Project Blaze” has been filed for consideration by the City Council.

The company is identified as an “eco-friendly haircare product manufacturer” that currently operates in the Midwest, but wants to set up a manufacturing and distribution site in the Southeast.

The project summary says the company would create 150 jobs by the end of December 2022 and would invest $11 million in manufacturing equipment, furniture, and real estate purchase and improvements at a building they have already identified on Beach Boulevard.

In exchange, they’re asking for $450,000 through the Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund, which amounts to $3,000 per job.

The City of Jacksonville would be responsible for $90,000 of the incentives, and the State would pay the rest.

Separately, the Downtown Investment Authority is poised to vote this week on whether to award incentives for “Project Wolfe”.

The business in this deal is identified as a “software solutions company” that provides IT services to several Fortune 500 cities and is currently based in Jacksonville, but is looking to establish new manufacturing operations.

The incentives could mean they locate in Downtown Jacksonville, as opposed to another city.

The DIA resolution offers the company 40 parking spaces at the Yates Garage for $40/space for five years.

A memo with the resolution indicates there may also be economic incentives offered, but those are not spelled out.

The company would commit to creating 107 new jobs by the end of December 2021, leasing office space in Downtown, and investing $1.4 million in building renovations and office equipment purchase.

“Project Wolfe” would still need to be approved by the Jacksonville City Council.

Florida law allows companies to remain anonymous publicly while negotiating these types of deals, which is why both of these projects have codenames, as opposed to identifying the business itself.