Daily Record Financial News &
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Vol. 105, No. 084 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Saft told to repay $320K after missing jobs target
Rummell: The District could land major HQ Developer won’t say what firm is interested in Southbank site. Developer Peter Rummell piqued interest Tuesday in a side note at his GrayRobinson Jacksonville Community Leader Forum presentation. Rummell outlined his proposed healthy-lifestyle community, The District, with these basics: The 30-acre site on the Southbank, which would be bought from JEA, would include 1,200 apartments, condominiums and to w n h o u s e s ; about 150,000 square feet of retail space that could include a greengrocer and yoga studio; “the best bars and restaurants Rummell in Jacksonville on the river;” a 4-acre riverfront park; a 150-room AC Hotel by Marriott; and a 125-slip marina. “Oh,” he added, “and we’re working right now with a major office user who will bring their headquarters Downtown.” Rummell said there would be “a significant amount of office space,” which plans show would be 200,000 square feet. After the presentation to about 125 people at The River Club, Rummell said he wouldn’t identify the company. “You know who it is, but I can’t tell you. We don’t have a deal,” he said. “It’s tentative.” Before starting the development, Rummell and partner Michael Munz need to complete
Photo by Monty Zickuhr
Saft America opened its 235,000-square-foot battery plant at 13575 Waterworks St. at Cecil Commerce Center in September 2011. The company received millions in city and state incentives and $95.5 million in federal stimulus funds for building the facility.
City says battery manufacturer failed to meet terms of incentives deal. By David Cawton Staff Writer The city of Jacksonville wants Saft America Inc. to repay more than $320,000 tied to a 2009 economic development agreement. The lithium-ion battery maker failed to create 279 jobs by the end of 2017, violating terms of its Oct. 22, 2009, economic development agreement with the city, according to Office of Economic Development Executive Director Kirk Wendland. The two sides plan to meet about the
issue, although nothing has been scheduled. Saft is an international manufacturer of high-performance batteries for industrial, transportation, Wendland defense and aerospace applications. Jody Beasley, general manager of Saft’s Jacksonville operation at Cecil Commerce Center, said in a statement Monday that the lithium-ion battery business was slower in 2017 from a production standpoint, “but we are seeing
that change — hence the number of our recent hires thus far in 2018.” Beasley said the Jacksonville plant has 240 employees. “We expect to hit the 279-employee count number by the end of this year,” she said. Wendland sent a letter Feb. 23 to Saft America Financial Controller Mohamed Tejan about the repayment. Wendland states in the letter that because Saft reported hiring only 149 employees by the year-end 2017 deadSaft
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Gildan Activewear: Jacksonville center will expand capacity Canadian company leases space at NorthPort Logistics Center.
Gildan Activewear Inc. spokesman Garry Bell said the Montreal-based company announced the opening of a Jacksonville distribution center “as part of an expansion of our distribution capacity and capabilities to support future growth across many of our brands.” Gildan signed a lease for 306,611
square feet of distribution and office space at NorthPort Logistics Center in North Jacksonville. The city is reviewing a permit application for a $353,770 buildout at 11530 New Berlin Road for Gildan. Bell said it will start operations at the beginning of May. It applied for a Certificate of Use from the
city for 305,000 square feet of space. A representative of the building ownership said Gildan, with a long-term lease, will fill up the remaining vacant space in the almost 873,000-square-foot warehouse. Dan Stover, first vice president with Newmark Grubb Phoenix
Realty Group, represented the building owner. Bart Hinson, senior associate with Colliers International, represented Gildan. The company maintains a global network of distribution centers that service more than 55 markets Mathis
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The Cawton Report: Rummell wants gun reforms Developer says lawmakers didn’t go far enough, wants ban on assault rifles. Public
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