Daily Record Financial News &
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 224 • oNe SectioN
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Project Velo similar to Amazon.com Company seeking $8.3M in incentives for 1,200-job distribution center
First, Amazon.com announces 1,500 jobs for a fulfillment center in North Jacksonville. Next, an unidentified leader “in the product distribution marketplace” is considering West Jacksonville for a 1,200-job hub. If the latest project, code-named “Project Velo,” is supported by City Council, the two would create 2,700 warehouse, office and operations jobs just 23 miles apart no later than year-end 2019. Could Project Velo be a second Amazon.com center? It’s not unusual for the Seattle-based
e-commerce retailer to open two distribution facilities in one city to handle different products. Amazon.com has not responded to an email about the center, and city and development officials are not commenting on the identity of Project Velo. On Wednesday, city legislation was introduced to support incentives for Project Velo to create 1,200 jobs at a 1 million-squarefoot product distribution center at AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center. Of those jobs, 325 would pay an
annual average salary of $50,675. “It just continues to solidify Cecil Commerce Center as a destination that we can really continue to promote,” said Kirk Wendland, executive director of the city Office of Economic Development. The city owns Cecil Commerce Center. Dallas-based Hillwood
Investment Properties is the master developer. Wendland would not comment about the identity of Project Velo, citing a confidentiality agreement. Hillwood Senior Vice President Dan Tatsch declined comment. Project Velo requests incentives of almost $8.3 million, comprising nearly $7.1 million from the city and $1.2 million from the state. The company is considering Cecil as a distribution hub for its “diverse array of products” and plans to make a decision this year
whether it will select the site for one of its distribution centers. It anticipates an estimated capital investment of about $115 million in equipment, furniture, land and real estate improvements. The bill, 2016-654, would be fast-tracked. It is scheduled to be introduced Tuesday. The bill would then be heard at the council committee level the week of Oct. 3 and, if approved, move for a full council vote Oct. 11. The city would provide up to a $6.7 million Recapture Enhanced MATHIS CONT’D ON PAGE A-4
Value of grooming ‘future of real estate’
Photos by Bill Spann / City of Jacksonville
Mentoring is key for new agents
A military-themed van is now part of the city’s Military and Veterans Affairs Department outreach efforts to area veterans.
Driving to help more veterans
Jaguars Foundation grant funds outreach van for city military office By David Chapman Staff Writer The city’s Military and Veterans Affairs Department has been driven to increase the level of service it provides area veterans. Soon those outreach efforts will include driving, too. The department is receiving a specially branded, patriotic van with scenes of military personnel and contact information for the office. Red, white and blue, of course. The scenes come from EverBank Field and Jacksonville Jaguars games, which isn’t coincidental. The van is being provided to the office via a multiyear grant from the Jaguars Foundation. The nonprofit side of the team awarded a $1 million grant spread over five years to assist the military-missioned office.
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The grant is now in the third year. “We could not do what we do without the foundation,” said Bill Spann, department director. “Out of the 32 NFL teams, they’re the best friends of the military.” The grant doesn’t cover just the vehicle or other special projects. It covers the everyday checks the office cuts to help veterans with short-term needs to stave off evictions, keep the lights on or assist with legal issues. They’re smallish in nature — typically $200-$300 — for veterans who meet U.S. Housing and Urban Development thresholds. Those who seek help but have bills that aren’t critical — think large cable bills, multiple cellphones and the like — receive budget counseling. VETERANS CONTINUED ON PAGE A-2
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The van has scenes of military personnel at a Jacksonville Jaguars game for a reason. The Jaguars Foundation provided the van through its $1 million, five-year grant with the department.
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By Kevin Hogencamp Contributing Writer
Anita Hiles is an equal-opportunity mentor. Naturally, the 10-year industry veteran readily counsels members of her 12-person Exit Real Estate Gallery team. Just as willingly though, her door is open to other agents in Exit’s Jacksonville Beach office and throughout the company. But it doesn’t stop there. “I’ll help anyone who comes to me and asks for it,” she says. Why share her secrets, particularly in an intensively competitive trade? Hiles says it’s because she loves her profession and wants to give back. She benefited from the tutelage of a couple of top producers as she cut her real estate teeth in California. “I think we are grooming the future of real estate — they are kind of like our kids,” she said. “There’s plenty of business to go around.” While the North- Hiles east Florida Association of Realtors provides education and guidance to real estate professionals throughout their careers, it doesn’t have a mentoring program. Instead, many of the brokerages have their own training and mentorship programs, said NEFAR Education Director Cindy Foley. Among them is Watson Realty Corp., which emphasizes the value of mentorship from Day 1 of agents joining the firm. Trey deMoville, the company’s training and professional development director, said there’s virtually no way to advance in real estate — or any other career — without a good mentor. “I have two mentors and they are far and away the biggest influence on my career,” he said. MENTORING CONTINUED ON PAGE A-3
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