Council approves incentives for 550 jobs; 'Project Revere' company still confidential


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  • | 12:00 p.m. November 25, 2015
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City Council approved two deals Tuesday to add 550 jobs in Jacksonville, but now it’s up to the unnamed information technology company slated for 250 of them to make a decision.

The company behind “Project Revere” won’t be disclosed until it determines whether Jacksonville or another southeastern city will be where it expands.

If it’s Jacksonville, the firm that already has 120 jobs here would go to the Southbank.

The company would receive $1.8 million in taxpayer incentives from city and state sources. The city’s side of the deal would cost $330,000. That includes grants of $250,000 for the added jobs and $80,000 for the increased value on the property after renovations.

The state would provide $1 million for the jobs and another $500,000 through a closing fund used by the governor. The new jobs would have an average wage of more than $49,000.

The company approved Tuesday that will provide 300 additional jobs is known — well known in Jacksonville, in fact.

Fidelity Investments has 800 employees already in Jacksonville on the Southside and wants to add 300 full-time jobs at an average salary of more than $64,000.

The financial services giant would add almost 60,000 square feet of space and invest close to $13 million for new space and other needs.

Fidelity in return would receive $448,000 from the city, comprising grants of $360,000 for the jobs and $128,000 for the incremental property value increase based on the upgrades.

The state would provide $1.4 million for the jobs and $690,000 through a Quick Response Training grant.

Both deals passed by unanimous 17-0 votes with no public comment or council discussion.

Other council action Tuesday included:

• A community redevelopment plan for the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Area passed unanimously. The move provides a boost for corridors of the Old Arlington area that’s been declared to have slum and blight conditions. To improve the area, property tax growth above the 2015 baseline year revenue will be deposited into a trust to use on improvements like land acquisition and roadway and utility improvements.

• The makeover of the JEA board of directors continued. Jacksonville Jaguars Chief Financial Officer Kelly Flanagan, former longtime council member Warren Jones and GreenPointe Holdings President Ed Burr all were confirmed. They join Tom Petway and Delores Kesler as recent appointees, joining lone holdover Husein Cumber. The seventh member, Robert Heekin, had his resignation accepted by Mayor Lenny Curry on Monday.

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