Florida Named No. 2 Best State for Business

May 2, 2018     0    73

#2 Florida 8.38 out of 10 in Taxation and Regulation 7.11 out of 10 in Workforce Quality 8.16 out of 10 in Living Environment Right to Work? ✓ Manufacturing Shines Florida is home to more than 19,000 manufacturing businesses that employ more than 330,000 workers. Lockheed Martin currently has nearly 1,000 employees working on various projects along the “Space Coast” and has announced it will move more workers from California to Florida in 2018 and 2019. In the northwestern part of the state, Eastern Shipbuilding in Panama City recently announced the addition of 2,000 jobs to support a $10.5 billion contract to build more than two dozen U.S. Coast Guard cutters. From the Governor “While Florida is continuing to compete with other locations for new jobs, our newly established $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will help encourage even more job creators to invest in creating new opportunities across Florida.”—Gov. Rick Scott Key Industries Aviation/Aerospace, Cleantech, Corporate Headquarters, Financial & Professional Services, I.T., Lifesciences, Logistics/Distribution, Manufacturing Key Companies Carnival Jabil Circuit NextEra Energy Office Depot World Fuel Services Key Contacts Clay Florida Economic Development Corp. JJ Harris President  1845 Town Center Blvd. Suite 110-B Fleming Island, FL 32003 (904) 375-9394 JJHarris@ChooseClay.com Key Incentives Quick Response Training (QRT): Offers reimbursable training ...

Sentry One Acquires Pragmatic Works Software

April 30, 2018     1    82

“To date, SentryOne solutions have focused primarily on optimizing production assets already deployed to the data center or cloud,” said Greg Gonzalez, SentryOne founder and Chief Technology Officer. “However, good design and performance start on the developer’s desktop. PWS solutions shift us far to the left in the development lifecycle, enabling SentryOne to deliver an unrivaled end-to-end capability for DBAs, developers, DevOps, BI professionals, and compliance managers alike.” SentryOne immediately will allow partners to sell and refer all products and will soon release joint bundles with solutions from both companies. “SentryOne has been growing at a rate of more than 45%," said Bob Potter, Chief Executive Officer of SentryOne. "This high growth mode will continue to accelerate both organically and through the acquisition of really great companies like Pragmatic Works Software." “I have long admired the leadership at SentryOne,” said Brian Knight, owner and founder of Pragmatic Works. “The decision to spin off our software business to focus on consulting and training was made easier knowing that our engineers and developers would be joining the leader in highly scalable enterprise database performance ...

Brass Tacks Coffee Company of Green Cove Springs Expands

April 30, 2018     0    74

"We're trying to be a really approachable, fun brand to connect with people and with the lifestyle," Kelley said. "It's not just good coffee. We have an active brand, super transparent with our processes and super approachable." Kelley said he saw the Southside area as a "bit of a coffee desert" with the closest specialty coffee to being the Bold Bean location in San Marco. He hopes that Brass Tacks will fill a niche need. Kelley founded the Green Cove Springs location in 2012, and the company originally began roasting to give themselves more room in the margins. "We have a fantastic espresso machine, handmade in the Netherlands, called a Kees Van Der Westen Mirage," Kelley said. "There's only one other in the state of Florida. It's really unique, looks like a hotrod of sorts. We're always trying to do things differently to carve a place in the market." Kelley said he was good friends with Bold Bean co-owner Zack Burnett and other specialty coffee roasters in Jacksonville. He said that he wanted to see the supportive relationships continue, because the "coffee market still has ...

Final Phase of First Coast Expressway is Now Fully Funded

April 18, 2018     1    148

Governor Scott said, “By continuing to invest record amounts of funding in transportation in Florida, we are giving our job creators and families the infrastructure they need to grow and succeed. Today’s announcement will help bolster the job creation we are achieving across the state.” The first phase of the expressway, from I-10 to Blanding Boulevard, is already under construction. Construction on the second phase, from Blanding Boulevard to the St. Johns River in Clay County, is set to begin early next year. When complete, the First Coast Expressway will cover 46 miles of limited-access roadway, extending from Interstate 10 to Interstate 95, offering motorists and commercial vehicles an alternative that bypasses downtown Jacksonville. FDOT Secretary Mike Dew said, “Governor Scott recognizes that strategic investments in infrastructure drive strong economic growth, and projects like this one support continued prosperity and high quality of life for families and businesses in Northeast Florida and across our state. The Florida Department of Transportation is committed to enhancing safety, easing congestion and improving mobility for all of our citizens. Once complete, this bridge replacement and ...

JJ Harris to Lead Clay Economic Development Effort

April 4, 2018     0    212

Harris comes to Clay County after serving two years as president and chief executive officer of the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance in Laramie, Wyoming. He also served a dual role as president and chief executive officer of the Laramie Economic Development Corp. According to a report in the publication Wyoming Business Report, Harris turned in his resignation in Wyoming during the week of March 5.    “We are excited to welcome JJ to our economic development team. JJ brings significant transaction experience in both recruiting new businesses and working with the local development community and governments to close transactions,” said George Egan, chairman of the Clay County Economic Development Corp. “The commitment of the Board of County Commissioners and Clay EDC Board of Directors, demonstrates the importance of economic development in Clay County.”  From 1995 to 2008, Harris was the executive director for the Bedford Urban Enterprise Association Inc. in Bedford, Indiana. From 2008 to 2016, Harris served on active duty service in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard and Reserve where he achieved the rank of major before his retirement. ...