Heritage Publishing, Inc. © 2013 WORKPort Potential
By George Gabel Founder, North Florida Logistics Advisory Group
With new international business opportunities on the
horizon, Jacksonville and Northeast Florida can dramatically enhance a major source of employment and increase its economic success in the future. The port of Jacksonville is the most significant economic engine in this region, and now is the time to realize its potential.
During the past six years, the number of international
investment prospects has increased from 10 to more than 40 percent. The world discovered Jacksonville when a billion eyes focused on us during the 2005 Super Bowl. Additionally, international businesses have been drawn to Jacksonville as a result of our advantageous location and the weak U.S. dollar. Perhaps most importantly, when companies visit, they find a sophisticated business community, combined with southern hospitality.
Jacksonville has claimed its position as "America's
Logistics Center" because within eight hours it can reach 60 million people. This region offers access to major interstates that connect us with the North, the Midwest and the West. Additionally, we are at the end of the shortest transcontinental route, and three major railroads provide more movement from here than from any other port on the East Coast. Because of this unique position, Jacksonville is the gateway for many goods arriving to and leaving from Florida.
One of the world’s largest shipping companies, Japan-based
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has selected Jacksonville for its East Coast terminal. The company had difficulties on the West Coast because of labor stoppages and availability of land. Experts predict, when the full impact of the MOL terminal is realized, the economic impact will be similar to hosting three Super Bowls a year.
Ports competing with Jacksonville do not have the
advantage of a military presence, as we do. The Navy at Mayport recognizes great synergies with our efforts to deepen the river. If a hurricane approaches, the Navy must navigate its cruisers upriver beyond the Navy fuel depot. On Blount Island, the U.S. Marine Corps facility is the departure point for all of the equipment being sent to Iraq and about half of the material going to Afghanistan.
To continue solidifying Northeast Florida as “America’s
Logistics Center,” the North Florida Logistics Advisory Group was formed. The advisory group included business and political leaders from JAXPORT, the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization, Duval County, surrounding counties and the military as well as representatives from the logistics and transportation industries.
The advisory group completed a regional freight and
transportation plan in November 2012 to ensure the region takes advantage of the port of Jacksonville’s economic potential. Using input from some of the top transportation and port consultants in the country, the freight and transportation plan will be incorporated into the Florida Strategic Intermodal System (SIS), a precondition to obtaining state and federal money.
_________________________________________________________________________ Left: Port Cranes, photo courtesy of JAX Chamber Right: JAXPORT, photo courtesy of JAX Chamber Bottom: Horizon Lines, photo courtesy of JAX Chamber
First Coast Relocation GuideTM 2013
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