Northeast Florida Attracting Worldwide Companies To Establish Operations in Area

September 9, 2015 | By Business Wire News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

Recent company expansions and economic development announcements in Northeast Florida have created a very robust business environment, further supporting Forbes’ ranking of Jacksonville in the top 35 best places for business and careers. Companies are taking advantage of the area’s talented labor, low operating costs and pro-business environment.

The global headquarters for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care chose to expand its operations in Jacksonville with a $300 million investment in its facility, bringing the total investment in the last three years to more than $500 million.

The world’s leading innovator and manufacturer of disposable contact lenses now employs more than 3,400 at its state-of-the-art campus. This latest expansion project supports the design and development of new products for the global market and allows Jacksonville to be the site location for all new product introductions.

Australian investment bank, Macquarie Group, will open an office in downtown Jacksonville, creating 123 accounting, tax and financial management jobs over the next two years and investing more than $3 million in its new finance operation.

Macquarie Group considered 17 cities in five countries and chose Jacksonville for its expansion due to the area’s strength in the financial services industry. The company now joins 12 other major banks and insurance firms on Forbes’ Global 500 list that have established operations in Jacksonville.

Anheuser-Busch selected Jacksonville to expand its Metal Container Corporation (MCC) facility, creating 75 jobs and making a $170 million capital investment in a 200,000 square-foot manufacturing facility and new equipment.

This expansion is part of the company’s plan to increase production of Budweiser and Bud Light aluminum bottles to accommodate growing demand. Jacksonville was one of three locations in the Southeast competing for the expansion.

Citi, a consumer banking and credit services company, is adding 500 more jobs to its existing 3,500 employee base in Jacksonville to support the company’s North American services. Citi has been part of the Jacksonville community for more than 25 years and this recent expansion signifies the company’s commitment to the area.

“Major global companies in the health care, finance and manufacturing sectors continue to affirm Northeast Florida as the ideal location for business success,” said JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot. “Our area’s affordable cost of living and variety of cultural and entertainment activities also provides an attractive lifestyle for relocating executives and employees.