CREW Jacksonville

St. John’s County brings value to the commercial real estate negotiating table.

CREW Jacksonville presented a breakfast program highlighting the outstanding success St. John’s County's economic development efforts at the St. John’s County Convention Center at World Golf Village on Tuesday morning, March 12, 2013.  The event featured key representatives of various economic development entities in St. Johns County who are involved in top level decisions regarding the economic development.  The event was held to educate members and guests on the collaborative efforts of public agencies and private economic development groups in the County to expand existing businesses and attract new businesses to their area.  CREW Jacksonville represents the entire First Coast Region including St. Johns County.  Each of our northeast Florida counties has special and unique qualities that complement each other to attract business to the entire region.  It is important that our Commercial Real Estate professionals are apprised of incentives their clients are afforded in the northeast Florida region.  

Cyndi Stevenson, St. Johns County Commissioner, District 1, spoke about St. Johns County being Business Ready with full Commission support for economic development.  Cyndi highlighted the fact that the commission is small in comparison to its Jacksonville neighbor and real estate decisions such as permitting and zoning can be made quickly and efficiently as a result. 

Carol Saviak, Government Relations Manager for the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce gave a presentation on the attributes that make St. Johns County so attractive for development.  She pointed out its proximity to the Port of Jacksonville, its Northeast Regional Airport, major rail and highways as a logistical strength for manufacturing and distribution companies.  She went through a lengthy list of business incentives for companies looking at the county for their property locations including the strength of the school district, no state income tax for company employees, no county sur-tax (which neighboring counties have), executive level activities such as golf and boating as well as the pristine natural surroundings the area residents enjoy including the long stretch of beaches from St. Augustine Beach to Vilano Beach.

Peter Apol, Chair of the St. Johns County Industrial Development Authority described the IDA and its purpose to provide financing to profile and non-profit entities through the use of public financing in the form of bonds.  Over the past 30 years, the St. Johns County IDA has issued over $500 million in bonds.  There projects include Publix at the Vilano Beach Town Center, Flagler Hospital, the Council on Aging and the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The final speaker was John Patrick Reagan, St. Augustine City Manager who talked about the Economic impact of the 450th anniversary in 2015.  John mentioned the extensive planning that is underway for the event and described it as a spoked wheel approach with the City of St. Augustine as the hub.  Many groups are lining up to be part of the event including the band “Mumford and Sons”, whose manager emailed the City’s staff from the City website because “They couldn’t believe there was a city in the US 450 years old”.

The event was a popular one, drawing city and county dignitaries and top commercial real estate business professionals.  Over 70 people attended the event which included a buffet breakfast with the presentation.  CREW encourages networking amongst its event participants and this event offered high impact opportunity!  CREW Jacksonville is the local chapter CREW Network.   CREW Network is the industry's premier business networking organization dedicated to advancing the achievements of women in commercial real estate. Our 8,000 members represent nearly every discipline within the industry and are located in 76 major markets across North America.  For more information on CREW Jacksonville and its events, visit our website at www.crewjax.org

CREW held a drawing for a $250 prize from those members who renewed before the end of February.  Madeline Banks, from Golder Associates won the drawing.  CREW is holding a membership drive for an additional $250, which will go to the member who gets the most new members to join CREW Jacksonville before this summer.  Members, call your friends now!

CREW Jacksonville would sincerely like to thank the event sponsor St. Johns County and table sponsors King Engineering Associates and American Enterprise Bank of Florida.  

CREW Jacksonville continues to celebrate our northeast Florida region at our May 7 luncheon program celebrating the women leaders of Clay County.  For more information and registration visit www.crewjax.org