Jacksonville was
the eighth-most successful major Southern city in developing new
business over the past decade, according to a magazine that covers
industry in the South.
The rankings are based on the number of new jobs and the amount
of investment money a city has received in each of the past 10
years. Southern Business and Development magazine releases the
rankings each year and compiled the look back over the decade as
part of its 10th anniversary edition.
Jacksonville beat out No. 9 San Antonio and No. 10 Nashville,
Tenn. Orlando, the only other Florida city on the list, somewhat
eclipsed Jacksonville, coming in fifth.
The magazine considers major markets -- of which there are about
23 in the South -- as cities with populations between 750,000 and
1.99 million. Bigger cities are referred to as "mega-markets": on
that list, the Tampa Bay area came in second over the past decade,
and Miami/Fort Lauderdale/Palm Beach came in sixth.
Jacksonville's economic strength over the past 10 years is
attributable to the attention from the financial services industry,
which has created jobs and lured ancillary companies. The 17 million
tons of cargo moved through Jacksonville ports -- especially the
automobile handling work done here -- also is cited as demonstrating
the city's attention to business.
| Hitting home
Southern Business and Development magazine named Cecil
Commerce Center one of its Super Site locations in Florida. It
picks sites by asking development officials where they think
the best sites for large companies to locate are.
|
"Not
resting on its economic laurels," editor Mike Randle wrote, "clearly
Jacksonville is focused on keeping its place as a Top 10 market."
North Florida hasn't seen the explosive growth some other regions
have experienced, Randle said, but it continues to experience slow,
steady growth.
"Jacksonville hasn't had a remarkable year in any year, but it
hasn't had any bust years, either," he said. "They've been very
consistent."
Jacksonville ranked sixth in attracting business over the past 12
months, according to the magazine. Combined with Orlando's
first-place win in the major market category, the Tampa Bay area
sweeping the mega-market group and a strong showing by cities in
Northwest Florida, Jacksonville's showing contributed to the state
being named State of the Year by the magazine.
In January, Expansion Management Magazine ranked Jacksonville as
the hottest city in the United States in which to relocate or expand
a company. The magazine ranked areas based on a survey of site
consultants across the country.
Staff writer Timothy J. Gibbons can be reached at (904)
359-4103 or via e-mail at tgibbons
jacksonville.com.
