A.G. Gancarski
On Tuesday at Jacksonville City Hall, Mayor Lenny Curry was joined by local luminaries to promote an economic development deal.
The subject was an event the city news office billed in advance as “an exciting announcement in which 300 new local jobs may be added as a result of a financial services company’s expansion in Jacksonville. This international company [unidentified before the event] is planning to invest $13 million in its expansion.”
The development agreement, which includes a mix of state and local incentives was to be filed after the news conference, which had enough council members in attendance to provide a quorum.
The company, Fidelity Investments, was described by Curry as understanding that Jacksonville is a “destination” for jobs, as the agreement meant 300 new jobs in the financial sector for Jacksonville.
Fidelity, based in the Deerwood North area, is going to add office space as part of its expansion.
“This is a really big win for Jacksonville,” Curry said. The company with $5 trillion of assets in administration has “decided to invest in the city of Jacksonville.”
Fidelity Investments, in Jacksonville for nine years, clearly values its arrangement with the city. This builds on the deal with Macquarie that was closed a couple of months ago.
The Fidelity presence here includes 800 employees; now, with the proposed deal, there will be 1,100 Fidelity Investments workers.
Jerry Mallot of JAXUSA also spoke and provided insight into Fidelity’s “real commitment in our community… making this their home.”
Curry then introduced Council President Greg Anderson, who described “Fidelity as being part of this community for a long long time,” citing how well the “culture matches up so well with what we’re trying to achieve in Jacksonville.”
Anderson quipped, “300 this time. Let’s talk about some more in a little while.”
Then Councilman Scott Wilson, in whose district the jobs will be, spoke.
“These are highly skilled jobs, which are needed,” Wilson said.
Given the wide variety of Council members in attendance, there should be no hitches with the incentive package.
