Suwannee County Proposed Catalyst Site Expansion

April 17, 2015

Presented by Dr. Alvin B. Jackson, Jr. & Jimmy Massey

Suwannee County Economic Development Office

Background

• Selected in 2007• Developed with the help of the State of Florida as a

strategy for economic development in Florida’s Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC)

• Focused on targeting tomorrow’s most promising industries with the goal of creating high value-added jobs, capital investment, and an economic benefit that will ripple throughout each RACEC.

Existing Catalyst Site

• Location: 7 miles west of Live Oak on US Highway 90; ½ mile from Interstate 10 interchange

• Acres: 500 acres• Infrastructure: Water Plant, electric,

natural gas, fiber, and rail spur from CSX mainline, (soon to be under construction)

Existing Catalyst Site Success

• The first resident of the Catalyst Site is Klausner Lumber One, a high-tech facility that will create 350 permanent jobs, inject

• $130 million in capital investment.• Klausner began operations in January 2015.• Created 120 permanent jobs, to date.• Will create additional 200+ jobs by end of year, when second

and third shift is added.• Project has created approx. 270 indirect jobs• Klausner is purchasing goods and services from local

companies

Companies Locating adjacent or near Catalyst Site

1. Project Padre- 200,000 MT Wood Pellet Factory $26 mil capital investment 80 new jobs 15 acres Exporter Est operating by Jan 2016

2. Project Cross City-Raw Pine Bark Plant $1 mil capital investment 5 new jobs 20 acres Under construction

Prospects

1. Rail Terminal Operator- In the Existing site- 100 acres, 30 jobs. $1 mil capital investment

2. Pressure Wood Treatment Plant- looking both inside the site and adjacent to site- 70-90 new jobs, $8.8 mil. capital investment

3. Carrot Processing Plant- 200 acres in the area, 200 new jobs.

4. Agri-Tourism-Dairy Living Exhibit site-200 acres, 15-20 jobs

Rationale for Proposed Catalyst Site Expansion

With more than half of the existing Catalyst site developed, and only 60 acres available which is owned by Suwannee County there is a serious need to expand the Catalyst site, for access to the much needed assistance from the State of Florida for infrastructure improvements, incentives for job creation and to remain competitive in the region.

There are over 10,000 acres available for potential development for industrial, warehousing, manufacturing and logistics sites.

The I-10/HWY 90 interchange has 2 large parcels, one 100 acres – north side and 77 acres –south side of the interchange. These sites are prime sites. Both sites have rail access, natural gas and fiber, however no water lines. Water lines could be extended from the existing Catalyst site, the distance is approx. 9000 linear feet and an estimated cost of $1.1 mil.

Description of Expansion

• 8400 acres• Sections 22,23,26,27,33,34 and 35, TWP 01

South, Range 12 East; and Sections 1,2,3,4, and 12, TWP 02 South, Range 12 East; and Section 7, TWP 02 South, Range 13 East.

• 316 Parcels

Countywide Data

• Population- 44,168• Unemployment Rate - 7.5%• Average Annual Wage-$29,720• Poverty Rate- 21.90%

Visit www.floridasnewfrontier.com