News Summary
The Jacksonville City Council has approved a $2.5 million incentive package for Project Moana, an international wholesale distributor aiming to build a $90 million food distribution warehouse. The project is set to create 100 jobs with an average salary of $52,000, and is expected to be operational by late 2029. Additionally, Council is considering Project Pan, a $28 million meat processing facility, and a $5.6 million expansion for Publix Super Markets.
Jacksonville – The Jacksonville City Council has unanimously approved $2.5 million in incentives for an international wholesale distributor, known as Project Moana. This decision was made during a council meeting on July 22, with a vote tally of 17-0. The funding will be facilitated through a 60%, five-year Recapture Enhanced Value (REV) grant, as outlined in Resolution 2025-0481.
The REV grant works as a refund mechanism on ad valorem tax revenue generated by new developments or improvements to properties. This funding is expected to support Project Moana, which plans to make a substantial capital investment of $90 million in a new food distribution warehouse. The proposed project will include about $80 million allocated for new construction and an additional $10 million set aside for equipment.
Project Moana aims to construct a 275,000-square-foot expansion warehouse that will enhance food distribution capabilities in Jacksonville. Currently, the international distributor employs around 10,000 people globally, with 200 employees already situated in Florida. The new facility is projected to create approximately 100 jobs in Jacksonville, with an average annual salary of $52,000 and additional employee benefits amounting to $13,700 each.
The city’s decision to support Project Moana comes as the company has received offers from various locations as well as competitive incentive packages, making the choice of Jacksonville significant for its expansion plans. To enhance operational efficiency, the new Jacksonville site will utilize JaxPort, but it will require necessary upgrades to local infrastructure, including improvements to sewer systems and road access.
The timeline established by Project Moana indicates that the facility is expected to become operational by late 2029. The city’s Office of Economic Development (OED) estimates a favorable return on investment, predicting a return of $4.50 for every $1 awarded in incentives.
In addition to Project Moana, the Jacksonville City Council is considering another development initiative, code-named Project Pan, which seeks to build a $28 million meat processing plant in the city. This project is expected to create another 100 jobs with an average salary of $59,211 and total benefits of $16,000 per employee. The facility is planned to occupy a 50,000-square-foot area in a vacant refrigerated warehouse and aims to handle over 1 million pounds of processed meat weekly, supported by four production lines, with operations starting projected for December 2025.
Furthermore, the Jacksonville City Council has recently approved a separate $5.6 million incentives package for Publix Super Markets to expand its operations with a 370,000-square-foot regional frozen foods warehouse. This initiative includes an increased investment of $150 million and is anticipated to create 175 jobs, with an estimated annual payroll reaching $8.5 million. The expected return on investment for Publix’s project is estimated at $4.15 for each $1 of public incentives given.
In light of the economic development strategies, the council has expedited the approval process for these significant expansion projects in an emergency two-reading format to streamline the facilitation of growth and employment opportunities within Jacksonville.
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Additional Resources
- Jax Daily Record: Council Approves Incentives for Project Moana
- Wikipedia: Economic Development
- Jax Daily Record: Meat Processing Company Seeks Incentives
- Google Search: Jacksonville Economic Development
- Jax Daily Record: Jacksonville Competing for Project Pan
- Google Scholar: Food Distribution Warehouses
- Jax Daily Record: Council Approves Incentives for Publix
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Warehouse Operations
- Jax Daily Record: Aircraft Manufacturer Seeks Incentives
- Google News: Jacksonville Job Creation
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
