City of Jacksonville moving forward with $12 million incentive proposal to keep Winn-Dixie headquarters

The plan includes $6.5 million in grants and $5.5 million in tax rebates, potentially adding 200 jobs and keeping the company in Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The City of Jacksonville is moving forward with incentives to support the retention and expansion of Winn-Dixie’s corporate headquarters; a move officials say could bring new jobs and investment to the area.

According to the mayor’s office, legislation that would provide financial incentives to The Winn-Dixie Company, LLC was approved at the April 13 meeting of the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee, with potential introduction to the City Council on April 28.

According to a memo from city’s Office of Economic Development, Winn-Dixie plans to establish its corporate headquarters in Jacksonville as part of a broader restructuring strategy focused on operating stores in Florida. 

The company has proposed adding 200 full-time jobs with an average annual salary of $100,000, while retaining 500 existing positions at similar pay levels. The expansion would bring total headquarters employment to 700.

The company also plans to invest $65 million by the end of 2031, with approximately $48 million allocated to store renovations and $17 million tied to the headquarters location.

City officials say the project would help maintain the Jacksonville-based company while expanding the local tax base and supporting economic growth in a designated economically distressed area.

The proposed incentive package includes a Recapture Enhanced Value grant of up to $5.5 million over 20 years, based on a portion of the city’s property tax revenue generated by the project, and a separate headquarters retention grant totaling $6.5 million over five years.

Officials estimate the project would generate a 4% return on investment for the city.

City leaders say the incentives are key to keeping the company in Jacksonville, noting that other locations in Florida may offer lower operating costs. 

The proposal aims to ensure the company’s continued presence in the city while creating new, higher-paying jobs.