JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 LIFT JAX announced a partnership with Swisher that ties inclusive economic development to the company\u2019s $135 million Jacksonville manufacturing expansion, the organizations said.<\/p>\n
The project is expected to create 240 new full-time jobs, with at least 60 positions reserved for Eastside residents living within a two-mile radius of Swisher\u2019s Jacksonville campus. That area includes the neighborhoods of Oakland, Campbell\u2019s Addition, Phoenix and Long Branch.<\/p>\n
Swisher, a family-owned company founded in 1861, established its corporate headquarters in Springfield in 1924 and has grown the campus to more than 800,000 square feet over the past century.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur partnership with the City of Jacksonville and LIFT JAX strengthens the talent pipeline that makes growth possible, ensuring local residents have access to quality jobs and long-term career opportunities,\u201d Swisher President and CEO Neil Kiely said. \u201cTogether, we\u2019re building a workforce that will support Swisher\u2019s continued innovation while creating meaningful economic impact for the community we\u2019ve proudly called home for more than 100 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
The expansion will support the manufacturing of oral pouch products and create new jobs in Jacksonville\u2019s Phoenix area, a Level 2 Economically Distressed Area, with annual payroll exceeding $11.1 million, excluding benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur goal is to ensure revitalization and economic growth translates into real opportunity for the people who call the Eastside home,\u201d Travis Williams, president and CEO of LIFT JAX, said. \u201cThis partnership sets a powerful standard for what neighborhood transformation can look like when proximate private sector partners are willing to collaborate and produce innovative solutions that can build inclusive prosperity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the agreement, Swisher will work with LIFT JAX and Eastside partners to recruit locally, host career fairs and information sessions, track hiring data by ZIP code or neighborhood and develop pathways for workforce advancement. LIFT JAX will use its neighborhood networks and workforce partners, including Goodwill Industries of North Florida, to identify, prepare and refer qualified Eastside candidates and to lead community outreach and engagement.<\/p>\n
Dana Miller, an Eastside resident said she hopes this investment becomes a model for what comes next.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would like to see more retail, more restaurants, and some entertainment for the community. Something like San Marco at Five Points area would be great because this quarter is very busy and the stadium is down the street, that would be awesome,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
LIFT JAX said it will coordinate with neighborhood partners, including the GoodCareers Center at The Corner at Debs Store, while Swisher will designate a community partnership liaison to support ongoing workforce collaboration. The first neighborhood hiring event took place Jan. 27 and drew about 440 people. Additional hiring events are planned.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the beginning of their initiative, LIFT JAX has represented the kind of collaborative approach our community needs to create lasting economic mobility,\u201d Aundra Wallace, president of the JAXUSA Partnership, said. \u201cWhen residents have access to stable jobs with opportunities for advancement, it strengthens individual families and entire neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe turnout we saw at this hiring event shows the power of aligning major employers with trusted community partners,\u201d David Rey, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida, said. \u201cLIFT JAX and Swisher\u2019s commitment to prioritizing Eastside residents, paired with workforce supports offered through our GoodCareers Center at The Corner at Debs Store in the heart of the Eastside, creates a clear pathway from investment to employment.\u201d<\/p>\n
The expansion is expected to strengthen Jacksonville\u2019s manufacturing base, increase the local tax base and provide a return on investment for the city. The City of Jacksonville approved a Recaptured Enhanced Value grant of up to $3.5 million over five years through legislation named Project Newark.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City of Jacksonville is committed to investing in projects that strengthen our economy while creating real opportunities for residents in neighborhoods that were left behind for far too long,\u201d Mayor Donna Deegan said. \u201cProject Newark represents the type of strategic investment that builds a stronger manufacturing sector while connecting residents to quality jobs and career pathways.\u201d<\/p>\n
The partnership runs through Dec. 2027 and may be renewed.<\/p>\n
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