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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: YOUR INSIGHT
Cyclone would bring 475 jobs to city
Bold Bean Daily Record ‘coping’ and Daily Record innovating JACKSONVILLE
JACKSONVILLE
International transportation and logistics company asking for $500,000 in city, state incentives. BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
Zack Burnett, managing partner of the Jacksonville coffee chain, adds online ordering, focuses on curbside delivery and plans to add some outdoor seating.
An international transportation and logistics company is seeking $500,000 in state and city tax incentives to expand its Jacksonville operation by 475 jobs. Code-named Project Cyclone plans to create 100 full-time jobs by year-end 2021 with an average annual wage of $60,000 a year plus benefits, according to a proposed economic development agreement between the city and company. Cyclone will maintain 168 existing jobs in Jacksonville and make a $10.1 million capital investment in building renovations and equipment purchases for office space at a to-be-determined location. Cyclone is requesting public funding from Florida’s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program for the 100 jobs. A legislative fact sheet drafted by the city Department of Economic Development states the proposed QTI award is $5,000 per job. The city would pay 20% of the QTI tax refund up to $100,000 at $1,000 per job. The state would pay the remaining $400,000 at $4,000 per job. City economic development documents say Cyclone also would create 375 full-time jobs at lower wage levels that do not qualify for the QTI program. The program requires a business to create at least 10 new full-time jobs paying equal to or exceeding 115% of the state’s
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS STAFF WRITER
Zack Burnett used the pandemicforced slowdown to innovate at Jacksonville-based Bold Bean Coffee Roasters and its three Duval County coffee shops. “Our business is down, but we’re overall coping better than some. We are still able to do business,” said Burnett, managing partner of the 13-year-old business. He estimates a sales drop of 35% to 40%. Burnett’s father, Jay, began roasting coffee in 2007 and the father and son opened their first shop in 2011 at 969 Stockton St. in Riverside, followed by the second in 2014 at 2400 S. Third St. in Jacksonville Beach, and the third in 2016 at 1905 Hendricks Ave. in San Marco. The company identifies, tests, buys and roasts coffee beans from the world’s coffee-growing regions. It sells brewed and packaged coffee, food, merchandise and equipment in the retail and wholesale markets. When the state and city issued capacity and service restrictions, the three shops closed in-store service, cut back on staff and operating hours and focused on curbside delivery. As restrictions were loosened, Burnett
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Zack Burnett, managing director for Bold Bean Coffee Roasters, said sales have dropped 35% to 40% because of the pandemic.
chose not to reopen for dine-in because at 25% capacity and social distancing, the stores would be able to accommodate few customers inside. He said May 11 he would provide some outdoor seating at the Riverside and Beaches stores sometime this week. “The whole situation has made us get creative with ideas that I think we will be able to carry on with us,” said Burnett, 36. For example, Bold Bean pursued an
KEEPING CLOSE – FROM A DISTANCE On May 4, the state began a phased reopening of some businesses shut down to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The Daily Record is reporting on small businesses as they confront the challenges of social distancing and financial hardships brought on by the pandemic and its aftermath.
SEE BOLD BEAN, PAGE 2
SEE JOBS, PAGE 2
GreenWise Market to open June 20 in Nocatee Publix Super Markets Inc. will open its first Northeast Florida GreenWise Market at 7 a.m. June 20 in Nocatee Town Center. The store is at 250 Pine Lakes Drive. Operating hours will be determined as opening approaches. It is the first of at least two area GreenWise stores, both in St. Johns County. GreenWise said in October it would open a second area store in St. Augustine near Florida 16 and International Golf Parkway at World Commerce Center. That store is expected to open in 2021. Publix describes GreenWise Market as a specialty, natural and organic store featuring items for the health-conscious.
VOLUME 107, NO. 126 • EIGHT SECTIONS