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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
MANUFACTURING
THE MATHIS REPORT
Cenntro chooses Jacksonville Daily Record for first U.S. electric vehicle plant JACKSONVILLE
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
JACKSONVILLE
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
Cenntro Automotive Corp. chose Jacksonville for its first U.S. manufacturing facility, JAXUSA Partnership announced Dec. 14. The announcement came after City Council voted 18-0 to approve a $450,000 tax incentive for the New Jersey-based commercial electric vehicle maker. Cenntro Automotive Chairman and CEO Peter Wang said in the news release that Jacksonville will be a hub for its U.S. sales and manufacturing effort and
The franchise group wants to open by June and says it also intends to operate the restaurant and bar in Jacksonville Beach.
Cenntro will do quality testing in Jacksonville and have a parts warehouse, distribution and administrative functions, the chamber said. JAXUSA is the economic developmennt division of JAX Chamber. “Jacksonville continues to be a leader in the logistics sector, and Cenntro Automotive will serve as a great addition to our economy, bringing jobs, investment, and growth throughout the First Coast,” Mayor Lenny Curry said in the release. Without comment, the Council unanimously awarded a Recapture Enhanced Value grant for Cenntro’s estimated $25 million project. The grant is a property tax refund of 50% of the additional property tax revenue that the completed project generates over five years. According to the city Office of EcoSEE CENNTRO, PAGE 2
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
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its seventh assembly plant globally. “Jacksonville is the ideal spot for our first U.S. manufacturing facility with JAXPORT providing a strong foundation in Wang advanced manufacturing and a growing innovation ecosystem,” Wang said. “We believe Jacksonville provides a great talent pool as we look forward to contributing to the growing advanced manufacturing environment.” Cenntro vehicles are used for logistics and delivery, maintenance, warehouse and at airports. According to JAXUSA, Cenntro will begin assembling vehicles at a 100,000-square-foot facility in 2022 and support annual production of more than 50,000 vehicles within four years.
World of Beer tenant work in review at Butler and I-95
The city is reviewing permit applications for tenant work to build-out World of Beer Bar & Kitchen at Liberty Center at Butler Boulevard and Interstate 95. World of Beer’s area franchise owner wants to renovate 5,750 square feet of interior and 1,553 square feet of outdoor space, with a patio cover, for the project at 7077 Bonneval Frimmel Road. Hospitality Leaders of Jax 1 Inc., led by President Jason Frimmel, is the franchise owner. World of Beer offers more than 300 beers available at any time, and a restaurant menu with steaks, tacos, burgers and more. The franchisee group said in July it hopes to open in the second quarter of 2022 at Butler Boulevard and I-95 and in Jacksonville Beach, where it also
The Cenntro Automotive Metro electric vehicle. The company says it has produced 3,300 of the vehicles since 2017. The Metro has a maximum speed of 35 mph and a range of 109 miles.
JAXUSA announced the New Jersey-based manufacturer’s decision after City Council approved a $450,000 tax incentive for the project.
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
$1 billion Firehouse Subs sale is completed Restaurant Brands International Inc. said Dec. 15 it completed its $1 billion acquisition of Jacksonville-based Firehouse Restaurant Group Inc. Toronto-based RBI said when it announced the deal in November it will keep the Firehouse Subs restaurant chain headquartered in Jacksonville and run by its current management. RBI owns the Tim Hortons, Burger King and Popeyes restaurant chains, which have more than 27,000 restaurants in 100 countries. Firehouse has more than 1,200 locations in 46 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
VOLUME 109, NO. 24 • ONE SECTION