Daily Record Financial News &
Friday, November 20, 2015
Vol. 103, No. 005 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Right time, right efforts for city Resource Solutions said yes to Jacksonville in London By David Chapman Staff Writer Jerry Mallot calls it great timing. When the JAXUSA Partnership president and other officials walked into a mid-October meeting with Resource Solutions in London, he knew Jacksonville was on a short list for possible expansion. After some questions, the company gave them the news. Yes, we’d like to go to Jacksonville, they told Mayor Lenny
Mallot
Direct approach works for ‘Gun Con’ Tourism council awards
Curry, City Council President Greg Anderson and others. “I think they were waiting to actually sit down with the mayor and business leaders for last questions,” Mallot said Thursday, hours after it was announced the recruitment outsourcing and technology solutions company wanted to bring a global service center to Jacksonville and create 75 jobs. “Of course, it was an excellent meeting,” Mallot said. Kirk Wendland, city Office of Economic Development execu-
tive director, said walking into the meeting he wasn’t sure if any deal was ready to move forward. Some meetings the Jacksonville group had over the three-day window were only for introductions. Resource Solutions, however, turned out to be more. Negotiations with companies often take months, Mallot said. With the company being that close to a decision, the stop lined up nicely for an answer. Janine Chidlow, the company’s managing director for EMEAAmericas, said it was the “appe-
tite” of the local delegation that helped the decision. The company had a matrix with 50 or so points to analyze factors, such as transportation and education. However, she said, it wasn’t what was on the scorecard that intrigued the company. It was “things we hadn’t even considered,” she said Thursday. Jacksonville officials talked about the work-life balance of employees and the city’s quality of life. Resource continued on Page A-4
High-stepping victory dance for Branch
$150,000 for new event
“I’m going to do this here whether you help me or not.” That might not be the best statement to make when you’re asking for $200,000 for a new event you’re planning, but that’s what Jon McGowan said Thursday about “Gun Con,” scheduled July 27-31 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. McGowan described the convention as “like a huge Gander Mountain,” referring to the retail network of outdoor specialty stores for apparel, boating, camping, fishing, hunting and shooting sports. He was asking the Duval County Tourist Development Council for $200,000 to pay for national advertising, all of which would be placed in markets at least 250 miles from Jacksonville. He said the outdoor enthusiast market represents a new tourism resource and “it’s a demographic we’re not touching.” McGowan predicted as many as 23,000 room nights would be booked in local hotels for the five-day convention. He estimated at least 50 percent, and possibly as many as 75 percent of attendees, would be from out of town and stay in hotels. The convention center has been reserved for the dates and about 4,000 rooms have been reserved, he said. McGowan said the idea goes beyond a five-day convention. He sees it as a way to expand Jacksonville’s year-round tourism market. “I want to bring them to the convention and make them want to come back,” he said. The tourism council administers the 6 percent local option tourist development tax, referred to as the “bed tax.” Four percent is devoted to sports facilities’ maintenance and debt service and the remaining 2 percent is used to fund Visit Jacksonville, the convention and visitors bureau for Jacksonville and the Beaches, and to provide incentive grants to attract conventions, meetings and other events. TDC continued on Page A-2
Public
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Andre Branch does a celebration dance after the team’s 19-13 win over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday at EverBank Field. See more photos on Page A-3.
Photo by Bobby King
By Max Marbut Staff Writer
Deutsche Bank’s growth sends message When a global company that operates in more than 70 countries decides to commit to growing in Jacksonville, already its largest U.S. operation outside of New York, other businesses pay attention. Deutsche Bank said this week it will expand its Jacksonville center by leasing another building, allowing it to expand its 1,700 jobs by another 350 to start and more over time. “It is a terrific company that helps put Jacksonville on the map internationally and nationally,” said JAX Chamber Chair John Delaney, who is president of the University of North Florida and a former Jacksonville mayor. In July, Australia-based Macquarie Group said Deutsche Bank’s choice of Jack-
legal notices begin on page
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sonville for a major office center reinforced the city as a prospective site. That helped Macquarie choose Jacksonville for a global services center that began with consideration of 17 cities in five countries. One of the Australia-based executives said Deutsche Bank’s ability to hire employees gave comfort to Macquarie
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about Jacksonville’s talent pool for the 123 positions it was hiring. Germany-based Deutsche Bank opened in Jacksonville in 2008. It has reached capacity, with 1,200 jobs, at the five-building, 200,000-square-foot Meridian Business Park it leases at 5022 Gate Parkway. It also leases 110,000 square feet of office space for about 500 jobs in offices along Belfort Road. Deutsche Bank announced Thursday it will lease a 150,000-square-foot building at 5201 Gate Parkway, which also will offer a cafeteria, gym, health and wellness center and meeting space that can be used by employees working there and at the nearby Meridian campus. Mathis continued on Page A-2
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