This week Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced $16 million for projects meant to aid cities with job growth. Of that, Clay County is getting $2.06 million to build a road.
Clay’s is one of six projects winning the final awards from an $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, which was divvied out all year.
Clay County Commission Chair Gavin Rollins said the project will help build a roadway called Atlantis Drive, which will be near the under-construction First Coast Expressway, which will start in Duval, travel through Clay and end in St. Johns County. The new Atlantis Drive will extend east from Trail Ridge Road.
Rollins said aside from alleviating congestion, the goal is for Atlantis Drive to lead to a not-yet-developed industrial park known as the Challenger Center.
“We’re really hoping for the job creation right off of First Coast Expressway,” he said.
Rollins said the group of people who own the property say they’ve been approached by a number of businesses interested in partnering. He said although he personally would like to see aviation and military-related industries in the park, any industry creating high-wage jobs would be great.
“Clay County has always been known as a great place to live and raise a family, but we also want it to be a place where people can work and make a living to raise their family without having to necessarily commute somewhere else,” he said.
According to the project proposal, Clay will be matching the state grant with $1 million. The total road project cost is estimated to be just over $ 3 million.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity had received more than 250 proposals requesting more than $877 million in funding.
In February, Scott announced in Jacksonville the state approved $6 million to build a 1.5-mile road at Cecil Commerce Center on the Westside.
Photo used under Creative Commons.
Lindsey Kilbride can be reached at lkilbride@wjct.org, 904-358-6359 or on Twitter at @lindskilbride.
