JACKSONVILLE, Fla., 19 Oct. 2013. Saft America, Northrop Grumman Corp., BAE Systems, Kaman Aerospace, Rayonier, and Boeing are some of the manufacturing companies growing in the region, according to JAXUSA Partnership, the region’s economic development organization.
Advanced manufacturing is surging in Northeast Florida due to the region’s ideal logistics location and infrastructure, readily available skilled workforce, and a cost-effective environment for businesses, says a JAXUSA Partnership representative. Manufacturers, with products that include helicopter, aircraft, and high-tech batteries, are operating profitably in the area.
Northeast Florida’s strong military presence provides a skilled, highly trained workforce. The advanced manufacturing sector employs more than 14,000 people, or about 2.3 percent of all jobs in the region. The projected five-year growth rate is 3.1 percent, while the overall growth rate in this sector for the U.S. has decreased 2.2 percent.
“The talent in Northeast Florida is helping us drive innovation,” says Mark Fletcher, president, ENT Division, Medtronic.
