- April 19, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The as-of-yet unidentified company has narrowed its possible site list down to three — including Palm Coast/Flagler County — for building its corporate headquarters and hiring 400 people.
Local officials often use sports analogies to discuss economic development. They say things like, “We’re going to get back in the game by hitting lots of singles, rather than sitting around and waiting for the homerun.”
However, according to City Manager Jim Landon, the homerun hitter could be coming up next.
Executives from Project Koala, an as-of-yet unidentified company, has narrowed its possible site list from 30 down to three — including Palm Coast/Flagler County — for building its corporate headquarters and hiring 400 people.
“A couple of weeks ago they came to visit, and they have asked us to provide additional details on possible sites and any incentives,” Landon said.
The project includes a corporate headquarters, research and development, manufacturing and distribution. The initial facility would be 100,000 square feet, employing more than 100 people. The expected growth would be a 500,000-square-foot facility and 400 jobs.
“We’re certainly going to do everything we can do (to attract Project Koala),” Mayor Jon Netts said.
He said, however, that the city wouldn’t forget the existing businesses in order to attract a new one.
Also, Netts was optimistic, but cautiously so.
“We understand very clearly that we’re in competition with other sites,” Netts said. “They have expectations, and they have needs, and our goal is to see to the extent possible that we can align our needs with their needs and make a win-win for both of us.”
Landon said the lead for the company originated with Enterprise Florida, which passed it to Enterprise Flagler.
“We have a very cooperative effort with the city of Palm Coast, the city of Bunnell, Flagler County, Enterprise Flagler and the Chamber of Commerce all working to attract this business, which would be a homerun, if we are successful,” Landon said.
For more economic development news — including Project Cosmos, another project that could bring an additional 200 jobs — see the next print edition of the Palm Coast Observer.
