Jacksonville FL (July 27, 2017) The Ernst & Young LLP Financial Services Office officially opened in the Flagler Center with a ribbon cutting on July 27, 2017. The ceremony included Ernst & Young’s leadership, Mayor Lenny Curry, City Council President Anna Lopez Brosche, District 11 Council Member Danny Becton and State Representative Jason Fischer.
The new customer service center works to improve business process, manage risk, achieve savings and create competitive advantages for its clients. By 2020, Ernst & Young plans to employ 450 additional team members along with their current 80 and as many as 70 percent of those will be graduates of area colleges and universities. The educated and employment-ready workforce was cited as a contributing factor in the company deciding to open this facility in Jacksonville.
“EY’s decision to invest and grow in Jacksonville speaks volumes about our community and the high-quality talent here,” Council President Lopez Brosche said.
Council Member Becton echoed those remarks saying that District 11 offers the quality of life element’s that workers want that make it desirable to live near where they work. This is another example of a new business bringing benefits to the entire district.
“I appreciate Ernst & Young choosing to invest in District 11,” Becton said. “For our area, this means jobs that bring new neighbors to our communities, new lunch patrons for our local restaurants and for our small business community, opportunities to grow alongside your success.”
On Feb 23, 2016, City Council adopted Bill 2016-128, “Project Omega” which provided economic incentives in the form of (QTI) Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Grants. This incentive provided $5,000 per new full-time job created (up to $2,250,000). The City’s portion of the QTI program is 20% of the award, up to $450,000. The QTI award will be payable after the average wage and jobs created are verified by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity over the proposed seven year payout, beginning in 2017. The State of Florida portion of the QTI is the remaining 80% of the award up to $1,800,000. Also being provided will include a (FFT) Florida Felx Training grant of $2,300 per new full-time job created, up to a maximum of $1,035,000.
Ernst & Young’s projected growth will include 450 jobs at an average wage of $49,340 within two years. They are looking additionally to make capital investments at a minimum value of $5.95 million in IT equipment, furniture, real estate improvements, establishing Jacksonville as a IT Consulting / Financial Services hub.
CM Becton’s Complete Remarks are as follows:
“As the Councilmember for District 11, I want to say we are excited that Ernst & Young has chosen Jacksonville and, in particular, I appreciate you choosing to invest right here in District 11. For our area, this means jobs that bring new neighbors to our communities, new lunch patrons for our local restaurants and for our small business community, opportunities to grow alongside your success. Last year, upon the announcement of this “Client Service Center”, I know your company looked all around Jacksonville for the right location to grow. In having chosen the Flagler Center, this Mixed Use, diverse environment of successful companies, where your employees can live here – work here, I do think this is a great location and fit that you have selected. As for the jobs that you bring in IT and financial consulting, these are exactly the type of highly-skilled opportunities, our city is looking to attract. Not only do we have a great workforce to fill these jobs, we also have a business-friendly climate and I want to thank my colleagues with the city, the state and our economic development partners for making this happen.
Mike, it is again exciting to have you here and it is with great pleasure that I officially “Welcome you and Ernst & Young employees to District 11!”
