Laura DiBella
Executive Director
Nassau County Economic Development Board
email: [email protected]
May 16, 2017 7:12 a.m.
JAXPORT and its business are absolutely critical to the economic success of Nassau County. With this in mind, it is time for the city of Jacksonville to focus its attention on the issue of deepening the port – an enhancement that is vital to securing economic growth for Nassau County and Northeast Florida.
Ocean carriers are now deploying ships through the Panama Canal that can carry more than twice as much as before. Ports on the east coast have begun accommodating for these post-Panamax ships. To remain competitive, JAXPORT will need to deepen their port or risk losing business opportunities to ports located in Georgia and South Carolina.
Nassau County relies greatly on the heavy industrial sector for business and many of these businesses will be relying on post-Panamax ships and deep-water ports for international distribution. As a county whose economy is rail-driven and home to two major railroad carriers, we service the heavy industrial sector businesses by providing domestic distribution.
The Nassau County Economic Development Board seeks to create a thriving and sustainable community. In doing so, we strive to create, grow and attract business investments to Nassau County. If JAXPORT cannot provide a deeper port for the businesses we service, much is at stake for our economy.
Deepening JAXPORT will greatly benefit our economy and the region’s economy at-large, by positioning Northeast Florida as an international gateway for the Southeast. Failing to do so will result in a missed opportunity for many across the board. For this reason, we support the port and urge decision makers in Northeast Florida to do so as well.
How can growing and attracting business investment by destroying and exploiting [what remains of] our natural environment, be “sustainable”? Ms. Debella and The Economic Development Board are not looking at the big picture. International commerce and it’s competition is not the answer to creating a thriving community. I can not see how anyone could approve, and insist on the necessity of, selling out this most beautiful of places with it’s life-giving marshes and river systems. Talk about the goose that laid the golden egg.
It breaks my heart to se what has happened, in just a few decades, to the very fragile,
unique and important ecosystem we have here in Nassau County. It becomes a more
and more unattractive place to live every year–for all species.
There is a growth map already in place. It is a 50 year plan that keeps and preserves our marshes and natural habitat areas.
If you don’t have an economic growth plan in place you will not have anyone left here to hug your trees Miss Harris.
In order for our community to thrive and our families succeed we need this moment of opportunity.
You can probably request a copy of the map from the BOCC. You will see the county is able to support our families, our eco system and all of us living in harmony.
Thank you Laura for understanding this critical issue.
If I am reading the article correctly Miss DiBella is advocating supporting and encouraging JaxPort to accommodate the larger vessels. I am understanding her to say that Nassau County is dependent to a degree upon JaxPort’s ability to be competitive in our area for the specified Market. Our industrial economy works in conjunction with our surrounding areas for connection to larger markets. I don’t believe that she was advocating alterations to our local port in this respect.
Here is a February article from the Port Director about the problem, the cost, and consequences. A $684,000,000 project. And another from the Riverkeeper’s perspective…
http://jacksonville.com/news/2017-02-01/port-director-channel-dredging-st-johns-river-could-begin-year
http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2015-08-15/story/dredging-suit-uphill-battle-st-johns-river-watchdog-dont-rule-out-more
Thank you so much, Mr. Stoots, for explaining to me how the world works, and for your directions as to where I can find all the tidy answers to questions about what will happen to my county in the next 50 years.
It is not hyperbole to say that the existence of those ships is just crazy. And that the
acceleration of development in this county is out of control.
You speak of preserving “natural habitat” areas and marshes as though they are different and separate areas from where we live. As if they exist in a vacuum.
Do you have any interest in exploring [independent] environmental impact studies?
Do you think that hugging trees implies ignorance?
I don’t think that the kind of growth that I have seen here for the last 50 yrs. is
creating harmony or thriving communities. It has alienated a large part of the population, and enriched a few.
Susan Harris