CONTACT: Matt Galnor, (904) 472-4196, matt@bachmangalnor.com
The HOLON manufacturing plant in Jacksonville and Publix pharmaceutical facility in St. Johns County were both honored by the Florida Economic Development Council
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 20, 2025) – Two Northeast Florida projects with a combined investment of $245 million and a planned 550 jobs were honored as “Deals of the Year” by the Florida Economic Development Council.
JAXUSA Partnership won the Regional Deal of the Year for HOLON, a planned 500,000-square-foot autonomous vehicle manufacturing facility.
St. Johns County was honored with the Urban Deal of the Year for the Publix central fill pharmaceutical facility that will fill 500,000 prescriptions a week when it opens and up to 1 million weekly at full capacity.
The awards were announced last week at the FEDC annual conference in Port Charlotte.
“These are two prime examples of the growth we’re seeing in Northeast Florida and how companies see the value in our business-friendly climate and strong regional partnerships,” JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace said.
HOLON, a subsidiary of the global automotive supplier BENTELER Group, is a leading manufacturer of autonomous, electric shuttles purpose-built to revolutionize shared mobility and sustainable transportation. In September 2024, the company announced plans to construct its facility in Jacksonville – adding to the city’s prominence in the growing autonomous vehicle industry. The $100 million plant is expected to initially create 150 jobs.
The Publix project is scheduled to be operational in 2026, and be strategically located in a 168,480-square-foot building within the industrial park of Legend Point Logistics Crossing. The company plans to invest $145 million in the facility that will employ 150 people at the onset, with plans to grow to 400 employees.
“St. Johns County is proud to receive this recognition from the Florida Economic Development Council. Economic development is a team sport, and the Publix project highlights the power and importance of working collaboratively to find creative solutions that benefit our community,” St. Johns County Senior Project Manager Sam Camp said.
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About JAXUSA Partnership
JAXUSA Partnership, a division of JAX Chamber, is Jacksonville’s regional economic development organization. JAXUSA Partnership recruits new companies and expands existing businesses to increase high-wage job growth, private capital investment and a highly skilled talent presence in the seven counties that make up Northeast Florida.