The Nassau Prosperity Alliance (NPA) has released the first quarter report for FY 24/25. This document includes updates on a variety of initiatives including the Transit Study Update, Timber to Tides Design Overlay, Vision 2050, economic development highlights, partner agency events and more. 

Established in November 2022, the NPA consists of representatives from the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, Nassau County Economic Development Board, Small Business Development Center at UNF and Prosper Nassau, and serves as a unified coalition to facilitate strategic initiatives that promote economic development and support the local economic ecosystem.

The NPA's mission is to "nurture a more resilient, sustainable, equitable and prosperous ecosystem cultivated with a generational perspective and crafted to increase competitiveness on a regional and global scale, promote prosperity and high-paying jobs, and create vibrant and resilient communities that offer the highest quality of life". This mission is supported by priority initiatives established in the County's Interim Strategic Plan. 

Additional information about the NPA can be found here. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Communications Officer

The Nassau Prosperity Alliance (NPA) has released the fourth quarter report for FY 23/24. This document includes updates on a variety of initiatives including the Transit Study Update, Timber to Tides Design Overlay, economic development highlights and more. 

Established in November 2022, the NPA consists of representatives from the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, Nassau County Economic Development Board, Small Business Development Center at UNF and Prosper Nassau, and serves as a unified coalition to facilitate strategic initiatives that promote economic development and support the local economic ecosystem.

The NPA's mission is to "nurture a more resilient, sustainable, equitable and prosperous ecosystem cultivated with a generational perspective and crafted to increase competitiveness on a regional and global scale, promote prosperity and high-paying jobs, and create vibrant and resilient communities that offer the highest quality of life". This mission is supported by priority initiatives established in the County's Interim Strategic Plan. 

Additional information about the NPA can be found here. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/11/23 4:15 p.m. - On Monday, September 11, 2023, the Town of Callahan and Board of County Commissioners held a ceremony in celebration of the Town's water and sewer expansion project to the Crawford Diamond area which upon completion, could pave the way for industrial development and thousands of high-wage jobs. 

In the rail industry, a diamond intersection is where two rail lines intersect. Diamond intersections are rare on the eastern shore board and the only diamond intersection in the State of Florida is here in Nassau County, in the area historically known as Crawford Florida. This unique diamond intersection is what led to the industrial designation and non-residential use of the surrounding lands. 

Over the past decades, there has been substantial investment into the Crawford Diamond area to develop the roadways and invest in alterative energy sources. The area has also been identified as a prime spot for economic development due to its close proximity to several major highways and the access to two major rail lines. However attracting businesses to the area has been slowed due to the need for water and sewer capacity. To resolve the issue, the Town of Callahan agreed to expand their existing water and sewer services to the Crawford Diamond area. 

The Town took the initiative to seek funding sources and was successful in obtaining $11.4 million in grants from the Florida Department of Commerce, coupled with a $4.5 million investment from the Board of County Commissioners to make this project a reality. Today, we celebrated a major milestone toward reaching that needed capacity and truly activating the area as a job center for the County. 

FPL's Director of External Affairs Jim Bush, stated, "I want to begin by congratulating the Town of Callahan and Nassau County for all the work you've done to make today a reality. It takes tremendous vision and commitment to make days like today possible. These infrastructure improvements are incredibly important, not just for economic development but for the entire community. Our economic development team plays a key role in building communities by promoting sites like the Crawford Diamond Industrial Park, and by sharing the advantages the region has to offer, we can attract companies and high-wage, high-skilled jobs. I'm excited to be here today to see the great progress made and I can't wait to welcome the first tenant at this industrial site."

The Town's Public Works Director Mike Williams spoke briefly and thanked the State Legislature and the County for helping the Town get to this point. He introduced the individuals/entities that are currently working on the project and provided a progress update. At the end of his speech, he added, "One small step for Callahan, one giant leap for Nassau County economic prosperity." 

Executive Director for the Nassau County Economic Development, Sherri Mitchell, also spoke stating, "This long-awaited water plant is a critical piece of infrastructure needed so that when one of these industries with the ability to bring these high-wage jobs comes forth, we will be prepared." 

Lastly, Aaron Bowman, Senior Vice President of Business Development for JaxUSA spoke, stating, "JaxUSA represents seven northeast counties of Florida and our job is to bring and expand companies here. Once a company makes a decision to come someplace, they're ready to get started and that's what's held this area back for so many years. We couldn't give them (the companies) a defined path of when the utilities could be here. That has changed and so, we've got a lot of companies in the que that are ready and are going to be interested in this property. Manufacturing brings great jobs and for every one manufacturing job, it makes about 3 total jobs." 

Thank you to everyone who attended today's event. We trust that you found it informative and left with a better understanding of how the Crawford Diamond area benefits Nassau County's economy. 

If you were unable to attend but would like to see the presentations from today's ceremony, please click here. 

Note: the development around the Crawford Diamond includes the approximately 1,800 acre Crawford Diamond Industrial Park which currently has about 400 acres available for development and approximately 187 acres of property south of Crawford Road. For additional information about Crawford Diamond industrial development opportunities, please contact the Nassau County Economic Development Board at (904) 225-8878 or visit their website at www.nassauflorida.com. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
[email protected]
 
 
ELECTED OFFICIALS SITE TOUR AND PROGRESS UPDATE FOR THE CALLAHAN WATER & SEWER EXPANSION PROJECT
 
Nassau County, Florida, September 4, 2023 – On Monday, September 11, 2023, the Town of Council of Callahan will host a site tour for the Board of County Commissioners and provide a progress update on the Town’s water and sewer expansion project which will provide utilities to the Crawford Diamond Industrial Park and the surrounding area.
 
The Crawford Diamond Industrial Park is a McCallum Sweeney Certified Industrial Park consisting of 1,814 acres and approved for up to 10.5 million square feet of industrial use. It’s proximity to three ports, two interstates, and two railroad lines makes it a prime location to drive economic development with the opportunity to bring thousands of jobs to Nassau County. However, attracting companies has been difficult due to the lack of water and sewer services at the site.
 
To resolve this issue, the Nassau County Prosperity Plan provided $4.5 million of funding for an industrial water plant to support the Crawford Diamond Industrial Park.  The funding provided a match for the anticipated $11.4 million State DEO Jobs Grants award to the Town of Callahan to construct a 3 million gallons per day (mgd) water plant to support job creating industrial development.  This combined collaboration makes the $15.9 million project attainable.  With the utility portion in process, a coalition consisting of the Board of County Commissioners, the Nassau County Economic Development Board, JaxUSA, Florida Power and Light and the Town of Callahan are collaborating to market the site to potential developments.
 
Work commenced on the water and sewer expansion project in 2021 with the design/build project awarded to TB Landmark (contractor) and Mittauer & Associates (Design Engineers).   To date, approximately 3.6 miles of line along Highway 301 to the site have been installed.  The electrical control building, high service water pumps and three wells are in the works with completion expected by mid-2024.
 
“The success of any entity, be it a family, church, business, or country, starts with a strong foundation. For the Crawford Diamond Industrial Park, a big part of that foundation is the water and wastewater system. The Town of Callahan looks forward to serving the businesses that come and build upon this foundation”, stated Randy Knagge, Mayor for the Town of Callahan.
 
On September 11, 2023 at 9:00 a.m., representatives from the Town of Callahan will host a brief site tour for the Board of County Commissioners and provide an update on the project, including anticipated timeline for completion. The event will take place at the Crawford Diamond at the entrance leading into the Industrial Park off Woods Lane. The public is welcome to attend the project update. The site tour will be limited to The Callahan Town Council, Board of County Commissioners and previously identified staff.   
 
Should you have any questions, please reach out to Shawna Gugliuzza, Town Clerk, at (904) 879-3801 extension 203, or via email at [email protected].
 
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
[email protected]
 

Board to Designate $4 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Funding to Town of Callahan to Expand Water & Sewer Services for Economic Development and Job Growth in Nassau County
 
Nassau County, Florida, June 23, 2022 – The Crawford Diamond Industrial Park is a McCallum Sweeney Certified Industrial Park consisting of 1,814 acres and approved for up to 10.5 million square feet of heavy industrial use. It’s proximity to three ports, two interstates, and two railroad lines makes it a prime location for Economic Development with the opportunity to brings thousands of jobs to Nassau County. However, attracting companies has been difficult due to the site’s lack of water and sewer services.

A coalition consisting of the Board of County Commissioners, the Nassau County Economic Development Board, JaxUSA, and the Town of Callahan have been collaborating efforts to expand the Town’s current water and sewer system to the Crawford Diamond.  
In an attempt to fund the expansion, the Town of Callahan applied for a 21/22 Florida Job Growth Public Infrastructure Grant from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity in the amount of $4 million. In order to qualify for the grant, the Town of Callahan needed support from the Board of County Commissioners. The County’s contribution will be the final financial piece to make this estimated $12 million project a reality.  The investments into these critical infrastructure projects will place the County in a very competitive position to bring significant economic development and job growth within the County. 

On January 4, 2022, County Manager, Taco Pope, sent a letter to the Economic Development Board tentatively committing $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received from the U.S. Department of Treasury following the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding the project is consistent with guidelines set forth by the U.S. Treasury and the Nassau County Prosperity Plan adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in May 2021.

In the January 4th memo, Mr. Pope stated, “The establishment of a public water system to serve the Crawford Diamond Industrial Park supports community goals by creating a more diversified, resilient, sustainable and prosperous local economic ecosystem; improves access to public water; creates high wage jobs; leverages state and federal dollars to build strategic infrastructure; and expands the local tax base”.

We are excited to announce that on Monday, June 20, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis visited Nassau County and presented the Town of Callahan with a check to assist in funding the project! This funding is in addition to $4 million awarded to the Town during the previous fiscal year.

Following the Governor’s check presentation to the Town of Callahan, County Manager, Taco Pope, stated, “This is a big day for Nassau County! By working together to find solutions, the Coalition has finally found a way to bring water to the Crawford Diamond. The Board of Commissioners will continue to invest in infrastructure and to expanding our County’s workforce to strengthen our local economy”.

Construction of the water plant follows the $9 million Crawford Road improvements project completed by the Board of County Commissioners in November 2021. Later this year, the Board of County Commissioners will commence a $2 million intersection improvements project at US 301 and Crawford Road to allow heavy truck traffic to access the Crawford Diamond Industrial Park.
​
Sherri Mitchell, Executive Director for the Nassau County Economic Development Board, stated, “This is such an exciting time for Nassau County and I couldn’t be more thrilled! When we all work together to create planned developments that are diverse, we are truly paving the way for a stronger future. I want to thank the Board of County Commissioners and the Town of Callahan for their commitment to this specific infrastructure project for the Crawford Diamond. Infrastructure is crucially important to foster Nassau County’s economic development and prosperity. This is a game changer and will have a direct effect as it contributes to higher productivity and growth, facilitates connectivity, and promotes economic inclusion”.