Mark Litten, Vice President of Economic Development, Putnam County Chamber of Commerce

In an interview with Invest: Mark Litten, Vice President of Economic Development at the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, discussed talent attraction and retention, how Putnam’s low-cost industrial land makes it an attractive option to invest in, and why the chamber is focusing on advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, warehouse/distribution/logistics, as well as agribusiness.

What makes Putnam County a great place to live and invest in?

Putnam County has an abundance of natural resources. One of our past slogans was, “It’s Our Nature,” highlighting the county’s natural beauty. It is like a hidden gem that is gradually being discovered. Most residents were born and raised here, and they intend to stay because they love living here. We are known as the bass fishing capital of the world, and we host the Bassmaster Elite fishing tournament almost every year. This event attracts the Top 100 professional fishermen globally, who come to fish the St. Johns River. The most recent tournament took place in early April, with Fox Sports broadcasting it eight times. It is a four-day event similar to golf: the Top 100 fish on Thursday and Friday, the Top 50 on Saturday, and the final Top 10 on Sunday. The winner takes home $150,000, which is significant. Fishing and hunting are popular here.

We have numerous walking paths and trails, including one that stretches from Gainesville through Palatka to St. Augustine, and another that extends north into Clay County. This offers plenty of recreational opportunities.

We are also a manufacturing hub, though we lack the corporate or financial tech centers of Jacksonville or St. Augustine. Our focus is on advanced manufacturing. Our largest industry is the Georgia-Pacific paper mill, employing about 1,000 people. It is a massive operation, producing brands like Sparkle, Brawny, Angel Soft, and Quilted Northern. We also have the Seminole Electric Cooperative power plant, which generates electricity from both coal and natural gas. We have a solid core of manufacturing jobs, but we need more, as 58% of our workforce, aged 18 to 65, commute out of the county daily for work. This is higher than the 35% to 45% range of neighboring counties. Increasing local jobs and attracting capital investment are priorities.

Aside from advanced manufacturing, what are the key strategic sectors in Putnam County that could bring economic development and prosperity?

In 2023, I drafted a new five-year strategic action plan, called Elevate Putnam County, which runs from 2024 to 2028. Our goal is to increase primary jobs and capital investment in the county. We identified several target industries, including advanced manufacturing, aviation and aerospace, and warehouse distribution logistics. Agribusiness is also key, as Putnam County is one of the few counties in Florida that has added farmland instead of losing it to urban sprawl.

On the housing front, there have not been many new constructions, although there is a project to build 700 homes on State Route 207 between Palatka,  and St. Augustine. It is going through the zoning change process with the county commission. Part of our strategic plan includes measurable goals to hold us accountable, such as creating 750 new primary jobs and 225 indirect support jobs over the next five years, as well as attracting $500 million in new capital investment.

What are some strategic advantages that Putnam County has over other counties in Northeast Florida?

We still have the quality of life that other communities are losing, which is important. Being 20 miles inland, we handle hurricanes better than coastal counties like Duval and St. Johns. Flooding is a significant issue there, but not here. This inland location minimizes business downtime during major hurricane events, providing a strategic advantage.

With 1,200 people moving to Florida daily, not all can live on the Atlantic or Gulf Coasts; they will need to move inland. Just as Clay and St. Johns counties have grown, we are the next to experience population growth. We are already benefiting from the overall population growth and relocations occurring in Florida.

What measures is the Chamber of Commerce taking to create a booming business environment and assist businesses seeking to start, grow, or relocate to Putnam?

We now have a blueprint for growth over the next five years, which we are going to follow and implement. It is difficult to look beyond that because the economy changes. Who would have thought four years ago that we would be paying $3.55 a gallon for gas? The economy changes with capitalism and markets shift. We want to be adaptable and nimble over the next five years, knowing things will change.

As for the reasons for a company to invest in Putnam County, these include the cost of industrially zoned land. In surrounding counties like Duval, St. Johns, and Clay, industrial-zoned land goes for $150,000 to $300,000 per acre, whereas here, it is worth $40,000 an acre. We are the low-cost option in the region and have an abundance of industrially zoned land with infrastructure — water, sewer, gas, electric, and broadband.

Ten years from now, you will not recognize Putnam County. It is on the verge of significant growth. If you were in St. Augustine or St. Johns County 15 to 20 years ago, you would see the change. They are now overcapacity and do not want more people coming because it is too crowded.

The growth is coming from the east and down U.S. 17 from Clay County, Fleming Island, and Green Cove Springs. Once the First Coast Expressway is completed, with a new bridge across the St. Johns River, high-profile barge containers can pass. This will open Port Putnam, where we are working with the county and the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the river in preparation.

What initiatives or programs is the Chamber of Commerce implementing to foster workforce development in the region?

About 15 years ago, the chamber had a Workforce Development Task Force that disbanded around the 2008-2012 recession. We lost many jobs, especially in manufacturing, which affected Putnam County severely. We have been slowly recovering since then.

Now, we have relaunched the task force with a strategic plan, including action items related to infrastructure and business growth in Putnam County. We work with the state of Florida to offer incentives to companies wanting to grow here. The idea is to let these businesses thrive, hire people, and subsequently improve the local economy. A rising tide lifts all boats, and that is the scenario we are beginning to see.

Our relaunched task force will also bring together educational and training providers, the Putnam County School District, St. Johns River State College, CareerSource, JAXUSA, and major employers in the county. Everyone is now at the table, collaborating on attracting and training talent.

The challenge now is the generational shift. Many younger, especially Gen Z, workers have different expectations and motivations compared to previous generations. They often prioritize causes over financial gain, which can affect their work commitment. Companies struggle to attract and retain talent because some younger workers do not see money as a primary motivator and may lack a traditional work ethic.

This is a noticeable trend that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in the educational system and increased dependence on government support. Many people have not transitioned back to the workforce, creating difficulties for businesses needing to fill positions.

Remote work preferences also complicate matters, especially in industries like manufacturing where physical presence is essential. Companies are grappling with accessing talent and filling jobs, which is why we have relaunched our Workforce Development Task Force. It is about addressing these issues collectively in Putnam County. Problems did not arise overnight, and they will not be fixed overnight, but we are committed to breaking down these barriers.