Crawford Powell, President, Clay Florida Economic Development Corporation

Invest: spoke with Crawford Powell, president of the Clay Florida Economic Development Corporation, to discuss how investment in highway infrastructure and available space for development has Clay County poised for exciting economic growth. “The economic growth of the county is directly connected to the First Coast Expressway because it gives access to so much more property that can be developed,” he said.

What makes Clay County a great place to live and attract investment?

Clay has a great school system and growing population, so if you’re a business looking to relocate, we make a good argument. We’re adjacent to the assets of any major metropolitan area, from the airport to the interstate. Clay has a new expressway being built that bisects the county and opens up a tremendous amount of real estate that can be used for development purposes.

What are some of the key construction projects happening in Clay County?

The economic growth of the county is directly connected to the expressway because it gives access to so much more property that can be developed. It also gives residents looking to move into this area quick access to the major highways and greatly improves the quality of life here.

The expressway is the major component in the economic opportunity here, driving all of the growth that will happen in the county. There is a tremendous amount of residential development that will also come online over the next five years, which will in turn drive more commercial development. We’re also identifying manufacturing, logistics, and biomedical opportunities for companies looking to relocate into a growing and thriving community. 

What have been the major highlights of your term to date?

I’m proud of the development and expansion of the Niagara water bottling plant in the county. I also celebrate the conclusion of the IKO roofing project, which is a great impetus for the growth of the region. Healthcare facilities and hospitals continue to expand and provide more services.

What are the industries that are driving the economic growth of Clay County?

All of our industries are important because they provide jobs and opportunities for residents. I always say that if someone is working retail or part time at a lower wage, we work with companies that can provide full-time income, healthcare, and benefits, which can make a huge impact for families. I don’t want us to lose sight of what that means for our residents. These job opportunities provide a lifestyle change that impacts communities. It also creates more revenue for the county to continue increasing scalable services for residents.

We want to develop more light manufacturing, which is a tremendous multiplier to revenue that comes into the community. Biomedical technology hires highly educated and skilled workers, and that is something we hope to attract more of over the next few years. We’re in a good position geographically that we can support this type of industry growth with the workforce we have available here.

Industries look at regions that have a growing population. In our industry, we use the term “speed to market,” which is what companies look at when they make their decision on relocating. It’s about how fast they can be operational, from construction to zoning and permitting. The more of that work that has been completed on the front end, the quicker a company can make a location decision.

What is your assessment of workforce development in Clay County?

We have an annual workforce summit, inviting schools, colleges, and county leadership, including local employers. The schools provide us updates on data such as graduation rates and the types of programs they’re providing. We want our local employers aware of what our schools have available and how they can partner to create a more defined workforce. Several of our local employers support vocational training in the school system and assist in helping students to get certifications that are directly transferable in the job market after they graduate.

What are the advantages of Clay County for businesses looking to relocate?

Our population is growing, and that influx will continue. That means that Clay has an available workforce for a company to expand their operations and support their location decision. Companies aren’t looking at the bare minimum of staffing, but what they’ll need when they need to replace staff in the next 10 or 20 years. There needs to be a confidence that the pool of applicants will be strong to continue those operations. The expressway expansion exposed thousands of acres for redevelopment, and companies have taken note.

What are some of the challenges you see with the growth in Clay County?

Water and sewer expansion is critical for much of this development, which has occurred quickly. The infrastructure is catching up, especially with roadways and connectivity, which the county has done a great job of facilitating. Public services like sheriff, fire department, and parks and recreation will be looking for opportunities to expand services to support this population and economic growth. It’s well supported through the county’s long-term strategic plans. As the county grows, our funding and support grows. I hope to increase our staff to support this growth and our capacity.