Jim Renninger, Chairman, Clay County Board of County Commissioners

Commissioner of Clay County Jim Renninger spoke with Invest: about the impact of road projects in the county, the challenges it faces as it transforms from a rural residential area to a suburb, and the factors that make Clay a great place to live and work. 

What have been the main highlights and milestones for Clay County in the past year?

We had a major road construction that connects I-95 to I-10, which are two main interstate highways. That connection has promoted residential development in the area thanks to the improved access to two major arteries. We have also undertaken a road-building effort, including a bonding issue of about $159 million that turned into a $200 million project to connect those interstate highways to residential and commercial development areas inside Clay County.

We also recently embarked on the issuing of $65 million in bonds to develop public emergency services. We will build five new fire stations and training facilities for our public safety personnel. We are preparing for the growth before it gets here, which is challenging because we are growing so fast. 

How has Clay County benefited from the population growth and business relocations and expansions that are taking place in the Greater Jacksonville area?

Clay County is adjacent to the city of Jacksonville, which is a high-growth NFL city. The city of Jacksonville recently approved a $1.4 billion stadium renovation that included a commitment for the Jacksonville Jaguars to stay here for 30 years. Longevity is important in any business deal, and the NFL is a driving force of economic development. When a company moves here, their personnel like having things to do, and the NFL is high on their priority list. 

We are also doing well in terms of drawing industry. Clay County is next to Cecil Airport, which is a spaceport looking to attract aerospace companies. We also have quite a bit of land, which helped us attract a water bottling plant called Niagara as well as a $275 million roofing company. In terms of attracting people, we subscribe to the philosophy that people want to live where they work and play. Clay County has a robust outdoor activity offering, with lakes, the St. Johns River, and the ocean not too far. There is also a lot of hunting, fishing and water activities, which are draws for people to move here. 

What are the key factors that make Clay County a great place to live and work?

One key is the access to a variety of local entertainment functions: the NFL is within 20 miles of anybody’s home in Clay County, and Orlando, a major tourist industry, is just a couple hours’ drive away. The rural aspect of Clay County is also very important. People can live on a dirt road and be at their main city in 15 to 20 minutes. If you are an outdoorsy person who likes hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities, we are right in the center of that.

What industries offer the most important business opportunities in Clay County?

We are complimentary to a lot of industries in Jacksonville – finance, aerospace, and manufacturing. The most prominent industry we have here is Vac-Con. That company is a world leader in the production of trucks that can vacuum out storm drains or any other underground piping. We are also known for our water sports, including fishing, kayaking, and boating.

What initiatives or programs is Clay County implementing to support new businesses coming to the region and to create economic development in the area?

We participate frequently in state grants for economic development and are very supportive of those grants. That includes the investments that companies bring to the area, job creation, and a significant tax break over the next 15 to 20 years. That draws industry and makes us competitive compared to other juggernauts of industry development in North Carolina, Georgia, or Houston. 

What are the most important challenges that Clay County faces and how are you addressing them?

Some of the major challenges are keeping up with development, whether that is in infrastructure, emergency management, or emergency services. Transportation is always a problem, so maintaining and building infrastructure compounds that challenge. We have embarked on a $200 million road project and a $65 million emergency services project, so we are trying to keep pace.

We are emerging from a rural-residential to a more suburban area, which is a challenge. Our current residents moved here for the ruralness of the county, but that is changing. About 1,000 people cross the state border into Florida every day, and they make their first stop in Clay County for three reasons. We have great schools, low taxes, and a reputation of being safe and secure within the state. Many people are looking for those elements, so they choose to live here. 

This region also has a significant military presence with a lot of active-duty people stationed here. Many of them like it and choose to return, so there is a significant number of military retirees relocating after their service.

What kind of workforce development measures has Clay County implemented to develop a skilled workforce?

We work with partners in the county to offer a significant internship program with our high schools. We actively pursue high school students to learn a trade at the Clay County Utility Authority, our firefighting force in emergency services, or in finance with a credit union. The goal is that students can be immediately hired once they graduate from high school because they are skilled and qualified to join the apprenticeship programs that we offer.

We also have a significant number of industries that help students figure out what they want to do in life and that help the county to retain that talent. 

How is Clay County working to attract tourism to the county and to the Greater Jacksonville area?

Our Tourism Development Council is focused on that. We provide funds for external entertainment venues to come to Clay County and attract out-of-state and out-of-region visitors. We also invest heavily in advertising, whether it is for a county fair, an equine event, or the Scottish-type games we have. Our county fair is probably the most prominent tourist-type development activity. It takes place over 10 days in April and even schools shut down for a day to let students attend. We also heavily endorse outside activities to come and entertain our public.

How will Clay County’s road projects impact business attraction, new land developments and the construction of infrastructure and real estate in the area?

The outer beltway – SR-23 – connects with I-10, which runs all the way to Los Angeles as well as with I-95, which goes to the tip of Florida. That will have and is having a significant impact on economic development in Clay County. Jacksonville is known for its great interstate connectivity, vibrant air transportation activity, and its port. That means businesses can ship by rail, boat, or semi-truck very easily. 

What are the county’s most important priorities, goals, and plans for the next two to three years?

The fentanyl crisis is prevalent throughout the whole country, so we are concerned about drug use and overdosing. It is such a tragic event in a family’s or individual’s life that we cannot let it go unnoticed. We have a paramedicine program focused on educating and helping people with addictions. We are trying to impact the addictions of people to either legal or illegal drugs. 

Additionally, as a non-coastal county, we are actively pursuing land-based recreational activities. We just built an outdoor activity center that is basically a 159-acre, 30-lane gun range. It was built for our sheriff’s department, but we also demanded that it have some civilian use so people can enjoy it.

We are also developing a regional park comprising 250 acres with eight multipurpose fields. We have received positive responses, with national and international interest in using those fields for everything from soccer to lacrosse, rugby, and spikeball. We completed Phase 1 of that project, but Phase 2 and 3 are on the books. We will develop that soon to provide more local, state, national, and international use.