St. Johns County in Northeast Florida has recently been named the 2025 Urban Deal of the Year by the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC). The award, presented during the FEDC IGNITE Conference earlier this month, acknowledges the county's significant collaboration with Publix Super Markets, the JAXUSA Regional Partnership, and Scannell Properties for a new $145 million Publix pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. According to a release by St. Johns County, the facility is expected to open in 2026.
St. Johns County evidently managed to effectively leverage local assets to attract the substantial investment from Publix. The facility aims to significantly bolster the regional economy by creating nearly 400 jobs that pay on average 125% of the county's average wage. “Economic development is a team sport, and this project highlights the power and importance of working collaboratively to find creative solutions that benefit our community. Our team is dedicated to attracting great business partners, like Publix Super Markets, to improve the economic prosperity of St. Johns County,” Sam Camp, Senior Project Manager for the St. Johns County Economic Development Department, told St. Johns County. With this initiative, the county aims to advance the economic prosperity of the region.
Back in February 2024, the country announced a substantial reinvestment package, which included $5.8 million in incentive support that was crucial in clinching this deal. The Publix facility will not only be a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub but is also set to fill a staggering 500,000 prescriptions a week once operational. It will span 168,480 square feet at Legend Point Logistics Crossing, an industrial park that was likely selected for its strategic advantages.
The project is seen as a milestone for Northeast Florida’s ambition to expand into high-end advanced manufacturing, particularly in the health and life sciences sectors. "This is a huge win for Northeast Florida – high-end advanced manufacturing jobs in health and life sciences, just the type of investment we are targeting," Heidi Jameson, Senior Director of Business Development for JAXUSA Partnership, said in a statement obtained by St. Johns County.
