Peyton: Saft Battery Plant will Put Jax on Map

[Adam Hollingsworth]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34206377@N08/3619486565/

Heard from the Mayor today and here's a quick recap of his voicemail...He toured the Saft Battery plant in Nersac, France (see photo link above). 

Of the tour, he said: "The Saft plant is amazing.  This high tech industry will put Jacksonville on the map for anything related to renewable energy.  I had to wear gloves, mask and foot covers on the tour, fearing that I might contaminate the particle-free, moisture-free, high tech-environment.  This is new age stuff, requiring highly skilled workers and it plays to our sweet spot for new jobs."

(You'll remember that Saft is the company that announced plans last month to build a lithium battery manufacturing plant at Cecil Commerce Center.  The plant would result in a capital investment of approximately $200 million and create 800 new jobs within three years.)   

Cool stuff and can't wait to hear more when he returns. 

[BridgeTroll]

Great news!  I hope it works out for us.  Any pictures of the plant forthcoming?

[Charles Hunter]

Isn't the Saft plant's coming here dependent on winning a highly competitive Dept. of Energy grant program?  What are Saft's chances - that is, how many applicants, going after how much money?

I wish them well, it sounds like a great addition to Jacksonville!

[Ocklawaha]

Even with half my brain on a vacation in Central Colombia, I still can imagine the scene when thousands of very heavy trucks are mowing down every car on Interstate 10. When super heavy loads start to chew up the pavement. Time to get the rails back down between Cecil Commerce Center and the CSX/NS interchanges.

What's wonderful news for Jacksonville could be a death sentence for our local roads. Adam? You still out there? Talk to me Sunday and we'll see what we can stir up. Citizens rail advisory committee?? I'm in my friend, I'll even lead the attack.

OCKLAWAHA

[NotNow]

No matter the result of the Saft deal, the rail link to Cecil should be done.  Ock, what do you estimate the cost of such a link to be?

[thelakelander]

Where will the Saft Battery Plant be located within the Cecil complex?  North or South of Normandy?  In any event, Saft will be a welcome addition to the Jax community.

As for installing a rail spur to Cecil, you can probably land CDBG grants to pay for the construction of a rail link to Cecil Commerce Center.  This was done for a city-owned 3.2 mile rail spur in Haines City a few years back.  That $5.2 million project was done to entice a large concrete manufacturer and other industrial prospects to locate to a site that was a couple of miles south of the CSX mainline.

Haines City rail spur

The City of Haines City was embarking on an ambitious industrial development program to bring industry and jobs into Polk County.  They initiated an economic development program to bring new rail access to a growing industrial zone within the City.  Two State Grants were developed by Bergmann and appropriated to help fund the project.  Assisted by Bergmann, Haines City negotiated a deal with CSX to provide new rail service along an abandoned CSX right-of-way which had not had tracks present for over 15 years. The City purchased the right-of-way and retained Bergmann to provide planning, design, permitting, and construction services for the new 3.2 mile long rail lead that acts as the backbone for the new rail service into the developing industrial zone.  Design efforts included a new 1,500 foot long siding and rail spurs into one existing industrial client.

http://www.bergmannpc.com/Portfolio/Detail.aspx?portfolioid=19

[samiam]

If the company in the suppled link is economically viable it would be a good fit at Cecil field. They could work hand in hand with the saft plant


http://www.studebakermotorcompany.com/index.phtml

[Charles Hunter]

There once was a rail line going into Cecil, it's where I-10 has an overpass over, well, nothing between that new interchange and Baldwin.  I think the TPO has money to put a Rail-Trail there, to connect up to the Baldwin Rail-Trail.  Is there enough room for both a rail line and the bike trail?

[thelakelander]

^Yes. 

[mtraininjax]

Saft plant, oh boy, I can hardly contain myself, Atlanta is bringing in companies to migrate from the North with rich white collar jobs, and we have Saft batteries with blue collar jobs.

Jerry, Adam, John, if you think small, you will ALWAYS BE SMALL!!!!!