FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 21, 2015
40 JOBS WILL BE CREATED IN NEPTUNE BEACH THANKS TO BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
~Remediated sites to become location for viable businesses~
NEPTUNE BEACH – A
contaminated site in the city of Neptune Beach will soon be remediated and
replaced with viable businesses, bringing jobs and contributing to the economy. This is made possible thanks to collaboration between Penman Plaza Associates,
LLP and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Representatives
from Penman Plaza Associates, LLP recently executed a Brownfield Site
Rehabilitation Agreement that will result in full-time job creation in the
department’s Northeast District.
Darrin
McKeehen, Northeast District's brownfield coordinator, has worked closely
with the city of Neptune Beach to execute a Brownfield Area Designation and Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreement at the
Penman Plaza site to facilitate redevelopment. Simultaneously, Ashleigh Fountain, Northeast District’s project
manager for the site, has been working with Penman Plaza Associates, LLP,
to facilitate site assessment and remediation.
"We
are excited for these new job opportunities that are coming to the greater
Jacksonville area," said DEP's Northeast District Director Greg Strong.
"Not only are these businesses bringing new economic opportunities to the
region, but they are also cleaning up contamination and restoring the
environmental integrity of the sites. It is a win for Florida's environment and
economy."
Ace
Hardware has committed to opening a store in one of the Penman Plaza parcels and the second parcel
is currently in negotiations for future redevelopment and further job creation.
The proposed Ace Hardware project is anticipated to create
approximately 40 permanent, full-time jobs.
Established in 1997,
the Florida Brownfield Redevelopment Program utilizes economic and regulatory
incentives to encourage the use of private revenue to restore and redevelop
sites, create new jobs and boost the local economy. Partners in the
Florida Brownfield Redevelopment Program include local governments, the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Economic
Opportunity and Enterprise Florida, Inc. For more information about the Florida
Brownfield Redevelopment Program click here.
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