1. Suwannee County Proposed
Catalyst Site Expansion
April 17, 2015
Presented by
Dr. Alvin B. Jackson, Jr. & Jimmy Massey
Suwannee County Economic Development Office

2. Background
• Selected in 2007
• Developed with the help of the State of Florida as a
strategy for economic development in Florida’s Rural
Area of Critical Economic Concern (RACEC)
• Focused on targeting tomorrow’s most promising
industries with the goal of creating high value-added
jobs, capital investment, and an economic benefit
that will ripple throughout each RACEC.

3. Existing Catalyst Site
• Location: 7 miles west of Live Oak on US
Highway 90; ½ mile from Interstate 10
interchange
• Acres: 500 acres
• Infrastructure: Water Plant, electric,
natural gas, fiber, and rail spur from CSX
mainline, (soon to be under construction)

5. Existing Catalyst Site Success
• The first resident of the Catalyst Site is Klausner Lumber One,
a high-tech facility that will create 350 permanent jobs, inject
• $130 million in capital investment.
• Klausner began operations in January 2015.
• Created 120 permanent jobs, to date.
• Will create additional 200+ jobs by end of year, when second
and third shift is added.
• Project has created approx. 270 indirect jobs
• Klausner is purchasing goods and services from local
companies

6. Companies Locating adjacent or near
Catalyst Site
1. Project Padre- 200,000 MT Wood Pellet Factory
 $26 mil capital investment
 80 new jobs
 15 acres
 Exporter
 Est operating by Jan 2016
2. Project Cross City-Raw Pine Bark Plant
 $1 mil capital investment
 5 new jobs
 20 acres
 Under construction

7. Prospects
1. Rail Terminal Operator- In the Existing site-
100 acres, 30 jobs. $1 mil capital investment
2. Pressure Wood Treatment Plant- looking
both inside the site and adjacent to site- 70-
90 new jobs, $8.8 mil. capital investment
3. Carrot Processing Plant- 200 acres in the
area, 200 new jobs.
4. Agri-Tourism-Dairy Living Exhibit site-200
acres, 15-20 jobs

8. Rationale for Proposed Catalyst Site
Expansion
 With more than half of the existing Catalyst site developed, and only 60
acres available which is owned by Suwannee County there is a serious
need to expand the Catalyst site, for access to the much needed assistance
from the State of Florida for infrastructure improvements, incentives for
job creation and to remain competitive in the region.
 There are over 10,000 acres available for potential development for
industrial, warehousing, manufacturing and logistics sites.
 The I-10/HWY 90 interchange has 2 large parcels, one 100 acres – north
side and 77 acres –south side of the interchange. These sites are prime
sites. Both sites have rail access, natural gas and fiber, however no water
lines. Water lines could be extended from the existing Catalyst site, the
distance is approx. 9000 linear feet and an estimated cost of $1.1 mil.

9. Description of Expansion
• 8400 acres
• Sections 22,23,26,27,33,34 and 35, TWP 01
South, Range 12 East; and Sections 1,2,3,4,
and 12, TWP 02 South, Range 12 East; and
Section 7, TWP 02 South, Range 13 East.
• 316 Parcels

11. Countywide Data
• Population- 44,168
• Unemployment Rate - 7.5%
• Average Annual Wage-$29,720
• Poverty Rate- 21.90%

12. Visit www.floridasnewfrontier.com