During the Careers and Workforce Subcommittee’s Oct. 15 meeting, members and speakers addressed the loss of Jabil’s new manufacturing facility to North Carolina, but the Commerce Secretary expressed confidence in Florida’s ability to secure future bids.
In July, longtime Pinellas-based manufacturer Jabil accepted a bid by Rowan County in North Carolina for a new $500 million AI and cloud data infrastructure facility, causing Pinellas to lose out on 1,200 new jobs.
Jabil, headquartered in Pinellas since 1982, manufactures electronic components and devices for industries including automotive, healthcare, aerospace and defense.
Besides Jabil’s 43-year manufacturing relationship with Pinellas, owner William Morean’s sister Beth Morean has been central to developing St. Petersburg’s arts scene, helping establish the first permanent Chihuly glass museum and founding the Morean Center for Clay and the Morean Arts Center. The Morean siblings have been instrumental in developing Pinellas County on two distinct fronts.
During the committee meeting, Congressman Berny Jacques questioned the Secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce about Jabil’s decision to establish its new plant in North Carolina, asking, “What can we do from a policy-making perspective to be in a better, competitive situation?”
While Pinellas lost out on the $500 million AI plant, Jabil will expand its existing local operation, adding hundreds of new jobs to the existing local business, according to Kelly. “We have a great relationship with Jabil,” he said. “It’s an amazing company.”
As for losing the other bid, Kelly explained that Rowan County, North Carolina, beat St. Pete because they tapped a “mega-fund” of taxpayer dollars to attract Jabil, “essentially doling out tens of millions of dollars in cash.” Kelly continued, “Every now and then that does happen and to be frank I would not advise you to go down that path. That’s a state that’s willing to take taxpayer dollars out for nothing in particular.”
“We look at the long-term relationship. We know confidently that from a workforce standpoint, from a community standpoint, an infrastructure standpoint, all things you do every year to make an incredible tax environment for the state, we know that long-term we are going to win more of those conversations.”
In a follow-up with Poliverse, Jacques corroborated Kelly’s self-assured rhetoric. “I’m very confident in Florida’s ability to secure other bids. Governor DeSantis and Secretary Kelly have the track record in doing so.”
Part of Jacques’ confidence in Kelly stems from Kelly’s work overseeing Pinellas County’s export assistance program. Launched a decade ago (not by Kelly), this three-county collaboration among Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco cuts red tape, connecting local manufacturers and service providers directly with international buyers, elevating local businesses into the global market.