City Council approves $100000 grant for Flying W Plastics plant

City Council unanimously approved a $100,000 grant for a West Virginia-based plastic and piping manufacturer to subsidize building improvements for a new plant in Northwest Jacksonville.

Flying W Plastics Inc. agreed to create 28 jobs and invest an estimated $8 million to renovate an existing industrial facility at 109 Stevens St., north of Interstate 10, according to documents from the city Office of Economic Development.

Resolution 2020-132 includes a development agreement detailing the job creation and capital investment conditions. The money would come from interest income in the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund.

Council approved the resolution during its June 23 meeting.

A project summary dated May 18 attached to the bill says it would be the second Flying W Plastics plant in the U.S. and serve the company's Florida and Southeast market customers.

Flying W Plastics was established in 1984 and serves municipal, oil, gas, telecommunications and commercial and residential real estate customers, according to the company website.

The jobs, predominantly in manufacturing, will pay an average annual wage of $45,429, according the project summary .

The company would have the jobs in place by Dec. 31, 2021, the summary states. The city said the plant's total annual payroll will be $1.27 million, excluding benefits. 

Duval County Property Appraiser records show the 170,550-square-foot building at the site was built in 1959. It sits on 7.48 acres purchased by 109 Stevens LLC in July 2015. It is appraised at $1.22 million.

City economic development officials said in the summary that the company will invest $350,000 in exterior upgrades, including bringing a rail spur back online.

The company told city officials it will work with JEA to increase the building's electrical system capacity. Flying W Plastics said its capital investment will include machinery and equipment purchases, the city states.

It's unclear if the company will purchase or lease the facility. 

City of Melbourne, Florida City Council Meeting June 9, 2020