The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce today honored JAXPORT Chief Commercial Officer Roy Schleicher (pictured left) with its International Business Leader Award. The ceremony took place at the Chamber’s 4th Quarter Cornerstone Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton (right) presented the award to Roy, thanking him for his ongoing efforts to increase international opportunities in the region. In accepting the honor, Roy thanked the entire JAXPORT team for assisting him in working toward fulfilling the port’s promise.

 

Two export seminars are being offered this month:

The first, “Introduction to Exporting,” will be held on Nov. 17 in Yulee. This training session is designed for new-to-export firms in need of expert advice on export basics. This course is ideal for marketing and sales management and staff, export operations personnel, purchasing, logistics, and anyone with a responsibility for export functions.

Intro to Exporting
Tuesday, Nov. 17
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Betty P. Cook Nassau Center at Florida State College at Jacksonville
76346 William Burgess Blvd., Yulee, FL
Cost: $25
For more info:  www.FloridaExporter.com/NassauCounty

The second export class, entitled “Florida Export Finance Seminar,” will be held on Nov. 20 in South Florida. Representatives from the Florida International Bankers’ Association (FIBA), the U.S. Export-Import Bank and the Small Business Administration will be on hand to answer export finance questions.

Florida Export Finance Seminar
Friday, Nov. 20
9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Intercontinental West Hotel – Doral
2505 NW 87th Avenue, Doral, FL 33172
Cost: $65
For more info:  www.fiba-events.net/eventdetails.asp?EventID=1183439955

The Clay County Chamber of Commerce is planning a China business and educational trip in April 2010. The trip includes airfare from JFK, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, English-speaking tour guides, entrance fees to attractions and all taxes. As JAXPORT and our port partners work to increase trade through Jacksonville, a trip like this gives business owners and representatives the opportunity to learn about Chinese culture, build relationships, and make new contacts with industry overseas.

Cost of the trip is $1,999 for Clay County Chamber members and $2,299 for non-members.

For more information, read the Clay County Chamber’s China trip brochure or contact Leah Zdenek at 904-394-0646 or lzdenek@claychamber.com. The last day to register is Jan. 1, 2010.

JAXPORT is giving away 50 copies of the following poster-sized maritime illustration.

 

The poster (18” x 24”) is the second in a port series by Neptune Beach-based illustrator Robert Dale.

To have one sent to you, please call us at (904) 357-3052. First come, first serve, while supplies last.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a $6 million Economic Development Administration grant to JAXPORT to help improve the Blount Island Marine Terminal railroad system. The grant will be used to rebuild existing track and rail ties, allowing JAXPORT to enhance its global competitiveness and continue to create and retain private sector jobs.

This award is the result of a grant proposal submitted by the port earlier this year in response to a competitive funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The award is not part of any federal stimulus program.

The 14-mile long single-track Blount Island rail system is owned by JAXPORT. CSX Transportation (CSX) provides cargo movement by rail to and from the terminal for JAXPORT tenants, as well as for the U.S. Marine Corps command unit situated on Blount Island. More than 30 percent of all Blount Island cargo moves by rail, with the remainder moving by truck.

The Blount Island rail system is more than 40 years old and the grant project calls for the replacement of those portions of the existing track that have outlived their usefulness.

Other grant facts:

• JAXPORT will contribute $1.7 million in matching funds to the project
• More than 19 thousand linear feet (3.5 miles) of new rail will be laid down
• More than 12 thousand timber ties will be replaced
• 15 new turnouts will be built
• The new portions of rail line will follow the same footprint as the existing line
• At 754 acres, Blount Island is JAXPORT’s largest marine terminal
• Approximately 80 percent of all JAXPORT container cargo moves through Blount Island
• JAXPORT moved nearly 8 and a half million tons of cargo in 2008

For more information, please contact Nancy Rubin, JAXPORT’s Director of Communications.