Nassau County: Where tourism and
industry intersect with great results.
Hilliard Airpark Port of
Fernandina
NASSAU Fernandina
JACKSONVILLE AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA SPONSORED SECTION 13
Nassau County
Historic downtown Amelia Island
The East Nassau Community Planning Area and its
Wildlight development may get more attention from
the casual observer, with its mixed-use plans and visibility
off of I-95. But another major development project
tucked away in the western part of Nassau County may
have more of an economic and job-creating impact.
The Crawford Diamond Industrial Park is an 1,800-acre
site entitled for up to 10.5 million square feet of “heavy”
industrial space, says Laura DiBella, executive director of
the Nassau County Economic Development Board.
“Nothing small will land at this site,” she says. “We’re
going after the heaviest of the heavy.”
What sets Crawford apart from other industrial sites is
its location at the intersection of two Class I railroad lines
(CSX and Norfolk Southern), DiBella says. It’s also within
a two-hour drive of four deep-water ports.
Nassau County has long had a reputation as a vacation
spot with two high-end oceanfront resorts, the Omni
Amelia Island Plantation and the Ritz-Carlton, as well as
the historic town of Fernandina Beach.
However, the Crawford and Wildlight projects promise
to bring new industrial growth that will not only benefit
Nassau County residents but also a skilled workforce of
800,000 people who live within a 60-minute drive, says
DiBella. She says interest among manufacturers is strong.
“The region as a whole will benefit and gain from the
significant presence of yet another large advanced manufacturer
choosing Northeast Florida as its home,” she says.
Heavy Hitters Welcome
Population 80,628
Labor Force 37,328
Total Households 31,320
Per Capita Income $32,238
Retail Spending $729.0 mil.
Stand-up paddle
boarding on the Atlantic
Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort
TERESANNE COSSETTA RUSSELL (MAP); DEREMER STUDIOS / NASSAU CNTY (TOP)
301
301
17
95
Beach
Amelia
Island
Fernandina
Beach
Municipal
Airport
Amelia Island
State Park
Yulee