ORLANDO, Fla.,None — The city of Orlando is giving grocery store giant Publix financial incentives to build a one million square foot, $188 million distribution center.
The massive center would be built on a piece of land off the Beachline near Goldenrod. The City of Orlando is in the process of making the empty field more attractive for the mega-grocery chain to build on.
To give you an idea of just how big a million square foot distribution center is, it's like taking four Orlando City Halls and putting them together.
The city has plenty of reasons for wanting the company to choose this location to build.
"The capital investment, the additional tax revenue, the investment made to our tax base, the jobs that are created," said Kathy Devault of the Orlando Economic Development Department.
Publix hasn't set the plans in stone, and doesn't have to build at the site.
Publix already owns the land, but Orlando wants to change its status with the state to be considered a "Brownfield" area, which means the state will give Publix some pricey incentives to build.
"Probably the most appealing incentive to a potential business on a Brownfield-designated site is the fact that they can apply for $2,500 in a tax rebate for each job created," Devault said.
Publix said the new site would add at least 150 new jobs, and the company have no plans to lose this distribution site on Sand Lake Road.
"Will it be years before they could go ahead? We don't expect it will be years. We are hoping that this project moves forward expeditiously," Devault said.
The City Council will make the final vote to change the land's status on Jan. 9.
WFTV
