Information Technology Industry

In the wild, wooly and often volatile technology sector, only the strong IT companies have survived. Those companies have done so by actively working to shave operational costs and seeking every possible advantage. In such a competitive environment, Jacksonville offers IT companies an abundance of competitive advantages. A business relocation or corporate expansion to the Jacksonville, Florida area will give your company a strong toehold from which to build further success. Our highly qualified and skilled workforce, state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure and excellent quality of life are a few of the elements you can use to build an advantageous home base for your IT business.

Jacksonville offers IT companies a state-of-the-art technology infrastructure capable of supporting all current and future information-dependent initiatives. Over the past three years, BellSouth has invested more than $100 million in improvements to the communications infrastructure throughout the region, including high-speed digital transmission, 100 percent electronic switching, self-healing fiber-optic ring architecture and enhanced voice applications. Jacksonville was the first U.S. city to create Wireless Internet Zones. All standard wireless devices have free, instant access to the Internet throughout these areas.

Choice, redundancy and bandwidth are key components of any information technology infrastructure. Jacksonville is a premier location for any industry seeking access to these three components. DSL abounds, redundancy exists in all areas of the city, and bandwidth is greater than any other city in Florida.

Technology companies in Jacksonville also have access to some of the lowest energy rates in the Southeast. Offered through JEA, Jacksonville’s municipal-owned electric, water and sewer utility, local utilities are consolidated, as well as being highly dependable and stable.

All of Northeast Florida boasts low property tax rates, no state income tax, empowerment zones, enterprise zones, low sales tax rates and low average wages, which make for a low-business-cost environment.

Workforce

Jacksonville’s unique location provides access to large numbers of college students and graduates. With two state universities nearby and Florida Community College at Jacksonville’s (FCCJ) Advanced Technology Center, a well-trained and educated workforce is assured. The University of North Florida (UNF) College of Computing Science and Engineering has nearly 1,000 students enrolled in its bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The University of Florida, less than 70 miles away, had more than 1,500 graduates in computer-related majors in the Colleges of Engineering, Business and Liberal Arts and Sciences last year.

FCCJ, the 10th-largest community college in the United States, is of particular importance in regard to technical training. Through partnerships with area businesses, FCCJ has pioneered innovative programs and become a skill center that provides career education in over 40 areas, as well as preparation for a four- year college.

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IT and Telecommunications Companies in Jacksonville
(this list is non-comprehensive)

• America Online
• AT&T
• BellSouth
• CSX Technologies
• Fidelity Information Services
• IBM
• Merrill Lynch
• MPS Group

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