10-22-26 Columbia County - EDAB Meeting

At the Columbia County Economic Development Advisory Board meeting on October 22, 2026, members considered a tax-rebate request for a Zach’s restaurant planned at the State Road 47 interchange. The project was described as a roughly $2.97 million investment expected to create 35–40 full-time-equivalent jobs. Staff’s scorecard indicated eligibility for a three-year rebate, while the applicant requested five years. After discussion of the project’s construction status, the prior incentive agreement for the broader Cornerstone development, and the need for consistent incentive rules, the board voted to table the request pending legal clarification and further review; no rebate was approved. Members also discussed reviewing incentive guidelines, including whether future rebates should benefit individual businesses locating within incentivized developments.

The board received updates on workforce programs and a proposed Florida Manufacturing Recovery and Resilience project supported by a federal EDA application; staff said Columbia County’s participation would require in-kind staff time rather than a direct financial contribution, and planned to notify the project partners that the county was on board. Members also discussed an approximately $3 billion steel-manufacturing prospect, potential state incentives, utilities, water and site requirements, and competition with Texas; no incentive or procurement award was made. Staff reported that the county had recently approved additional Kimley-Horn work, including support for developing data-center regulations, with the broader set of tasks estimated at about $80,000. The board discussed forming a committee and coordinating with the city and county on possible regulations.