Florida Crystals Corporation recently announced that the company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Palm Beach, which means the two entities will collaborate and share information and resources with the goal of developing an Intermodal Logistics Center.
Pepe Fanjul Jr., who heads the real estate and land management division of Florida Crystals Corporation, said the company has identified a parcel of land that is located between the cities of Belle Glade and South Bay. The parcel is close to US Highway 27 and is located in an area with an available and eager workforce.
Belle Glade, Pahokee and South Bay – collectively known as the Tri-cities — have been experiencing record unemployment levels that are three to four times the statewide average. Pepe Fanjul Jr. said his family and the company have been farming sugar cane and producing sugar in the communities for five decades. Because of the long relationship with the cities and their residents, the company isdedicated to being a stable job provider and helping the rural cities with much-needed economic development opportunities. It has been estimated that an intermodal logistics center could create roughly 20,000 jobs in the area. The cities have been vocal advocates of the project.
The completion of the Panama Canal expansion in 2014 will increase trade in South Florida and makes the creation of an intermodal logistics center in the western portion of the county ideal as it will serve as an outlet to quickly alleviate container traffic at the crowded east coast ports.
Florida Crystals Corporation has been strategically planning the intermodal logistics center project for several years and is confident that the project will be developed in the most efficient and sustainable way to provide benefits for the cities, Palm Beach County and South Florida.