Cosentino to Build U.S. Factory: Official
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cosentino Group officially announced plans today to build a U.S. manufacturing facility here.
The Cantoria, Spain-based maker of Silestone® quartz and Dekton® ultra-compact surfaces plans to break ground on the $270 million facility by January 2025, with a target completion date of 2028.
The announcement follows a late April vote by a Jacksonville municipal committee to recommend the sale of city land as part of an economic-development plan for the project.
“In the 78 years that our family has been in the surfacing business, this is one of our greatest milestones yet,” said Eduardo Cosentino, CEO of Cosentino Americas and global sales executive vice president. “The North American market has come to represent more than half of our global sales since we established a foothold here in 1997 and has played a pivotal role in positioning our brand at the forefront of the industry.
“This endeavor is part of our long-term vision and has been in development for many years. We’re confident the new manufacturing facility will propel further growth for years to come.”
The proposed plant site at Cecil Commerce Center is on 330 acres of city-owned land approximately 20 miles east of the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT), with immediate access to Interstate 10. The land is large enough to expand production facilities in the future.
Cosentino is “currently assessing” what products will be manufactured first at the site, according to a statement on the proposed facility. The initial plant will involve an estimated investment of $270 million, and create approximately 180 jobs.
The city’s budget-advisory committee voted 6-0 on April 24 to recommend the sale of the property to Cosentino for approximately $20.5 million. Final approval is needed from the Jacksonville City Council, which hasn’t put the proposal yet on its agenda.
The council, however, has already approved several components related to Cosentino’s plans, including construction of a railroad-line extension to serve the property.
“As we considered different cities across the United States, it quickly became clear how much Jacksonville and the state of Florida have to offer,” Eduardo Cosentino said. “The facility’s proximity to ports, railroads, and key infrastructure, coupled with expansion opportunities and incentives at the state and regional level, make this a win-win.
“We are so thankful to have the support of the City of Jacksonville, Florida state officials and other leaders in the Jacksonville community, and we look forward to this being a new home for Cosentino.”
“Jacksonville continues to attract exciting economic development opportunities, growing its reputation as a phenomenal place to live, work and play,” said Lenny Curry, Jacksonville mayor. “Cosentino’s focus on sustainability and clean manufacturing will benefit our city tremendously. I am eager to welcome Cosentino to Jacksonville’s manufacturing and logistics community.”
“We have been strategic in how we’ve marketed this valuable piece of industrial real estate to attract a world-class manufacturer of which there would be mutual benefit. We found the ideal manufacturer in Cosentino,” JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace said. “This is a major win for Cecil Commerce Center and a collaborative effort. We thank all of our partners, from the city and state to (utilities provider) JEA and JAXPORT, for coming to the table and making this important deal happen for our community.”
This marks the second major expansion for the international brand to Florida. In 2017, Cosentino relocated its Americas headquarters from Houston to Coral Gables.
