JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — While work continues at the future site of The Shipyards in Downtown Jacksonville, the Jaguars are looking to fill open bids for the nearly $400 million dollar project.
The Shipyards, anchored by a Four Seasons Hotel, is expected to be finished in three years.
The City of Jacksonville and Jaguars have teamed up to fill open bids through the Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Program [JSEB].
Owen Electric, a St. Augustine company, is doing the electric work in the hotel.
Tuesday night it spoke with several small businesses and contractors who are interested in working with Owen Electric on the project.
"Any electricians. We met contractors that do high voltage work, we met contractors that are old union contractors or electricians that have a certain amount of guys that work for them," Owen Electric Pre-Construction Manager, Justin Lee, said.
Lee also spoke to businesses who specialize in on-site security and fire safety as well.
“We want them all we want all of the businesses come talk to us let us figure out how we can get you into this program," Shavonda Jackson of JSEB said.
For JSEB, the goal is to keep money spent on the project in Jacksonville.
“There’s a lot of attention coming to the city so it’s important to give the local businesses that chance at having that,” Jackson said.
JSEB is only for businesses located in Duval County. Information on how to apply can be found here.