Overview of
Putnam County
Putnam County offers a strategic location at the center of Northeast Florida, providing manufacturers and distributors with efficient access to markets across the Southeast. Development-ready industrial sites, Foreign Trade Zone and HUBZone designations, and a strong manufacturing base create a competitive environment for industrial investment.
75K+
Population
28.9K+
Labor Force
3.3%
Labor Force Growth (2014-2024)
#1
Per-Capita Job Growth in Florida, 2024
Advantages of Putnam County
Putnam County combines Florida’s statewide business climate with county-level incentives geared toward capital-intensive industrial investment:
Foreign Trade Zone
Designated FTZ status reduces duty exposure for manufacturers importing materials or components.
HUBZone
Federal HUBZone designation provides contracting preferences and cost incentives for qualifying businesses and their federal supply chain customers.
Opportunity Zones
Three designated Opportunity Zones — two in Palatka, one in Crescent City — offer capital gains incentives for long-term private investment.
No State Income Tax
Florida levies no personal income tax, no corporate franchise tax and no tax on inventories or foreign income.
County Economic Development Fund
Performance-based cash grants for qualifying job creation projects, available through both the County Commission and City of Palatka.
Land Cost Advantage
Industrially zoned land — including gas, water and required infrastructure — costs significantly less per acre than neighboring counties.
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Key Industries
Putnam County has a long-established manufacturing base anchored by Georgia-Pacific, Vac-Con and Viking Ship Care, with strengths in pulp and paper, structural steel, shipbuilding and building products. Transportation and logistics, agribusiness and food and beverage processing continue to strengthen the county's industrial economy.
Pulp, Paper & Packaging
Georgia-Pacific operates one of its largest North American paper mill operations in Palatka, with ~1,000 employees, $620M+ invested.
Energy Generation
Seminole Electric Cooperative powers the county and beyond from its Palatka-area generation facility, with $750M invested in an expanded combined-cycle plant.
Structural Steel
Veritas Steel fabricates structural steel for Florida's bridge and infrastructure market from its Putnam County facility.
Shipbuilding
St. Johns Ship Building operates at the county’s barge port, with river access to the St. Johns waterway system.
Building Products
Saint-Gobain / CertainTeed is investing $235M to more than double gypsum manufacturing capacity at its Palatka plant, adding 100+ jobs.
Aggregates & Materials
Vulcan Materials operates a quarrying presence in the county, supplying construction aggregates across the region.
Major Employers
Stories of Success
Saint-Gobain & CertainTeed
Putnam
$235M Expansion in Palatka
Saint-Gobain North America — through its CertainTeed Interior Products subsidiary — invested $235 million to more than double gypsum drywall production capacity at its existing Palatka facility in 2023, adding over 100 jobs to a plant that has operated in Putnam County since 2001. The project draws on a package of more than $7 million in combined benefits, including Florida’s Capital Investment Tax Credit, a CareerSource Quick Response Training Grant, and direct county and utility incentives. In 2025, the company announced an additional $83M expansion that will create 20 new jobs and enhance product storage and shipping capabilities for retailers. The company’s continued investment in Putnam reflects both demand (Florida's population-driven construction boom) and confidence in the county’s cost structure and labor availability.
Available Sites
Find Your Site in Putnam County
Industrial land, river port parcels, business park sites and existing buildings, including 500,000+ sq. ft. of current industrial space and 128 acres available at Putnam County Business & Aviation Park.
Talk with Local Contacts
Putnam County Chamber of Commerce
Sara Maxfield, VP of Economic Development
Let's Talk
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