FELLSMERE — As the new Fellsmere City Council gets to work on the business of the city, several key projects currently underway will require attention, not the least of which are coordinating with foreign investors and providing guidance on incoming natural gas and sewer lines.
“Things are starting to pick up just a little bit,” Fellsmere City Manager Jason Nunemaker said, pointing to the laying of the green natural gas pipes along county roads 510 and 512, plus construction of the new Dollar General.
Nunemaker said the top issues facing the new council are the same that the former one has been tackling – job creation and economic development.
To that end, the city has worked to bring in Florida City Gas, which is currently expanding its pipe network up into the northern county.
The natural gas pipeline, which will eventually run the length of County Road 512 through Fellsmere out to the southward bend of the thoroughfare, is expected to hook into Florida Organic Aquaculture – a foreign investor- endeavor.
It’s one such project Mirzam Investor Green Card is focused on, according to its CEO, Cliff Morris. The aquaculture company is expected to hire 52 employees.
Earlier this year, the company received a $73,000 jobs grant from the Indian River County Board of Commissioners.
Of the 52 jobs, 23 qualify for the grant given the salaries would be greater than $25,460.
Morris expects to break ground on Florida Organic Aquaculture’s facility sometime in early 2013 on land currently owned by Florida Joint Ventures where County Road 512 turns south on the west end of town.
Along with what is expected to be a shrimp farm, Morris said his company is developing other foreign investment opportunities that include hospitality, tourism and distribution warehousing within Fellsmere.
Though none but the aquaculture project is fleshed out, Morris said the distribution warehousing could be a reality in 24 to 36 months.
“They’re past the embryonic stage,” Morris said.
“Fellsmere’s been proactive,” Morris said of how his company came upon selecting the city for its first project.
Fellsmere has much going for it, according to Morris, due to its proximity to Interstate 95, the Florida Turnpike, the incoming natural gas line – which is an “enormous cost-saver” – and “has nearly everything you’d need.”
Mirzam Investor Green Card is a firm that is looking to foreign countries for investment. In return for a $500,000 investment, the investors have the opportunity to receive a Green Card to the U.S.
“China’s obviously the mother lode of wealthy investors,” Morris said the main investors in the Florida Organic Aquaculture venture.
Other countries that have had investor interest include Ecuador, others in Latin and South America, as well as Italy, France, Spain and Ireland.
Along with bringing in natural gas and foreign dollars to establish the shrimp farm, Fellsmere leaders have been working to secure sewer lines along Broadway.
The sewer lines, once connected, will give business and landowners the option to expand their developmental opportunities.
First in line to open with sewer will be the Historic Fellsmere Inn, which has the line but not the connection – yet.
“I wish I had a dollar for every time someone asked, ‘when’s it going to be open?’” Fellsmere Inn caretaker Gene Wolack said. “I wouldn’t have to work!”
Wolack said it’s anyone’s guess as to when it could open.
“It’s not going to be soon,” he said.
Aside from waiting on plumbers to complete the sewer connection, there are plans to install three air conditioning units and a walk-in cooler for the kitchen.
Wolack said there are a few other issues holding up the reopening, which are being worked out with the city. He didn’t elaborate on what those issues are.
When the inn finally does open, Wolack estimates that it will have a staff of 25 to 30 employees, including two certified chefs, a large wait staff, and maintenance and janitorial crews.
The inn is expected to attract patrons who travel to Fellsmere for the fishing and duck hunting.
Every year for the last several, a group of 20 duck hunters stop by the Fellsmere Inn to ask Wolack if it’s open for business yet.
With 14 rooms, the hunters – who come from Arkansas and Oklahoma, according to Wolack – could fill the inn for two weeks, the length of duck season.
“They’re dying to stay here,” Wolack said.
Other properties along Broadway could eventually tie into the sewer line, which would open opportunities for more dining, retail and commercial development in the Old Town district, revitalizing the downtown area of Fellsmere.
As it is, a new antique shop has opened along Broadway and a Mexican bar – Club Anthrax – has moved into the former Lucky Strike Bar location. A thrift shop, too, has moved into town, along with a new convenience store called Yami’s II.
Elsewhere in the city, the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging Fellsmere leaders to market itself as being business-friendly and having the available land for development.
Currently, the city has 1,000 acres already zoned for commercial and industrial development, with thousands more available if needed.
“That’s where the opportunities are,” Chamber Executive Director Beth Mitchell said.
She added that developers have several options, including buying and building to suit, leasing existing space, or leasing property and building as they sit fit.
Nunemaker and Mitchell, both, are optimistic the new Fellsmere City Council will continue to encourage new businesses to move into town.
“It was a very positive campaign,” Nunemaker said of the four-way race for three seats on the council dais. He said each candidate wants to “move forward – not take a left or a right.”
Mitchell said most elected officials are focused on job creation and the Fellsmere council has been proactive, taking the long-view for the city’s needs.
“I feel they’re very well positioned,” Mitchell said of the new council.