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Putnam County, Florida, is a progressive rural community with easy access to major metropolitan areas, a competitive business climate, and an attractive lifestyle. We are located in the northeastern region of Florida, just to the south of Jacksonville, which is Florida’s largest municipality by population and size. We’re nearly equal distance to Jacksonville, Ocala, Daytona, Gainesville, and Orlando, making us the hub of Northeast Florida. Putnam County is located within two hours driving distance of all major attractions in central Florida, international airports, and many of Florida’s beautiful beaches. While having a favorable low-cost of doing business, we take pride in a relaxing waterfront lifestyle with affordable utilities, a favorable tax environment and proximity to over 20 colleges/universities.
Putnam County’s Business & Aviation Park is adjacent to the City of Palatka’s Industrial Park and connected to the Palatka Municipal Airport. The Park has entrances on St. Johns Avenue and County Road 309C, which borders the Airport to the west and directly connects to State Road 100. The Park has 128 acres and two available buildings.
Putnam County has a diverse economic base that includes agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, education, tourism and retail industries. This diversity helps in creating a stable business climate resilient to economic fluctuations.
The county has been actively working on creating a business-friendly environment by offering incentives, streamlined permitting processes and support services for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to establish or expand operations.
READY WORKFORCE
The available workforce to companies looking to expand or locate in Putnam County is very diverse. Putnam County’s workforce size is 27,877. Putnam County’s labor pool draw area, as calculated by combining Putnam’s labor force plus neighboring Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Flagler, Marion, St. Johns, and Volusia Counties is 756,539.
Putnam County’s unemployment rate is 4.1%. Our workforce’s median age is 44 years old, with 70.4% of residents aged 25 and older having a high school diploma and 9.4% of the same age group having a college bachelor’s degree or higher.
Career and Technical Education programs for Putnam County High School Students accelerating their time to completion of an in-demand but high-value industry certification or postsecondary workforce credential include Emergency Medical Services, Automotive Maintenance & Repair, Animal Services & Agrotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing, Business Management, Certified Nursing Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, Allied Health Construction Academy, Fire Fighting, Principals of Public Safety, Culinary Arts, Criminal Justice, Welding, Aerospace Technology and Diversified Career Education/OJT. Putnam County engages in our region’s talent ecosystem through a three-pronged approach of talent attraction, development, and connection.
The ecosystem is a partnership of education, business and community leaders focused on a shared framework to optimize the workforce, support economic growth, and generate a fulfilling quality of life. Learn more at www.putnamcountyfleconomicdevelopment.com.
QUALITY HEALTHCARE
Adding to the appeal of Putnam County is our quality healthcare services where our physicians provide patients with the most personal, warm, and quality of care possible. In Putnam, our physicians go above the standard of care and treat every patient with dignity and “hometown care” that is not common in most cities today.
We have state-of-the-art services that are equal to neighboring large cities. Located within Palatka is HCA Florida Putnam Hospital – a 99 bed hospital offering a 10-bed critical care unit, skilled nursing unit, progressive care unit, medical and surgical units and a 24-hour emergency department.
The citizens of Putnam County rely on HCA Florida Putnam Hospital for their healthcare. With over 100 physicians representing more than 20 medical specialties, the hospital averages in excess of 7000 admissions a year. They accommodate approximately 33,000 emergency visits and 44,000 outpatient visits each year at HCA Florida Putnam Hospital.
A major employer in the community, HCA Florida Putnam Hospital has an annual payroll of $27 million. They continue to invest in state-of-the-art technology and recruit physicians to meet the growing needs of the communities they serve. HCA Florida Putnam Hospital has earned the Joint Commissions’ highest vote of confidence with a three-year accreditation. Palatka is also home to an oncology practice that is a member of one of Florida’s largest cancer teams (Florida Radiation Oncology Group), Cancer Center of Putnam. Cancer Center of Putnam provides state-of-the-art technology such as treating cancer patients with Image Guided Radiation Therapy. And by providing clinical trials with RTOG, which means patients may receive clinical proven treatments before they become the standard of care. As well as new modern cancer techniques such as Dose Verification System, which ensures patients are receiving the correct dose of radiation daily.
We’re part of the largest network of doctors, nurses and care sites in the state. Our experienced care teams are focused on listening to you — caring for you like family. We work to understand your needs to provide a personalized care experience. From welcoming your newest family members to routine and specialty care needs throughout your life, you can count on us to show up for you when it matters.
UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS
Putnam County is the rural heart of North Florida — combining a high quality of life, abundant natural resources, and opportunities for businesses and residents to thrive. The beautiful St. Johns River, one of a few rivers in the world that flows north, is the centerpiece of the county and runs the length of it, making for great waterfront living as well as providing commercial working waterfront locations.
Putnam County can be advantageous for business in sectors such as tourism, outdoor recreation and eco-friendly industries.
Known as the Bass Capital of the World. Putnam County is home to 3 of the “Top 10” fisheries in Florida-designated by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida’s climate ensures excellent fishing year-round.
All of Putnam County’s water bodies have natural shorelines that are undeveloped and protected lands. Numerous public ramps and docks provide access to all our waterways for boating and shore fishing. This gives our residents and visitors the opportunity to see the “Real Florida”.
Putnam County is quickly becoming known as the “Trail Hub” of Northeast Florida. Palatka is the center point of the Lake Butler to St. Augustine Rails-to-Trails project which is nearly complete and serves as the backbone for an elaborate Trail System. The Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail currently runs through the communities of Armstrong, Elkton, and Vermont Heights in northeastern Florida. Much of the route follows State Route 207, hence its former name as the State Road 207 Rail-Trail. Views are a mix of woodlands and rural landscapes. Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail is situated in one of the most picturesque areas of the state and is warmly welcomed by this northeast Florida region for the enhanced quality of life and economic benefits it offers many small towns and communities. The trail corridor stretches nearly 47 miles from west of US 17 in Palatka to State Road 238 in Lake Butler, as it runs along the former Norfolk-Southern Railroad right-of-way through Putnam, Clay, Bradford and Union counties. Long-range plans include a connection to the Palatka to Lake Butler Trail as part of a developing 260-mile, five-county regional network known as the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. The network is part of the East Coast Greenway.
Ravine Gardens is a representation of the never-ending shaping that occurs by Florida’s water flow. The steep ravine was created by water flowing from beneath the sandy ridges that flank the west shore of the St. Johns River. In 1933, the Federal Works Administration (WPA) created a dramatic garden landscape in the ravine with azaleas and other exotic plantings. The landscape still flourishes as formal gardens with hiking trails. The garden’s peak flowering period is late January to April.
People are captivated by the ravine as well as the formal and natural gardens. To really appreciate the extraordinary topography, hike or bike the ravine on the extensive trails, or drive or bike around the ravine on the 1.8-mile Ravine Loop Road. Look for migratory songbirds like Cerulean and Chestnut-sided Warblers in the deciduous slope forest in season, as well as resident woodpeckers, hawks and owls. The loop road is closed to vehicular traffic one hour before sunset, but remains open for pedestrians, bicycles and wheelchairs.
Recreation facilities include picnic areas, ornamental gardens, numerous hiking trails and a 1.8-mile paved perimeter loop trail that traverses along the upper rim of this 80-acre ravine. A community civic center complex is available for meetings, weddings and special events.
Whether you’re looking for something different in an off-the-beaten path destination, educational experiences, special interest subjects or you just want to relax Putnam County is the ideal destination.
