Swisher is headquartered at 459 E. 16th St. in Jacksonville. The company says it is planning a $135 million expansion. | Jacksonville Daily Record
Published on February 13, 2026 at 4:26 pm
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Tobacco company Swisher has reached an agreement with nonprofit community group Lift Jax to reserve 60 jobs for residents of the historic Eastside as part of its $135 million Jacksonville manufacturing expansion.
Lift Jax announced the deal Thursday in a news release that says 25% of the 240 full-time jobs will go to people living within a 2-mile radius of Swisher’s Jacksonville campus in Springfield. That includes the Eastside neighborhoods of Oakland, Campbell’s Addition, Phoenix and Long Branch.
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The job commitment comes six months after the City Council approved a $3.5 million property tax refund for Swisher’s investment — at the time known as codenamed Project Newark — that the tobacco company will receive over five years.
The agreement also follows a council vote Tuesday finalizing the structure of the board that will oversee grant awards from a $40 million pot for Eastside economic development. That money comes from the community benefits agreement between the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of last year’s stadium renovation deal.
Lift Jax President and CEO Travis Williams told Jacksonville Today that, although the CBA and Swisher’s job commitment aren’t directly linked, the nonprofit hopes the city’s recent investments in the Eastside will get more companies to take notice of its neighborhoods and people.
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“It definitely influenced us as an organization in trying to produce more community benefits,” he said. “And the more we can do that, when the city invests in something that’s proximate to a community, and we can make sure there is a community benefit to that investment, then that just produces more opportunity for the neighborhood.”
What’s the job?
Swisher — a 165-year-old, family-owned company — has been headquartered in Springfield since 1924. Its expansion will be in the Phoenix area, a Level 2 Economically Distressed Area. The new space will focus on smokeless nicotine and caffeine products.
According to its incentives agreement with the city, the company is required to create at least 200 jobs with an average wage of $70,000 per year and have them in place by Dec. 31, 2028.
“Our partnership with the City of Jacksonville and LIFT JAX strengthens the talent pipeline that makes growth possible, ensuring local residents have access to quality jobs and long-term career opportunities,” Swisher President and CEO Neil Kiely said in the news release. “Together, we’re building a workforce that will support Swisher’s continued innovation while creating meaningful economic impact for the community, we’ve proudly called home for more than 100 years.”
Williams said talks began with Swisher and the city on committing jobs for Eastside residents about three months ago. For Lift Jax’s role, the nonprofit will be responsible for getting the work out to jobseekers.
The Goodwill-operated GoodCareers Center on the second floor of the Debs Store at 1478 Florida Ave. has already hosted one job fair to help recruit for the positions. Williams said the next jobs event will be held in March.
“The turnout we saw at this hiring event shows the power of aligning major employers with trusted community partners,” David Rey, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of North Florida, said in the news release.
The Swisher-Lift Jax partnership will run through December 2027, and Willams said the contract has an option to renew.
