In a move that nearly happened in 2019 and had been rumored to resurface this year, PepsiCo has formally announced plans to build a $180 million, 355,000 square-foot megafulfillment center that could employ 180 people in full-time jobs in the Poinciana area.
Osceola County announced an agreement Monday to offer the company an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Refund — basically a rebate on some of its property taxes over the next five years — provided the company meets its promised benchmarks: invest the $180 million, create those 180 jobs and retain them for 10 years.
The facility would be located along John Young Parkway near Poinciana Boulevard and Old Tampa Highway, convenient to the Poinciana SunRail station. It’s an area where Osceola County has already spent millions to purchase land earmarked for lowincome housing and a mix of business and retail development.
This project, which the county calls “the first-of-its-kind in Florida,” includes advanced technologies “that will allow PepsiCo to serve both retail and eCommerce customers with customized product portfolios.”
Per the county, construction will begin in early 2022, hiring for the new jobs will begin in late 2023 and the site will be operational by early 2024.
PepsiCo and its operating businesses employ more than 7,600 in Florida and this location will add to PepsiCo’s existing Osceola County footprint it already has a Gatorade plant adjacent to that tract near Poinciana.
County Commissioner Brandon Arrington, whose district 3 includes the area of the new development, has spoken for years about the ratio of Osceola County residents who leave the county to go to work everyday, often out of necessity.
“This is fantastic news and great timing for the residents of Osceola County,” he said. “Opportunities like this don’t happen every day, but the creation of 180 new jobs is something needed for our residents – many who are struggling to find employment in the wake of the chaos created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company’s commitment to Osceola County is commendable and this project will allow our residents to get a step into these much-needed jobs.”
The company talked of building a new facility for its Frito-Lay potato chip line two years ago, but walked it back, and then the pandemic quieted those talks, seemingly for good, until Monday.
“PepsiCo has a strong presence in Florida and is a proud member of the Osceola County community,” PepsiCo Senior Director, Economic Development, Kathy Alfano, said in a release about the project. “We appreciate the assistance and support of Osceola County as they have been instrumental to this project.”
