Giant Wal-Mart center welcomed to small Florida county

MACCLENNY, FLORIDA - With the excitement of a pep rally, Governor Jeb Bush joined company officials, civic leaders and cheering employees Wednesday in welcoming the world&#39;s largest retailer to one of Florida&#39;s smallest counties. <br> <br> Bush cut the ribbon to open a giant Wal-Mart distribution center in the small town of Macclenny about 30 miles west of Jacksonville. <br> <br> The center will provide 600 jobs and pay 30 percent more than the average county salary. <br> <br> The $49 million center -- 22 acres under one roof, including 101,000 square feet of freezer space -- will supply Wal-Mart stores in south Georgia and north Florida. It boosted Baker County&#39;s tax base by more than ten percent. <br> <br> Bush said, ``That was fun!&#39;&#39; -- after the hour-long ceremony of speeches, cheers, videos and even music by the Macclenny High School Symphonic Band. <br> <br> Ginger Barber, executive director of the Baker County Chamber of Commerce, said Wal-Mart will be the biggest employer in the county, which has 22,500 residents.

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