DEVELOPERS of the MJS Industrial and Technology Park in Spanish Town, St Catherine, have confirmed a US$50-million, or $8 billion, investment into the project, with plans now underway to expand the complex by an additional 300,000 square feet— less than 12 months after reaching full occupancy.

The 65-acre property, situated on the grounds of the former Ariguanabo textile mill, has been repurposed into Jamaica’s only special economic zone in Spanish Town and now houses seven tenants across 440,000 square feet of developed space. Demand for space has remained strong, prompting plans for a new block of purpose-built facilities aimed at manufacturing and logistics clients.

One international manufacturer has already signed on to occupy 100,000 square feet of the new section, and intends to use the nearby rail line and Port Esquivel for both inbound supplies and outbound distribution. Construction is expected to begin within a year, once formal agreements and regulatory approvals are in place. Full operations are projected to start 18 to 22 months from now.

“What we did here was to retrofit an existing building,” executive chairman of MJS Tech Park, Michael Subratie told the Jamaica Observer in a follow-up interview on Tuesday. “But now we’ll be constructing from the ground up with the specs the client needs.”

The remaining 200,000 square feet of expansion space are now being marketed in partnership with Jampro, as the park seeks to scale its mix of industrial and commercial tenants.

Since opening last year MJS Tech Park has attracted a blend of foreign and domestic operations, including BPO firms Transparent BPO, Sagility, and InTouch CX, which collectively manage customer support services that include contracts for companies such as Airbnb. Local manufacturer Honey Bun is currently building out what Subratie described as “its most advanced manufacturing facility to date” on the site, while ODPEM, the Jamaica Fire Brigade’s Area 3 headquarters, and telecoms firm Phoenix Towers round out the tenant list.

The facility reached 100 per cent occupancy within a year, a sign of latent demand for commercial and light industrial space outside of Kingston. With a workforce now exceeding 2,500 people — mostly drawn from Spanish Town, Portmore, Old Harbour and Linstead — the development has also had knock-on effects for small businesses and transport operators in the area.

Subratie says the park is on track to surpass 5,000 jobs once the second phase becomes operational. “That’s the target we’re moving toward with the new buildout,” he said.

He added that the location made sense from the start, with a built-in workforce, easy access to the highway, and room to grow. “It made no sense that people were commuting for hours to get to Kingston when the infrastructure here was still intact,” he said. “We believed Spanish Town could support real economic activity again — we just had to prove it.”

The initial construction phase focused on reusing and modernising old factory buildings while integrating renewable energy systems, battery storage, a well water system, and updated insulation to reduce electricity costs. The park also has plans to add a small railway station for industrial and passenger use.

Musson Group Chairman P B Scott, a key partner in the venture, admitted he was initially sceptical when Subratie pitched the idea. “It was burnt out and overgrown, I thought the roof was rusted and collapsing. But, Mike kept pushing,” Scott said at the formal launch event held last week. “Now it’s a project the Musson Group is extremely proud of.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who also spoke at the event, said the redevelopment is in line with the Government’s strategy of unlocking economic value from dormant State and private assets, particularly those with existing infrastructure that can be adapted for modern use.

“Spanish Town was once the engine of Jamaica’s industrial ambitions,” Holness said. “What this shows is that even dormant assets can come back to life. But, it takes private capital, a strong team, and an environment that supports long-term investment.”

Originally built in the 1950s, the Ariguanabo textile mill was once the largest employer in St Catherine but was shut down in the 1970s amid growing competition from Asia and local economic decline. For decades, the property sat idle.

In reclaiming the site Subratie and his team prioritised sustainability and efficiency, but also proximity to infrastructure and population.

With occupancy now maxed out and the model proven, Subratie says the focus is on delivering phase two on time and with the same level of execution. “We’re proven and tested,” he told the Business Observer, referring to the financing behind the project. “What we’ve done is prove our credibility, and we’re not going to do something unless we have everything in place.”

Once completed the expansion will push the MJS Tech Park past 740,000 square feet in total developed space.