Welcoming a number of new developments over the last few weeks, the parish of St Mary is being primed for growth as more businesses move to exert their presence in the north-eastern section of the island.

Awakened since the start of scheduled commercial flights at the Ian Fleming International airport earlier this month, the parish is set to attract more developments in the coming months and in subsequent years.

Food and logistics conglomerate Jamaica Producers Group (JPG) recently indicated that it will be moving to build-out a number of premium low-density, eco-friendly villas targeting mainly tourists in the emerging digital nomads market, utilising a portion of the vast acreage of land it owns in the parish.

“The first phase will see the construction of 30 lots ranging from four to six bedroom units, which will allow for customised offerings and scenic views,” group CEO Jeffrey Hall told the Jamaica Observer in an interview on Monday.

“The area that we have designated for the project is 56 acres and the project will entail infrastructural work, landscaping, architectural design and environmental and beach engineering. What we are doing is developing our land assets in St Mary as we also try to establish our areas in the parish as a centre for development and as we develop our land value,” he said to the Business Observer.

“The project plan is underway and is very extensive. We expect the planning stage to be completed by the end of this year and to commence developments early in the following year,” Hall added, though remaining very tight-lipped on the level of capital expenditure being earmarked for the project.

Already operating as the largest private employer in the parish through its St Mary farm operations, Hall said that the entity, without changing its core operation which focuses on food and beverage and logistics and infrastructure across a diverse portfolio of multinational businesses, said that while the company was not necessarily moving to further diversify, it is positioning to capitalise on the increase in traffic expected to come from an expansion of the flight schedule at the Boscobel-based airport in St Mary.

The airport, which officially became a port of entry in 2011, earlier this month welcomed its first international flight from InterCaribbean Airways, last week the commencement of charter services by Quality Corporate Aircraft Services (QCAS) Aero now sees premium flights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in the United States being conducted from the airport. Come November 5, major air carrier American Airlines is to also begin twice weekly non-stop flights from Miami to the airport utilising aircrafts which can seat up to 88 passengers.

“St Mary has been identified for growth following the launch of flights at the airport but there is also a demand for villas that have reasonable access and we are 45 minutes away. Through our other projects in the parish which includes a reforestation exercise and the creation of a centre for volunteer tourism — we want to engage more people who want to come and enjoy the country in a more natural way. While there are challenges in the global environment, we believe that the prospect for this type of tourism is strong,” Hall said.

As the pace of development intensifies more corporates have been making entry or otherwise increasing their presence in the parish. Recently, brokerage house Barita Limited, in a similar move, through its purchase of the over-250-acre Reggae Beach property, wants to also double down on the growth of activities in the parish, with plans to transform the space into a multi-use development comprising high-end resorts and luxury villas and other commercial facilities. Other big name companies such as Sagicor and the KLE Group through its Bessa real estate project is also now looking to complete the development of 86 luxury apartment condominiums built on an eight acre property in the same Oracabessa area.

Touted as a central hub, located just one and a half hours outside major cities, Montego Bay and Kingston as well as Portland and about 15 minutes away from the renowned resort town of Ocho Rios, the prospects for greater investment is believed to be ripe for the largely agriculture-based parish, given the airport’s close proximity to other major towns and attractions.

President of the St Mary Chamber of Commerce Fredrick Young in welcoming the developments said that even as the parish attracts increased levels of investments, he was also hoping to see improved housing stocks, greater employment opportunities and an increase in transportation and the movement of goods and services.

“I also encourage members and residents to take advantage of the new offerings so that they can provide needed services and not somebody else from outside. With the parish being developed for tourism and other investment opportunities, our people must be prepared to benefit from the spill-over effects,” he said.