Just before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, America Online spokesman Nicholas Graham e-mailed the following statement to Channel 4's newsroom:

“After 10 successful years in Jacksonville, AOL is today announcing that we are closing the doors of our First Coast Tech Parkway facility. Our member services center here has helped millions and millions of AOL members get online and improve their lives through the use of our service and the internet, and our employees leave a strong legacy of professionalism, support, and strong work ethic.

“For a decade, AOL has been a part of this wonderful community. We’ve greatly valued the friendships we’ve made here, while providing significant investments to the local economy, tax base, and real estate market. As AOL grew, Jacksonville also grew into a world-class city . Together, AOL has worked in close partnership with governmental, entrepreneurial, educational, and philanthropic entities here to build and maintain an exceptional community in which to live and work. AOL has also employed many thousands of Jacksonville residents over the years who have also made a significant, positive impact by contributing tens of thousands of dollars to non-profits, and volunteering hundreds of hours to worthwhile local causes.

“But, in recent years, the online marketplace shifted significantly. AOL’s membership has changed at the same time – and the needs of our members have evolved as well. During this time, internet users got more savvy, our products and services became more stable, and we introduced more comprehensive self-help tools and products online. As a result, member support call volume is down by 50% in the past two years - forcing AOL to rebalance our member services organization to make it more efficient, effective and responsive to the current needs of members and our business. This means making tough, but necessary, choices about the allocation of resources. There is never an easy time to do this. And it’s tough to say goodbye to this great city and its people. But the steps we take today will help ensure that AOL meets the needs of our members, meets our strategic corporate goals, and sustains the growth of our business.

“Jacksonville and the State of Florida remain exceptional places for small businesses and large corporations to locate and expand, and they both have a bright, thriving business future ahead of them. Unfortunately, AOL will no longer be able to be a part of it. As we close this chapter, we give heartfelt thanks to our current and former employees, to the Mayor and city government, to local elected officials, and to the State and its Governor for the positive, attractive entrepreneurial climate they fostered for workers, for us, and for so many other businesses.”