JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It was just over 10 years ago that the last of the planes left Naval Air Station Cecil Field.

In 1999, the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority took over ownership, and since it has become one of the most sought-after locations in the southeast for manufacturing and industrial end users.

Although the fate of most closed bases is mixed, Cecil Air Field's transformation into the the Cecil Commerce Center is widely regarded as an economic success story, and it's future could have a huge impact on the First Coast.

City officials were on hand Monday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Cecil Commerce Center.

"What you have here now 10 years later after the handover from the Navy to the city is about 3,000 jobs," said Ron Weaver, chairman of Jacksonville Aviation Authority.

It's also home to major companies like Boeing, Flightstar and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"I think the future and the promise for Westside Jacksonville driven out of the Cecil property is going to be very significant," Weaver said.

The city predicts a population shift toward the Westside during the next 10 years, spearheaded by the growth of the commerce center.

"This really will be the job haven," Mayor John Peyton said. "This is where you're going to see us being able to use land as enticements to bring jobs to northeast Florida."

Peyton said Cecil Commerce Center boasts a rare combination of assets, including 17,000 acres of land, air space, a proximity to three interstates, three rail hubs and a water port.

Peyton said even though the recession has slowed some of it's recent progress, when the economy turns around, the commerce center should be well positioned to add to its thousands of jobs.

Those big plans will be complimented by I-495, DOT's soon-to-be completed outer beltway. It was designed to assist traffic to and from the commerce center.

In addition to the anniversary celebration, Florida State College at Jacksonville broke ground for its flight school, which will also be at Cecil Commerce Center. The school, which recently celebrated being a four-year college, is constructing a new campus right around the corner on Normandy Boulevard.