Quality, leadership and doing the right thing are virtues at the heart of top First Coast organizations.

Earlier this year Inc. Magazine and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) announced the winners of the second annual Inner City 100, a national listing of 100 fast-growing companies located exclusively in America's inner cities. Jacksonville-based Caribbean Shipping & Cold Storage placed at the top of the list, brandishing a sales growth rate of 17,951 percent and a staggering compound annual growth rate of 267 percent. Founded less than 10 years ago, the company's revenues have jumped from $3.5 million in 1994 to $22 million last year. What's the secret to Caribbean Shipping's success?

"We started our company in 1993," says Paul Robbins who, along with his wife Julie, own the international food products shipping business. "I traveled in the Caribbean frequently and saw a need there. Most of it was based on American fast food franchises that are popping up all over. We weren't out to compete with other business, we were just filling a void."

In reality, the company filled two voids. By locating its headquarters and warehouse facility in Jacksonville's depressed urban core, a state-designated Enterprise Zone, the company's bottom line benefited tremendously. In addition to saving tens of thousands on property taxes and electricity sales taxes, the company also received more than $35,000 in state grants and tax credits. As a result approximately 120 jobs are now located on in a part of the city in desperate need of commercial enterprise. Not only did the location make sense as a business move, some including ICIC, would say it was just the right thing to do.