The 2016 Jacksonville Jazz Festival kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, May 26, at The Florida Theatre with the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition presented by Keyboard Connection Piano & Organs, and will last throughout the Memorial Day weekend. The festival will feature more than 35 performers, four stages, and a vibrant street festival atmosphere. 

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced Jacksonville added 21,600 new private-sector jobs over the year in April. The area’s unemployment rate declined by 0.8 percentage point over the year to 4.3 percent.

According to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Jacksonville ranks 12 in both the most populous and largest numeric increase categories for American cities. From July 2014 to July 2015, the city’s population increased by 13,000 residents, bringing the 2015 total to 868,031. 

During the 2016 Senior Expo on May 19, Mayor Lenny Curry presented awards to three outstanding seniors who have enhanced their community through service and leadership.

With unanimous support, the Jacksonville City Council has cleared the way for voters to approve the pension solution to appear on the Aug. 30 primary election ballot. The referendum extends a half-cent sales tax dedicated to paying down the City’s unfunded pension liabilities. The approval came with all 19 City Council members signing on as co-sponsors of the bill (2016-300). The vote is the final step in the legislative process Mayor Curry’ led to address the challenges and limitations created by the City’s crippling pension debt once and for all.

Elected officials and dignitaries joined Sheriff Mike Williams, Undersheriff Pat Ivey and Fraternal Order of Police President Steve Zona in front of the Police Memorial Building on Bay Street with the members of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) and the family and friends of fallen officers for the annual Police Memorial Day Observance.

Partnerships Accelerate Innovations in Local Government
 
The City of Jacksonville has teamed up with the University of North Florida (UNF) and the University of Florida (UF) to join the MetroLab Network, a network of 35 city-university partnerships focused on bringing data, analytics and innovation to local government. Members of the network address challenges facing the nation’s urban areas by researching, developing and deploying technologies and policies. 

The PNC Foundation, in conjunction with the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, announced it will award $510,000 over three years to arts organizations in three Florida counties, including Duval. The grants are part of PNC Arts Alive!, which has provided millions of dollars to support visual and performing arts and increase audience participation in communities served by PNC.

Nearly 900 Jacksonville University (JU) graduates walked across the stage to on the University's oak-covered Science Green to earn their degrees on Saturday, April 30. Mayor Lenny Curry was invited by JU President Tim Cost to give the keynote address during the ceremony. 

Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council President Greg Anderson joined Visit Jacksonville in the Atrium of City Hall on Monday, May 2, to kick off National Travel and Tourism Week. The week-long events highlight the significant role travel and tourism play in the city's local economy.