Governor approves Mayor Curry’s Pension Legislation Bill
 
This afternoon, Gov. Rick Scott signed legislation, approving Mayor Lenny Curry’s plan to address Jacksonville’s crippling pension debt. This plan grants municipal governments the ability to extend existing surtax revenue to address pension liability. The bill limits participation to those local governments whose underfunded retirement benefit is below 80 percent of actuarial funding. 

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Jacksonville area added 20,700 new private-sector jobs over the year in February. The area’s unemployment rate declined by 1.0 percentage point over the year to 4.5 percent in February. Florida’s statewide unemployment rate dropped to 4.9 percent in February, the state’s lowest rate in eight years.

Move Continues Global Presence and Job Growth Momentum for City
 
The City of Jacksonville is celebrating another victory as a result of last fall’s trip to London including City officials and local business leaders. The City announced today that City Refrigeration Holdings will establish its North American headquarters in Jacksonville, bringing more than 100 new jobs to the area.

More than 1,700 Jacksonville seniors gathered at Hanna Park March 23 for fishing, dancing and games during the annual Mayor’s Fish-A-Thon. This is the 42nd year of the event hosted by the City’s Senior Services division. 

In a signing ceremony in his office shortly before the March 22 City Council meeting, Mayor Lenny Curry signed a new five-year contribution agreement between the City of Jacksonville and JEA. He was joined at his desk by City Council members and JEA officials to announce the new agreement.

First Approval for the City of Jacksonville Since 2011
 
In a vote of confidence for the City of Jacksonville, the Florida Legislature has approved appropriations funding that will address Mayor Lenny Curry’s key priorities for the city such as public safety and support for neighborhoods. Jacksonville has secured nearly $1.86 million in funding from the state toward projects including Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Jax Journey’s Jacksonville Re-Entry Center (JREC), replacement of the Moncrief-Dinsmore bridge, and Julington-Cormorant stormwater improvements. This is the first time since 2011 appropriations for the City of Jacksonville have been secured.

Mayor Lenny Curry helped Fifth Third Bank cut the ribbon on their new Jacksonville headquarters in Downtown Jacksonville on March 15. The ribbon cutting represents Jacksonville’s growing economic momentum, particularly in the financial services sector in recent weeks. 

Legendary rivalry to continue tradition at EverBank Field

Jacksonville scores again as a result of a recent agreement to keep one of our nation’s biggest football rivalry games in town. Since 1933, the City of Jacksonville and EverBank Field have been the home of the Georgia-Florida game. That tradition will continue through 2021, as both schools have reached an agreement with the City on a five-year extension.

OCEARCH returned to Jacksonville for its 24th expedition to generate scientific data critical to ocean conservation by satellite tagging Great White Sharks. Mayor Lenny Curry joined the OCEARCH team to launch Expedition Jacksonville Tuesday, March 15.

Governor Rick Scott announced the Jacksonville area added 25,600 new private-sector jobs over the year in January. The area’s unemployment rate declined by 1.0 percent over the year to 4.9 percent in January. Florida has added 1,060,800 private sector jobs since 2010. Governor Scott will celebrate this great news today on his five-city “Million, Billion Jobs Victory Tour.”