Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Jacksonville area added 17,400 new private-sector jobs in the last year. Jacksonville’s unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in July, down 0.7 percentage point from one year ago. 

Jacksonville is one of only six cities selected to participate in the National League of Cities (NLC) Leadership Academy: Promoting Postsecondary and Workforce Success program.

Yesterday, the City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department joined the Miltary Order of the Purple Heart to host the annual Purple Heart Day observance at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Wall. 

Demonstrating his continued commitment to strengthening and bolstering programs that align and contribute to the safety and well-being of youth and communities throughout Jacksonville, today, Mayor Lenny Curry announced a collaborative partnership that streamlines services to Jacksonville children. At an afterschool programming open house held at Sallye Mathis Elementary School, the mayor launched the Kids Hope Alliance: The Jacksonville Partnership for Children, Youth & Families (KHA), a collaboration that aligns the missions and programming provided by the Jax Journey and Jacksonville Children’s Commission.

With only a few days before the start of the 2017-18 school year, Mayor Lenny Curry and City Council President Anna Brosche announced the availability of funds to expand after-school programming to Jacksonville youth. Minimizing the impact of fewer program sites, the administration sought to explore opportunities and funding that would enable the Jacksonville Children’s Commission (JCC) to serve additional youth with after-school programs. Approximately 740 additional children will be served with the $1.071 million announced today. 

City of Jacksonville, Local Hospitals Partner to Inspire Dreams for Youngest Citizens

Anecia is an upcoming junior at Raines High School. She’s spending her summer as an intern for Friends of Hemming Park as part of the Mayor’s Summer Jobs Program.

Investments to benefit neighborhood served by EWC

Demonstrating his continued commitment to safer neighborhoods and communities, Mayor Lenny Curry joined Edward Waters College (EWC) President Nat Glover and City officials to announce one of his Safer Neighborhoods investments that will benefit the northwest Jacksonville community. The City of Jacksonville’s 2017-18 budget includes support for safety improvements and infrastructure enhancements at the local college that is Florida's oldest independent institution of higher learning established for the education of African Americans. More than $8 million has been committed to support the university’s efforts to refurbish a long-challenged dormitory and build a community field.

In observance of Independence Day, the following city government offices and facilities will be closed Tuesday, July 4.

New policy being proposed to support parents and families

Jacksonville’s Main Street Bridge will be closed from 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 23 to Sunday, June 25 at 6 a.m. and again Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights (June 26, 27, 29, and 30) from 6:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. and Wednesday night, June 28 from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. The closures are part of improvements to the mechanical, electrical and structural systems.

National Mosquito Control Awareness Week (June 26 – July 1) is an observation dedicated to educating the general public about the significance of mosquitoes in their daily lives and the important services provided by mosquito control workers throughout the United States.

Jacksonville Mosquito Control can trace its roots back to the 1950’s. When the City of Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated in 1968, the existing Mosquito Control districts were dissolved and the Jacksonville Mosquito Control Division was established. As citizens enjoy the summer season, the City of Jacksonville is encouraging them to stay safe and vigilant while enjoying outdoor activities throughout the summer months. The seasonable warm weather and related conditions often promote the presence of mosquitoes.

Jacksonville is home to 47 species of mosquitoes. While many species of mosquitoes are nothing more than a nuisance to citizens, several have the ability to carry mosquito-borne viruses including Zika, West Nile, Yellow Fever and more, infecting both humans and domesticated animals. The City of Jacksonville’s Mosquito Control Division is responsible for all mosquito control activities and efforts throughout the city.

The City of Jacksonville and Keep Jacksonville Beautiful will partner with the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol for the annual July 5^th Beaches Cleanup following the Independence Day holiday.