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.

Local Organizations and City of Jacksonville Employees also Recognized for Service and Contributions
 
Demonstrating his commitment to programs, services and offerings that improve public safety, Mayor Lenny Curry is presenting a proclamation identifying April 24 – 30 as National Re-entry Week, an observance established this year by the U.S. Department of Justice. In its inaugural year, the observance aims to bring awareness to the challenges ex-offenders face re-entering society after incarceration. Students and leaders from the City of Jacksonville’s D.A.W.N. program will receive the proclamation from Mayor Curry during a ceremony being held tomorrow at 3 p.m.

Jacksonville is known for its rich military history celebrated by thousands of military families who live here. The city hosts the largest population of veterans and concentration of military bases throughout Florida. City Council President Greg Anderson, Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping, and City of Jacksonville Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart announced the 2016 recipients of the Jacksonville Veterans Resource and Reintegration Center community grants at a news conference held today at City Hall. In partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, the City of Jacksonville’s Military Affairs and Veterans department are awarding $55,000 to veteran-serving organizations throughout the community. This is the third year of a five-year $1 million commitment from the Jaguars that funds community grants, permitting the City to support veterans and military families.

At the April 26 meeting of the Jacksonville City Council, Mayor Lenny Curry asked Council to support legislation (2016-300) to put his pension solution on the August 30 ballot for a referendum vote. The legislation is the next step in his administration’s efforts to address the challenges and limitations the City’s crippling pension debt is creating for citizens and communities throughout Jacksonville. At the meeting, all present City Council members signed on as co-sponsors to the bill. 

GE Foundation announced a $250,000 grant to The AGAPE Community Health Center Network to launch the One Heart cardiovascular community outreach program to screen 10,000 Jacksonville residents for cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions over the next two years.  One Heart, a partnership between AGAPE, the Florida Department of Health in Duval County, and Florida A&M University, will host large-scale screenings and events at community-based organizations, primarily in Jacksonville’s urban core known as Health Zone 1 - an underserved community largely at-risk for chronic conditions and where more than 30% of deaths are attributed to cardiovascular disease. 

As the nation celebrates Earth Day, the City of Jacksonville is also celebrating 20 years as a Tree City USA, a designation recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation awarded to cities with a demonstrated commitment to effective urban forest management.
 
“Jacksonville has many natural resources that bring great beauty and value to our city,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “As a city that is home to the largest park system in the nation, we are committed to these diverse resources. It feels great to earn recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation for our efforts.”

The Jacksonville Children's Commission (JCC) celebrated 21 years of providing child and family services during a celebration at City Hall on April 21. 

Jacksonville citizens with valid ID can earn a reward for helping keep Jacksonville clean. Duval County residents can earn 50 cents per sign for up to 40 illegal snipe signs, and $2 per tire for up to 10 tires at the Tire & Sign Buyback at EverBank Field's Lot Z on Saturday, May 7 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Legislation filed today is the next step in Mayor Lenny Curry and his administration’s efforts to address the challenges and limitations the City’s crippling pension debt is creating for citizens and communities throughout Jacksonville. Today’s action requests City Council’s approval of a referendum to be presented to Jacksonville voters in the Aug. 30 primary election that extends a half-cent sales tax to pay down the City’s unfunded pension liabilities.

Today, Governor Rick Scott announced Jacksonville added 21,300 new private-sector jobs over the year in March. The area’s unemployment rate declined by 0.9 percentage point over the year to 4.4 percent in March. 

Mayor Lenny Curry has appointed Dawn Lockhart to serve as Director of Strategic Partnerships for the City of Jacksonville. In this newly created position, Lockhart will work collaboratively with the nonprofit and philanthropic communities in an effort to better serve Jacksonville citizens.

Ceremonially Signs Tax Cut Package for Florida Families and Job Creators
 
Today, Mayor Lenny Curry joined Governor Rick Scott to announce that Novolex will be expanding their Hilex Poly brand manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, which will create 25 new jobs and invest $6 million in the local community. Novolex, a manufacturer of plastic bags for retailers, has 37 plants across the country and employs more than 100 Floridians. During the announcement, Governor Scott also ceremonially signed HB 7099, which includes the permanent elimination the sales tax manufacturing machinery and equipment and a three-day back-to-school sales tax holiday. Over the past two years, Florida has cut more than $1 billion in taxes.