As part of Renew Jax, LISC has committed to investing $20 million to support housing, business expansion, and commercial corridor revitalization. These private resources will help leverage federal, state and City funding. By partnering with LISC, neighborhoods including East Jacksonville and Northwest Jacksonville will see new housing opportunities and improvements for businesses to spur growth and stability.
 
In unveiling the initial projects under Renew Jax, Mayor Brown announced that the City, state and federal investment will total $15.5 million, including nearly $10 million in federal grant funding to remove blight, improve housing and support new sidewalks, drainage and water lines. The administration and Council will consider future opportunities to invest strategically in other areas.
 
“Renew Jax is a major citywide initiative with public-private partnerships that will empower Jacksonville neighborhoods, improve quality of life and expand economic opportunities,” said Mayor Brown.  “LISC Jacksonville is a key partner, with a commitment to invest $20 million in our community to leverage federal and state funding secured by the City of Jacksonville.  Starting with residential and infrastructure investments in Northwest and East Jacksonville, our goal is to renew Jacksonville – one neighborhood at a time.”
 
The announcement highlights the continued commitment of LISC Jacksonville to revitalize neighborhoods in need. 
 
“The City of Jacksonville has been an important partner for LISC and our $20 million commitment allows us to invest in a mutual neighborhood economic and community development strategy aimed at reducing crime havens and neighborhood blight, thereby creating vibrant communities, healthier and safer neighborhoods, with new employment opportunities.,” said Janet Owens, executive director of LISC Jacksonville.  “Through Renew Jax, the City, LISC, and our community development partners are moving forward on this agenda. Through our ongoing commitment and partnership, we will continue to tackle the challenges and help Jacksonville achieve her full potential.”
 
As starting point, Renew Jax is focusing on Northwest Jacksonville and parts of the urban core, including East Jacksonville, because LISC and the City’s neighborhood action plans have identified these as priority areas with the greatest needs.  Work will begin in several neighborhoods, including improvements along Soutel Drive, Myrtle Avenue, Phelps Street, Payne Avenue, Avenue B, U.S. 1 and in the Robinson’s Addition and Newtown communities. 
 
The Jacksonville City Council is a key partner in this effort, and will review legislation necessary to authorize the Renew Jax projects. 
 
“I believe this initiative is good for our city as well as the community,” said Council Member Reggie Brown.  “It's time we rally behind progress and maximize federal funding to help rebuild our hardest hit areas that desperately need transformation.”
 
Council Member Warren Jones said now is the time to follow through on drainage improvements needed in the Robinson’s Addition and Newtown neighborhoods.
 
"With this funding, we are finally making a significant down payment on many of the long standing drainage issues that have plagued the majority of older neighborhoods for several decades," said Jones.
 
The launch of Renew Jax follows recent actions by Mayor Brown to improve portions of Jacksonville. The mayor has reactivated the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund, and its board will begin leveraging new job opportunities and spark investment.  The Fund will focus on small businesses, entrepreneurs and commercial development. 
 
This month, the Mayor appointed members of the Community Wealth Building Initiative task force to help create new, innovative strategies to empower neighborhood economic development in Northwest Jacksonville. The task force is chaired by Darnell Smith of Florida Blue.
 
Today’s announcement begins Renew Jax improvements in these areas:
 

Soutel Drive

• Public-private partnership between LISC, the City, Wealth Watchers, and other community development nonprofits.
• Scope includes developing and building a subdivision of ten new single-family homes.
• Investment totals $1.03 million in federal funding.
• This project is in Council Member Reggie Brown’s district.

Myrtle Ave. Corridor

• Public-private partnership between the City and Northwest Jacksonville CDC.
• Scope includes various housing redevelopment strategies.
• Investment totals $3.2 million in state and federal funding.
• This project is in Council Member Denise Lee’s district.

Phelps St.

• Public-private partnership between LISC, the City and Operation New Hope.
• Scope includes the acquisition and redevelopment of homes on the south side of Phelps St. between Palmetto and Spearing Streets.
• Investment totals $382,000 in federal funding.
• This project is in Council Member Dr. Johnny Gaffney’s district.

Payne Ave.

• Public-private partnership between the City and Northwest Jacksonville CDC.
• Scope includes the acquisition and redevelopment of a 28-unit multi-family property and five duplex units for affording housing.
• Investment totals $1.6 million in federal funding.
• This project is in Council Member Denise Lee’s district.

Avenue B

• Scope includes the construction of box culverts to improve driver and pedestrian safety along Avenue B and Zinnia Ave. from Edgewood Ave. to Moncrief Rd.
• Investment totals $3.05 million, including $850,000 in federal funding and $2.2 million in Stormwater Utility funding.
• This project is in Council Member Reggie Brown’s district.

U.S. 1

• Partnership between the City, the Florida Department of Transportation and Council Member Reggie Brown.
• Scope includes the design and construction of new water mains, which will connect to and extend water service to the currently un-served properties along U.S. 1.  New sidewalks will be designed and constructed along the east side of U.S. 1 to improve pedestrian safety.
• Investment totals more than $1 million in federal funding and $100,000 in state grant funding.

Robinson’s Addition Neighborhood

• Scope includes a preliminary engineering study to provide improved drainage in the neighborhood.  Anticipated improvements would include improved storm drain systems, curbs and gutters and storm water retention/treatment ponds.
• Investment totals $250,000 in federal funding.
• This project is in Council Member Warren Jones’ district.

Newtown Neighborhood

• Scope includes identifying pond sites large enough for the improvements outlined in a recent study, including storm drain systems, curbs and gutters and storm water detention/treatment ponds.
• Investment totals $3.5 million in Stormwater Utility funding.
• This project is in Council Member Warren Jones’ district.

Additional Infrastructure Projects

• Scope includes infrastructure improvements for the Riverview, Grand Park, Paxon, North Riverside and Lackawanna areas.
• Investment totals $1.4 million in federal funding.
• These projects are in Council Member Warren Jones and Council Member Denise Lee’s districts.