Three-week project focuses on revitalization at no cost to taxpayers

A team of IBM experts, funded by a grant from the major technology services company IBM, has started a three-week project to determine realistic solutions to revitalize Downtown Jacksonville.

The project is part of the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant program, a worldwide initiative to provide a total of $50 million worth of services and technical assistance to the most progressive 100 cities around the world through 2013. The project carries an approximate value of $400,000 and requires no tax dollars.

Jacksonville was selected earlier this year among eight cities nationally and 33 globally after Mayor Alvin Brown and a number of stakeholders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors met with IBM representatives at City Hall to make the case for Downtown.

Plan streamlines process to make Jacksonville more competitive

Mayor Alvin Brown’s plan to streamline city job-creating functions by transforming the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission into an executive-run Office of Economic Development is now official.

Mayor Brown signed his economic development legislation (2012-212) today at 9:30 a.m. while commending City Council for the unanimous vote on June 26, 2012, backing the mayor’s vision for Jacksonville’s future.

“This is more than policy and it’s more than structure,” said the mayor. “It’s the unanimous opinion of our elected City Council to do what’s right for the taxpayers. It’s the conversation-starter with business leaders wondering where to expand or relocate. And it’s a solution for the nearly 38,000 people in our city who remain out of work and deserve a chance to rebuild themselves.”

Legislation streamlines operations to make Jacksonville a more competitive city for jobs

Jacksonville City Council has approved Mayor Alvin Brown’s plan to make Jacksonville a more economically viable city by streamlining job-creation efforts while increasing the focus on sports, entertainment and special events.

 Mayor Alvin Brown has announced two major steps forward in his administration’s goal to deliver quality, cost-effective services to Jacksonville’s military and veterans community.

• The U.S. Department of Labor is giving the City of Jacksonville a $218,260 grant to help homeless veterans get job training.

• The Florida Committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) has bestowed the Pro Patria award on Mayor Alvin Brown’s Jobs for Veterans program, a public-private partnership with the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition and more than 80 employers. This represents the highest honor the ESGR, a Department of Defense agency, bestows to recognize best practices. Normally the award goes to a business, but for the first time the award went to a municipality to recognize Jobs for Veterans.

Heather Burky from the Art Institute of Jacksonville, and local mom of three, was one of ten U.S. students honored for excellence at the 39th Student Acadmey Awards on Saturday, June 9. Burky's documentary, Lost Country, followed three Cuban expatriates who fought Fidel Castro.

Burky's award is the first time a student from the Art Institute of Jacksonville has been honored in the annual competition organized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which administers the annual Academy Awards. The goal of the student awards is to support excellence in filmmaking for the up-and-coming generation.

Read the full article from USA Today.

Learn more about Jacksonville's thriving film community

Navy Secretary announces ship buildup will begin quicker than originally planned

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced today that the first amphibious ready group (ARG) ship scheduled to shift homeport to Naval Station Mayport will arrive in the last quarter of calendar year 2013.

The USS New York, the USS Iwo Jima and the USS Fort McHenry, will shift from their current homeport of Norfolk, Va. to Mayport. The New York will be the first to change homeport, followed by the Iwo Jima and Fort McHenry in 2014.

Mabus originally announced Feb. 28 that the ARG would arrive no later than 2015.

“This is another proud moment in our city’s longstanding relationship with the U.S. Navy. I look forward to welcoming many new Navy families and I applaud Secretary Mabus for his confidence in Jacksonville,” said Mayor Alvin Brown. “The military installations in Jacksonville already supply an annual economic impact exceeding $14 billion for the region. Expanding the fleet will support even greater activity for local businesses and the Jacksonville housing market.”

The City of Jacksonville, Winn Dixie and the Florida Times-Union have partnered this hurricane season to bring you the Jacksonville 2012 Hurricane and Disaster Guide. This guide provides helpful tips to help you protect your family and property this hurricane season.


This year's guide will help you find your safe room, locate a shelter, prepare for the dangers of strong winds and flooding, plan your evacuation route, and put together your disaster supply checklist.
The Eco Latino Media Group has prepared a spanish language hurricane guide, Guiá de Huracanes.

The Jacksonville Fire and Resuce Department and the Florida State Division of Forestry want to help you protect your family and property during Brush Fire Season. Keep dead wood, brush and climbing vines trimmed back at least 30 feet from your home and deck. And remember, there is a ban on the burning of outdoor yard waste throughout the year.

To learn more, watch the video.

Session two of Mayor Brown’s Business builder will take place May 17 and 18 at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. This two-day session will focus on connecting small business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to be successful and creating opportunities for small business growth here on the First Coast.

“It is encouraging to see so many people and organizations come together for the good of our small business economy," said Mayor Brown. "I’m proud to present, free of charge, this public-private partnership to help entrepreneurs better understand from experts what it really takes to get access to capital and credit, develop strategy and compete in today’s complex economy. Small businesses are vital to help put Jacksonville back to work and build a stronger sense of community in our neighborhoods.”

Service comes through public-private partnership at no additional cost to taxpayers

Mayor Alvin Brown is launching Jobs for Veterans, a one-stop service to help military veterans transition to civilian life by connecting them with educational opportunities and job leads at veteran-friendly employers.

“In today’s economy, companies need confidence and a strong work ethic. They could use that never-give-up attitude and that sense of ingenuity that so many of our returning veterans can offer,” said the mayor. “Jobs for Veterans will be good for all of the brave men and women who have so proudly served in defense of our nation.”

Gives city the authority to alter or amend Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC)

Last December, the Jacksonville City Council overwhelmingly passed Mayor Brown’s government reform initiative, the first major reorganization of city government in 20 years. That legislation reformed the city’s economic development structure to make it directly accountable to the mayor and includes all city functions that could enhance the mission of creating jobs.

In January 2012, Mayor Brown and the City Council sought the approval of the Florida Legislature to alter or amend the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC) as a necessary step to evolve the city’s economic development efforts. Both houses of the Legislature unanimously provided that authority. Today, Governor Rick Scott signed the bill – CS/HB 1253 – which provided that authority.

The City of Jacksonville’s Neighborhoods Department is issuing an air quality advisory today in response to smoke from fires currently burning in the area. Elevated levels of particulate matter from smoke in neighboring counties may impact parts of Jacksonville today, as winds blow smoke into the area.

Children, the elderly and sensitive individuals should take steps to avoid exposure by staying inside or refraining from strenuous outdoor activity. If exercising outdoors, substituting less vigorous exercise (a walk instead of a jog, for example) can be helpful. In addition, outdoor activities should be planned for times when particulate levels are lower.

Mayor Alvin Brown announced today that IBM has selected Jacksonville to receive an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant. The grant provides Jacksonville with access to IBM's top experts to analyze and recommend ways the city can become an even better place in which to live and work.

“This is about turning our downtown’s potential into a vibrant reality that will attract major employers, create jobs, draw new residents and serve as a focal point of our city’s unique identity,” said Mayor Brown. “Being the recipient of the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant places us among an elite number of national and international cities. This public-private partnership is possible because of IBM’s confidence in the talent, vision and energy of Jacksonville’s leaders to revitalize downtown.”