JAX Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis said the business trade group is exceeding its employment and investment targets for the year as of September.
“We’ve announced thousands of jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars worth of capital improvements. And to think about us doing that at a time like this,” Davis told the group’s Mandarin Council on Oct. 8.
The chamber’s most recent numbers show 2,447 jobs and $856.7 million in capital investment announced by 15 companies.
That compares with 2,312 jobs and $354.3 million capital investment announced by 15 companies for calendar 2019.
Davis did not say what the goals were, but that the chamber exceeded them during a pandemic.
It was the area council’s second in-person meeting since shutdowns began in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The group meets at Bonefish Grill in Mandarin.
He attributed the achievement to Jacksonville’s often-cited attributes, especially its business climate.
“We’re going to see growth because people are seeking those places to live and to reestablish a business,” he said.
Davis told the 20 or so attendees that he realizes some are experiencing financial difficulties and others are having some of their best years. He said the chamber has adjusted as well, including canceling group trips and limiting large in-person events.
“If you would have asked in March what our economic development numbers were going to be like, I probably would have told you it’s going to be a lost year,” Davis said.
“The results have been incredible and our team has a pipeline of folks that want to move to our community.”
He predicts continued growth in the industries of financial technology, health care, and advanced manufacturing.
He also said Downtown will continue to see expansion. “We’ve been talking about construction cranes that aren’t coming to Downtown for a long time, and you’re actually starting to see them pop up. And I believe you will continue to see them pop up.”
Two immediate Northbank projects are the 12-story Fidelity National Information Services Inc. headquarters in the Brooklyn area of Downtown and the seven-floor JEA headquarters structure near the Duval County Courthouse. Both buildings will have separate parking garages.
Among some other points during his presentation or the question-and-answer period:
Minority outreach
The JAX Chamber will make a series of announcements starting soon and into next year that will be put into practice in 2021 for major outreach to minority-owned businesses and minority entrepreneurs.
“We believe there is a significant opportunity for us to make every area in our community successful financially,” he said. “You can’t have 25 to 30% of your population not thriving when the other folks in the community are thriving and think everything’s OK.”
Davis said JAX Chamber needs to be proactive.
“We have to make this a major issue in our organization,”
Lot J
Davis said the JAX Chamber created the Downtown Covenant in 2018 to address the importance of Downtown’s success and its ability to attract talent.
“The young talent these days want to live in an urban environment,” he said. “In many cases, they wouldn’t mind walking to work from living in an apartment or condo.”
Davis said advocates are focused on attracting 10,000 residents and then a total of 10,000 units Downtown. Downtown Vision reported Aug. 6 that 6,137 residents are living in Downtown’s Northbank and Southbank, up 18% from last year.
Davis said the Lot J development fits into that goal.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, The Cordish Companies and Mayor Lenny Curry’s administration propose a $445 million mixed-used development on Lot J at TIAA Bank Field.
That proposal calls for $218 million to $233 million in city incentives that City Council will need to approve.
Those comprise up to $152.7 million in direct contribution, a $65.5 million, no-interest loan and another $15.1 million for additional parking costs that could be decided later.
The project includes a Live! District entertainment center, a hotel, retail and office space, parking garages and two apartment buildings totaling 400 units.
“It’s important for us to create a critical mass at Lot J, create an entertainment district that attracts more people to do more business and activities in Downtown,” he said.
“We’ll be supportive of that through this process,” he said.
Davis said it has not been easy for developers to make deals work financially Downtown the past 10 to 15 years.
“I think that we as a city have to step up to help folks like Shad Khan” who are asking for assistance to make a development work, he said.
“I would support it if I were on the City Council. I hope all the City Council members support it,” he said.
“Shad’s been a partner with Jacksonville, and we have to make sure he’s a partner for a long time.”
The Downtown Covenant comprises six principles: Attracting jobs and residents; relocating the convention center to the Bay Street corridor; increasing funding and autonomy for the Downtown Investment Authority; developing smart transportation and infrastructure; relocating government buildings off prime riverfront property; and expanding waterfront access and amenities along the St. Johns River and McCoys and Hogans creeks.
