by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Like it or not, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission may slowly evolve into one of the issues facing the 2003 mayoral candidates. Conceptualized in 1995 by Mayor John Delaney and formally created in 1997, the JEDC has served as the economic engine for some of Jacksonville’s most important developments and many of Jacksonville’s obscure projects that serve as lifelines for many of Jacksonville’s struggling neighborhoods.
But the question may become: has the JEDC run its course and, if it has, what next?
Both Mike Weinstein and John Peyton believe the JEDC is important to the economic well-being of Jacksonville, especially for areas north and west of the St. Johns River. However, they both also believe it’s time to look at the 40-person entity that encompasses everything from economic incentives for multi-million dollar developments to Jacksonville-area film and television projects to international relationships.
“I think the next mayor comes in with the JEDC almost eight years old and I think it’s appropriate to evaluate what’s been done,” said Weinstein, who was the JEDC’s original executive director and served in that capacity until his resignation in January 2001.
Weinstein said there’s no denying the success of the JEDC — it has been responsible for projects such as the Adam’s Mark Hotel, The Shipyards and Berkman Plaza — but added it may be time to examine the JEDC from top to bottom and see if it’s running efficiently.
“The next mayor is obligated to review the structure and make recommendations on how to improve it. It’s been very successful, but there’s always an opportunity to make it more effective. We didn’t create it perfectly and what we have to do now is make much smarter decisions,” said Weinstein, adding he’s not advocating the dissolution of the JEDC. “We should certainly keep it as an investment in the future. But the exact procedure for that process is open for investigation.”
Former mayor Tommy Hazouri says economic development will definitely be an issue as the campaign progresses and that the JEDC is a major part of that issue. Like Weinstein, Hazouri, if elected, has no plans to eliminate the JEDC but he would like to see how it functions changed. Hazouri believes the word “Jacksonville” in JEDC should be taken seriously.
“I’m very familiar with the JEDC and I’ve always been an advocate of a countywide agency and that’s what it should be. Under me, that’s what it will be,” said Hazouri, adding one of his first measures will be to assure the entire county has the ability to apply for economic incentives. “Not one quadrant of the community should be left behind. What’s good for downtown ought to be good for the entire city.”
Hazouri said he may find the JEDC has grown too big and extends outside the parameters that it was originally created to address.
“Those are the kinds of things that need to be looked at,” he said. “It may need some tweaking and treated accordingly. I have concerns as to how it has been manipulated. It’s a single agency, under one umbrella and it’s what’s needed for a consolidated city like Jacksonville. But the buck stops with the mayor. The JEDC is the economic engine for the community, but the pilot has to be the mayor.
“I have concerns about incentives and how they are dispersed and it needs to be fine-tuned. The idea is sound and can only be improved.”
John Peyton, the only candidate with little political experience and no ties to the JEDC, said he would also look closely at the organization and would advocate lifting the geographical boundaries that limit the accessibility of JEDC-sponsored incentives and grants.
“I think the concept for having a clearinghouse for economic related projects is smart,” explained Peyton. “I look forward to digging in and seeing how expansive the organization is and measuring its effectiveness.
“I think Mayor John Delaney has been great for the Jacksonville economy and the JEDC is a concept that can be further developed and implemented. I think you have to be careful how we define need in terms of economic development.”
Peyton said there are economically-depressed areas all over town that need assistance, but under JEDC restrictions they aren’t eligible for any money from any fund.
“Every proposal should stand on its own merit,” he said. “They should be evaluated in terms of their return on investment. There are pockets in the community that are definitely in need and the taxes that fund the JEDC come from taxpayers throughout the county.
“With a business background, the criteria is a return on investment. With a political background, the criteria is political expediency. That is the difference between my campaign and the rest of the people in the race.
“There will be healthy dialogue about how to advance the community’s economy. At the end of the day it’s important they recognize the mayor is the chief economic development officer. It’s about good jobs.”
City Council member Matt Carlucci is not only pleased with the JEDC’s performance over the years, he sees no reason to make any changes.
“I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “If I’m elected, I probably, other than any appointments I’d be faced with, will leave the JEDC as it is. It functions well.”
If anything, Carlucci would only seriously consider asking the JEDC to expand its geographical boundaries. While he’s not convinced the entire 860 square miles that Jacksonville encompasses needs to be included, Carlucci is convinced several struggling areas of town just need a little boost to revitalize themselves.
“I do think there are pockets of need on the south and east side of the river,” said Carlucci, adding he doesn’t think the JEDC will be a big campaign issue. “I think they’ve done a good job and they’ve been very helpful to me with things like the San Marco trolley service. They’ve helped big business and they’ve helped small business.”
City Council member Ginger Soud did not return phone calls seeking comment.