• The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission’s 2002 annual report is out and the numbers are pretty good considering the overall national economy last year. Twenty-nine projects were approved, generating 2,975 new jobs. They also added just over $106 million in private capital investment to the local tax rolls. That’s $10.40 of private capital investment for every City dollar provided.
• With his term as City Council president about to expire, so is Jerry Holland’s term on the Tourist Development Council. Shouldn’t be the end, though. Holland has asked Council president-elect Lad Daniels to appoint him to another term.
• Over 600,000 bricks are being used for the exterior facade at the new arena.
• According to the May Cornerstone Investor Update, there are 63 active prospects in the pipeline.
• Mayor-elect John Peyton’s Transition Steering Committee is very busy these days. One of the things they’re doing is poring over the various City departments and the current projects/ideas they are working on.
• Speaking of the Transition Team, they’ll need about 30 ID badges and 30 parking spaces over the next month or so. They’ll use the Yates Building garage and the JEA/Ocean Street parking lot. The media gets some help, too. The City plans to bag several parking meters on Bay Street on Monday and Thursday when the Transition Team is meeting.
• Sharon Edwards is the new face at the mayor’s office reception desk. She comes from the Neighborhood Department and will be lending a hand to Alice Newman for the next month.
• The Clara White Mission is hosting a grand opening ceremony Thursday from 4-6 p.m. for its new transitional housing and culinary arts training programs.
• Supervisor of Elections John Stafford and some of his staff will attend a conference in Sarasota June 1-5 as part of the Florida State Association of Supervisors. The organization will discuss the federally passed Help America Vote Act.
• Included in The Salvation Army’s HUD application seeking funds for a senior assisted living project downtown: two recently published articles from the Daily Record reporting on the progress made so far.