by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The mayor’s plans to take away the JEDC’s authority to run an economic development fund targeting Northwest Jacksonville received a cool reception at the commission’s Thursday meeting.
After learning of the proposal to transfer the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund to the new Housing and Neighborhoods Department, commissioners said the change could slow the area’s development. Commissioners also were concerned that they were not consulted on the change. An impromptu resolution spelling out those concerns passed unanimously.
Among the commissioners: Joe Barrow wondered why the mayor’s office would want to take the fund away from its most experienced economic development personnel; Charlie Appleby, who proposed the resolution, said the commission should have been consulted on the plan; and Delois Hollinger said it could create “an unnecessary redundancy.”
Barrow said the news was particularly disappointing coming on a day when the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission approved a redevelopment plan for the area surrounding Soutel Drive and Moncrief Road in Northwest Jacksonville.
The redevelopment area is intended to encourage retail development. But with the fund no longer under the JEDC, participating businesses will face a new layer of bureaucracy to apply for small business incentive programs, said Barrow. The Fund once held $25 million, paid for by Better Jacksonville Plan funds, but now holds about $8.5 million.
“We have just set the course to address the Northwest area of Jacksonville in a way we haven’t in the two years I’ve sat on this commission,” said Barrow. “Now these businesses will have to go to a new department to access funding.
“This is a setback to our ability to move forward in the Northwest area,” he said, shaking his head as he set down his microphone.
But commissioner David Auchter suggested the JEDC might be losing its authority over the Fund precisely because of slow economic progress in Northwest Jacksonville.
“We’ve talked a lot about Northwest Jacksonville with very little getting done. I think the administration has recognized that,” said Auchter. “This could be a response that it’s been stagnant here.”
But the JEDC planned to continue its efforts in the area. Executive Director Ron Barton helped develop tougher guidelines on how the money could be spent.
By raising the bar for who could get the money, Barton hoped that the Fund dollars would go toward businesses with staying power. Those were most likely to make a lasting impact in the neighborhoods, he reasoned. But the stricter guidelines will be left behind when the Housing and Neighborhoods Department takes over the Fund.
The move still needs City Council approval. It’s been largely supported by Council committees as it moves toward a vote at Tuesday’s full Council meeting. Council member Lad Daniels said he won’t support the departmental merger because of the Fund transfer.
Council members at the JEDC meeting were quick to point out that moving the Fund was the mayor’s idea. But they said Peyton’s plan should be given a chance.
“This direction came to us from the mayor’s office,” said Council member Art Graham. “We were sold on: let’s try this and see what happens.”