Several business leaders made a combined multimillion dollar commitment to veterans, education, housing and quality of life improvement programs during Friday’s economic summit that featured former President Bill Clinton.
Mayor Alvin Brown hosted the summit and the financial commitments will help fund his policy priorities. They include:
• The Jacksonville Jaguars and owner Shahid Khan pledging $1 million and leadership support to assist military veterans assimilate back into the community through a Veterans Guidance Center.
• Florida Blue committing $2 million this year to improve quality of life in the city through nonprofit programs. In addition, the company will invest at least $1 million annually the next three years and invest $125,000 in Brown’s education initiatives.
• Wells Fargo committing $1 million for neighborhood stabilization efforts, including incentives to motivate homebuyers to purchase homes. The company also will continue its support of the neighborhood stabilization program in Springfield.
• CSX will continue its support for programs geared toward Downtown development, job creation, education and veterans’ and military affairs.
• The law firms of Terrell Hogan and Farah & Farah have committed $200,000 each. Terrell Hogan’s contribution will be applied toward education and parks and recreation, while Farah & Farah’s will support Brown’s Downtown priorities.
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