What if:
• A university campus opened Downtown with student housing?
• Every child in Northeast Florida graduated from high school?
• Jacksonville spawned an Olympic rower?
The next question is: Why not?
Those are a few of the many potential achievements a Northeast Florida Regional Council committee discussed Thursday at the inaugural meeting of a group updating the council’s “Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.”
“The worst thing we do right now is not do anything,” said committee chair Perry Bechtle, an anesthesiologist with Mayo Clinic Florida.
Almost 30 committee members from the council’s seven counties — Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns — met in the Kinne Auditorium on the clinic’s Southside campus.
The strategy update is required every five years by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to qualify the council or area economic-development organizations for administration assistance.
“What are the expectations for the region the next five-10 years?” Bechtle asked.
The strategy must provide an analysis of the area’s economic development problems and opportunities that identifies strengths and weaknesses.
The so-called “SWOT” analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is scheduled at the next meeting April 24. The council is inviting area planners and other decisionmakers to participate.
The two final meetings will be May 29 and June 26, when an action plan is due.
Bechtle outlined broad topics that would cover the region: education, poverty, energy, transportation, water supply and housing.
He explained that each county has created its own economic development strategy, and that the larger issues could be regional. “We’re looking for common themes,” he said.
“There are visions for each area, but what is the big strategy?”
Bechtle also suggested another discussion: “What should never be done? What can we not touch? What should stay the same?”
Another observation from Bechtle was that Duval County is “a huge piece of the pie” for the area’s economy, and that Downtown Jacksonville plays an important role in representing the area. He envisioned putting a university Downtown, or a military school or training center.
Participant Dane Baird suggested tying in the Downtown Campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville to the Downtown core. The college is just north of Downtown. “I would put FSCJ as low-hanging fruit,” Baird said.
The area economic-development, government and community leaders attending Thursday had some questions and comments, including making sure the strategies are common-sense and to realize the group is making plans during a dynamic environment.
Needs, plans and projects might arise within five years that aren’t envisioned yet.
The Northeast Florida Regional Council’s board will review the completed strategy update and approve it before sending it to Washington, D.C.
Council CEO Brian Teeple reminded the committee to consider the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s “Six Pillars” as a framework:
• Talent supply and education
• Innovation and economic development
• Infrastructure and growth leadership
• Business climate and competitiveness
• Civic and governance systems
• Quality of life and quality places
The Economic Development Administration requires that the strategy update follow procedures. The planning organization, in this case the regional council, identifies a strategy committee that includes private-sector representatives as a majority of its membership.
The strategy must include the background and current condition of the area’s economic-development situation; an analysis of the economic-development problems and opportunities; goals and objectives of the region; the relationship between the community and private sector in carrying out the strategy; a set of regional projects, programs and activities to be created; a plan of action; and performance measures.
“I truly need you guys to engage,” Teeple told the committee.
For information, visit nefrc.org and click on Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. If you’re interested in participating or attending, call Margo Moehring at (904) 279-0880 or email [email protected].
Executive Suite build-out OK’d
The city approved the permit Wednesday for Executive Suite Professionals to complete its expansion to take the entire 14th floor at EverBank Center Downtown.
Auld & White Constructors LLC is the contractor for the tenant improvements of 9,672 square feet of space at the 301 W. Bay St. tower at a project cost of $560,900.
The Daily Record reported March 12 that the Jacksonville-based office suites venture, which opened in July on part of the 14th floor, decided to move into the remaining almost 10,000 square feet of space to fill the almost 31,000-square-foot floor.
“We have had great success in filling our space in phase one,” Lisa Gufford, managing member and co-founder, said at the time.
The first phase comprises 50 offices and the second phase will open in May with another 43 suites. Executive Suite Professionals also offers meeting rooms, a reception area, a client lounge and some break-out areas with windows that provide views of Downtown. Visit executive–suiteprofessionals.com for more information.
Executive Suite Professionals is a partnership of Gufford, Duke Addison, president and CEO of Addison Commercial Real Estate, and Bortie Twifford, a Washington, D.C.-based entrepreneur and former Jacksonville resident.
Autoscribe opens Jacksonville office
Autoscribe Corp., which provides PaymentVision and Lyons Commercial Data, is opening its third East Coast office in Jacksonville. The company bought about 4,000 square feet of office space in Mandarin at 12276 San Jose Blvd., Suite 624, and has hired five people with plans to double its headcount in Florida in six to 12 months.
The office will be the company’s first location dedicated to client relations, sales and marketing. Autoscribe is based in Gaithersburg, Md.
“Jacksonville was our first choice as it offers an excellent talent pool from leading financial technology and banking companies who have the experience to help us better serve our customers and partners across the Southeast,” said Jim Phelan, senior vice president of sales, in a news release.
For information, visit paymentvision.com.
Memorial ER remodeling approved
The city approved a permit Thursday for Memorial Hospital to renovate its emergency department at a project cost of almost $2 million. Dana B. Kenyon Co.is the contractor for the almost 17,700-square-foot project.
The Daily Record reported Feb. 12 that Memorial Hospital had begun a total $3.6 million renovation of the emergency department at its 3625 University Blvd. S. medical center. The project should be completed in midsummer.
Adam Landau, senior marketing and communications specialist, said then that Memorial Hospital was outgrowing the space.
He said the project will allow the addition of five emergency treatment rooms in the main emergency department and expand the ExpressCare area to include a dedicated eight-bed Pediatric ExpressCare treatment area to be staffed around the clock with pediatric-trained nurses and physicians.
Walmart renovating Philips Supercenter
Walmart landed a permit to remodel its Supercenter at 4250 Philips Highway.
RGWilliams Construction Co. is the contractor for the $333,238 project to renovate the 186,410-square-foot store.
Waste Pro CNG site work OK’d
The city approved site work for Waste Pro to install a compressed natural gas fueling facility at its 2940 Strickland St. operation in West Jacksonville.
Wilson & Co. Inc. is the contractor for the $834,177 project.
Longwood-based Waste Pro announced in November that it opened two compressed natural gas fueling facilities in Palm Coast and Daytona Beach and that it was starting construction of a CNG complex in Jacksonville.
The city has been reviewing site plans and a building-permit application for the fueling addition. J.R. Leonard Construction Co. is the contractor and Stillwater Technologies Inc. is the architect.
Site plans refer to the installation of a new CNG fueling system to serve the owner’s CNG-powered trucks.
Division Manager Dane Connell said in February the site was an existing location being converted to CNG fueling. He said the project could be completed in six to eight weeks after permit approval.
Connell said Waste Pro is one of three waste collection companies under contract with the city of Jacksonville and Neptune Beach.
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