Three days after the St. Johns County Commission voted to withdraw funding for the JAXUSA Partnership, their leaders met to determine if the relationship can be mended.
Aundra Wallace, the new president of JAXUSA Partnership, and St. Johns County Administrator Mike Wanchick met Friday.
"We had a good, productive meeting this morning and I plan to meet with each St. Johns County commissioner individually to answer any questions they have and discuss how we can continue to work together to drive quality economic growth for the entire region," Wallace said in an emailed statement.
Michael Ryan, the communications manager for St. Johns County, said the county will work with Wallace to schedule meetings with each commissioner.
The meeting came after the five commissioners discussed the partnership’s "Elevate Northeast Florida" report that recommended rebranding Northeast Florida as Jacksonville. The commission voted unanimously to stop any future payments, which are $50,000 annually, to the partnership, which is the economic development division of JAX Chamber and funded by seven regional counties, including St. Johns.
On Tuesday, the St. Johns County commissioners said rebranding the entire region would not represent the county's interests and individuality.
The commission voted to direct its staff to withhold payments to JAXUSA Partnership until the report's rebranding recommendation is explained and what the partnership is providing to support St. Johns.
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