A $15 million bill to fund renovations to Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida and multiple workforce development programs is headed to the Jacksonville City Council after passing through committees.
Ordinance 2025-0781, proposed by Council member Raul Arias, moved through the Rules and Finance committees Dec. 1 and 2.
Committee members made amendments to add a funding source and a workforce development program.
The ordinance would grant funding to three Jacksonville universities and three workforce development programs.
It received criticism from Council members when it was introduced, but cleared the committees with most of the programs receiving funding as originally proposed.
The Rules Committee voted 7-0 to recommend the bill. The Finance Committee voted 7-1, with member Rory Diamond casting the no vote. The ordinance is scheduled to appear before full Council on Dec. 9.
“What I liked most about this bill was (that) it’s got good organizations in it. But ultimately, you helped the rest of this body accomplish a lot of our goals,” Finance Committee Chair Joe Carlucci said to Arias after that committee’s vote.
“That’s what this is about. You didn’t just put it all towards things you want to do.”
As approved by the committees, the proposed ordinance would grant:
• $6 million in renovations to Hodges Stadium at UNF.
• $5 million for development of trade career programs at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
• $2 million toward construction at Edward Waters University
• $1 million for a workforce development center for the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
• $675,000 for the Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association.
• $325,000 for a Workforce Industrial Training LLC program.
Originally, Edward Waters was set to receive $2.675 million. The committees voted to pull $675,000 from the university to fund a grant to the Jacksonville General Apprenticeship Association.
The committees also voted to fund $3 million of the $6 million appropriated for Hodges Stadium using funds from the city’s Tourist Development Council funds. Those funds are designated for tourism development from the city’s local-option tourist development tax.
The $3 million that was saved from the original funding source, a $45 million surplus transferred from the city’s reserve funding for workers’ compensation claims, would likely be used to pay down the city’s deficit in the 2026-27 budget.
Council Vice President Nick Howland has introduced Ordinance 2025-0873 to use the funds to pay a completion grant for the Rise Doro apartments near EverBank Stadium.
Hodges Stadium renovations
Ordinance 2025-0781 would contribute $6 million toward $40 million in renovations to Hodges Stadium, a project designed to give UNF the opportunity to host NCAA and high school tournaments.
In addition to the stadium renovations, the funding would allow UNF to build additional grass training facilities around the stadium.
FSCJ Training Institute at Cecil Commerce Center
The money designated for FSCJ would fund the purchase of a building to house the FSCJ Training Institute at Cecil Commerce Center. The training institute, which is in development, will support a technical educational training facility for skilled trades, including welding, electrical, HVAC, carpentry and logistics work.
Edward Waters complex
The proposed $2 million funding for Edward Waters would be for the first phase of multiyear improvements for the university’s Living, Learning Community Center complex.
Edward Waters plans to add 86,000 square feet with 425 residential beds and provide space for institutional and external events.
The university also plans to expand direct services to the community around the campus through health, wellness and senior/youth engagement programs, according to the legislation.
With the committees’ votes, the funding for Edward Waters was placed into a contingency account for the university.
NEFBA Workforce Development Center
The bill would provide $1 million for NEFBA’s expansion of its apprenticeship program with a Workforce Development Center.
According to attachments to Arias’ bill, the 43,000-square-foot facility “will serve as a centralized hub for classroom and lab instruction, outreach, and community engagement.”
The center will include classrooms and labs with capacity for daytime and evening classes.
JGAA workforce development
The money will fund education programs for trade groups operating under the JGAA umbrella, including the Jacksonville Plumbers and Pipefitters union, the Electrical Training Alliance of Jacksonville and the local chapter of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Because the funds were added to the bill late in the process, both committees placed the $675,000 allotment into a contingency until a term sheet between the city and JGAA could be worked out.
Workforce Industrial Training
A Downtown workforce development program operated by Workforce Industrial Training LLC would receive $325,000. The program plans to recruit, train and place 100 Jacksonville residents with year-round, cost-free certification programs.
James Coleman is CEO of Workforce Industrial Training. According to the witjax.com website, the company is headquartered at 2005 Dahlia Road and offers training programs for industrial safety, health, emergency response and other areas.