The Jacksonville City Council approved legislation to facilitate a possible incentive to a TV or film production identified as code-named Project T in legislation.
Council’s 15-4 vote on Ordinance 2025-0720 allowed for a transfer of $400,000 to the Office of Economic Development to use in negotiations with the production company. It did not constitute approval of an incentive, which would be subject to another Council vote.
Council members Joe Carlucci, Rory Diamond, Mike Gay and Ron Salem voted against the transfer.
The legislation transferred the money from the city’s debt management fund.
Ed Randolph, the office’s director of economic development, said Sept. 15 that the company plans to spend $3 million on its production in Jacksonville.
He said that over six months of production, the company would purchase 2,400 hotel room nights for its staff and employ about 100 Jacksonville residents.
The city estimates a return of $7 for every $1 of investment, Randolph said.
In March 2024, the city launched its Jacksonville Film & Television Program, which offers two tiers of rebates to producers upon completion of their projects. Project T falls under a tier that grants a 20% rebate for a minimum of $1 million in qualified expenditures in Duval County, capped at $400,000.
The incentives are administered by the Jacksonville Film & Television Office, a division of the OED.
Council members have discouraged the OED and the Downtown Investment Authority, which also administers incentive grant programs, from bringing forward incentive requests involving direct cash payouts.
Instead, members have supported Recapture Enhanced Value Grants, which are refunds on ad valorem property tax revenue generated by a new development.
Randolph told the Council Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee that Jacksonville was no longer competitive in attracting film and TV productions.
“Looking at our peer cities, just in the state of Florida, their film activities are much greater than ours,” he said.
“We’re starting to gain steam, getting back to our former glory in the film and television arena.”
In the early 1900s, Jacksonville was home to more than 30 film studios during the silent movie era. According to news accounts, competition from Hollywood and cultural friction between local residents and the industry workforce led studios to relocate.
According to Visit Jacksonville, more recent films shot in the city include “G.I. Jane” and “The Devil’s Advocate” in 1997; “Basic” in 2003; “Lonely Hearts” in 2006; “Recount” and “The Year of Getting to Know Us” in 2008.
In response to a request for public records related to Project T, the city declined to provide further details.Economic development agreements often use code names, which are allowed by state law.