• The 2007 Florida Planning and Zoning Association’s Outstanding Public Study Award for North Jacksonville Dunn Ave. and Main Street Corridor Redevelopment Plan was presented to JIA CRA, JEDC, PDD, and Miller Sellen Conner and Walsh at the 55th annual state conference in Sarasota.
• Twelve Jacksonville-based companies made Florida Trend’s Florida Public 150 list. A large number of the top 150 Florida-based publicly traded companies are located in Jacksonville, more than any other city in the state.
• Education Spotlight:  The University of North Florida has recently made several notable investments in their Jacksonville campus including: $21 million in the College of Education and Human Services by 2009, a $10.25 million health classroom and services building opening next year and a $4 million sanctuary and meditation center opening in 2008.
• JEDC Chairman, Bob Rhodes, accepted the First Coast APA’s Best Planning Advocate Award for the 2030 Horizon, an effort of the City of Jacksonville’s Growth Management Task Force.
• Florida Community College at Jacksonville’s (FCCJ) new Logistics and Distribution program offers degrees and certificates to individuals interested in a career in the vibrant and exciting industry transporting goods around America.  Click here for more information
• Test your neighborhood’s walkability at www.walkscore.com. While improving walkability in Downtown is a primary objective for the JEDC, Downtown Jacksonville already scored quite well. In fact, the locations in the urban core scored an impressive 92 out of 100.
• High air passenger traffic is a testament to Jacksonville’s sustained economic health - Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) experienced its busiest April serving over 500,000 air travelers.
• The Adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at St. Vincent’s Healthcare has been approved for full accreditation by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The center now qualifies for additional funding from the national organization and will have access to the latest research and treatments in addition to the nationwide cystic fibrosis patient database.
• CNBC ranks Florida among America's Top States for Business, ranking No. 1 in Transportation, No. 4 in Economy, and No. 8 in Technology & Innovation.  Click here to learn more
• According to the 2006 Governor's Commission on the Future of Space & Aeronautics, Florida ranks 3rd in the nation in Space, Aeronautics and Aviation employment with nearly 80,000 Aerospace and Aviation employees
• In a recent Bizjournals study, Jacksonville ranks No. 5 as the Best Market to Grow a Small Business out of the 75 largest metro areas in the country.
• Two Jacksonville hospitals, Baptist Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, made U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals 2007” list.  Click here to view the entire list
• Another new eatery is coming to Downtown Jacksonville, Bread and Butter Café, located on the corner of Adams and Laura Streets, is set to open soon offering light breakfast and lunch to Downtown employees, visitors and residents.
• The St. John, a new residential development located on Downtown Jacksonville’s Southbank, has recently registered for certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.  The St. John is the first residential or commercial high rise in Northeast Florida to receive the LEED registration designation by the U.S. Green Building Council.
• “Eat Up Downtown”, Jacksonville’s first Downtown Dining Week, will take place August 20-26.  Numerous Downtown restaurants have partnered to promote Downtown as a dining destination offering fantastic dining specials.  For more information on the event and its sponsor, DVI, visit www.eatupdowntown.com. 
• The JEDC will be participating in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, an event that raises money to support research, community service and public and professional education programs.  Our goal is to raise $5,000.  A donation of $500, $250, $100 or $25 will help fight the Nations No. 1 and No. 3 causes of death — heart disease and stroke.  Thank you for your support of the JEDC and the Heart Walk…click here to make a difference and donate to the JEDC team.
• The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and WorkSource will be hosting Workforce Summit 2007:  Thinking Globally, Acting Globally on September 11, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.  The event will provide insight to two previously held roundtable events on labor force trends and workforce globalization. Click here for more information 
• Learn strategies on how to recruit and retain a diverse workforce at a Diversity Forum on September 13, 2007 at the University Club.  Click here for more information
• JEDC will give an overview of Westside development and Cecil Commerce Center at the 2007 Annual Westside Tour.  The event will take place September 28, 2007 at FCCJ’s Cecil Commerce Center campus.  Contact Mary Beth Ridderman at (904) 255-8260 or Marybeth@coj.net for more information  
• NASA will be hosting a Small Business Forum providing Florida’s small businesses an opportunity to learn from NASA officials, NASA prime contractors as well as programs offered by the Florida MEP and Small Business Association.  The event will be held August 23, 2007 in Cocoa Beach.

The magnificent new residential developments in Downtown Jacksonville are truly highlighting the area as the premier place to live in Northeast Florida.  Impressive residential and mixed-use towers will provide residents with resort club living and the convenient atmosphere of the Downtown.  The following is a sampling of the largest residential developments preparing to transform the Downtown skyline.      

The award-winning developer Hines is developing the St. John, an exquisite glass tower that soars over the Southbank of the St. Johns River.  This development will contain 300 units with a variety of floor plans and luxurious amenities ranging in price from the $300s to $3 million.  The St. John has recently registered for certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.  It is the first residential or commercial high-rise in Northeast Florida to receive the LEED registration designation by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Shipyards, located on Bay Street near the Sports Complex, is under construction and will consist of 331 homes spanning 38 stories.  Residents will enjoy sweeping views of the St. Johns River and the picturesque Downtown skyline.  In addition to the residential tower, the development plans to offer impressive amenities including a 700-foot public pier, Riverwalk extension, retail and a new public park.

One 12 is another exceptional project proposed by the Kuhn Companies in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville.  It is an adaptive reuse of the former Barnett Bank Building and will include 30,000 square feet of retail, 90 residential units and possible hotel space.  One 12 represents the evolution of urban living, combining charming historic architecture with cosmopolitan design.  

As the future gateway to Downtown Jacksonville, the Brooklyn neighborhood is evolving into a vibrant mixed-use district flourishing from its adjacency to the Avondale/Riverside Community and the magnificent Riverwalk.  Miles Development Partners intends to develop Brooklyn Park, a 12.5 acre; six block mixed use development that could include up to 800 residential units with 100,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of retail space and a 200-unit hotel surrounding a central open space area. 

Also proposed for Brooklyn is 200 Riverside, the first phase of the mixed-use project proposed by Hallmark Partners, consisting of 148,545 square feet of office, retail and support parking.  The new corporate headquarters for the law firm Marks Gray P.A. and Elkins Constructors will occupy approximately 132,000 square feet of office space.  Additionally, this phase will include first floor retail and a nearly 450-space parking garage.  Phase II of 200 Riverside is planned to include a hotel and approximately 250 residential units, as well as, ancillary improvements. 

Residences at City Place, located on West Ashley Street, is a charming high rise community offering high quality, affordable condominiums with the convenience of Downtown living.  Starting from $61,500, the development offers over six models ranging from spacious studios to large, two-bedroom units.

Berkman Plaza 2 is the pinnacle of living in an urban residential environment.  Already a landmark in the Downtown skyline, this development is the second residential tower perfectly complementing the original Berkman Plaza.  The waterfront development boasts 23 stories with 222 homes and five star amenities with condo prices starting just over $170,000.   

East San Marco is one of the most anticipated new developments in San Marco.  This refreshing new development offers two styles of Downtown living at Parkside at East San Marco and The Residences at East San Marco.  Parkside, overlooking picturesque Fletcher Park and the historic San Marco Preservation Hall will be comprised of six elegant town homes and 26 luxury condominiums.  The Residences, an impressive Mediterranean style structure, is located at the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue.  It will offer 115 homes situated above ground floor retail space.

To learn more about these developments, visit their websites:

At its July meeting, the JEDC approved incentives for two new targeted industry headquarters, EverBank and Magenta Technology, both of which propose to move operations to Downtown Jacksonville.  Both are pending final local and state approval of a Qualified Targeted Industry (QTI) tax credit.  

Magenta Technology, founded in 1999, develops complex software applications for logistics and distribution industry businesses needing real time solutions to supply chain logistics, scheduling, resource allocation, manufacturing and pattern recognition. The London-based, multinational company proposes to locate its North American headquarters to Downtown Jacksonville’s Enterprise Zone, creating 11 new, full-time jobs at an average wage level of, at least, 200 percent of the statewide average. Magenta Technology would invest approximately $400,000 to develop its headquarters in Downtown Jacksonville while adding approximately $1 million annually in new payroll to the local economy. 

EverBank is proposing to expand its headquarters operations with the addition of 120 new, full-time jobs paying an average wage of approximately $45,500, which is higher than the county and statewide average wages, pending final local and state approval of a Qualified Targeted Industry (QTI) tax credit. The project would also add approximately $2.75 million in new private capital investment and $5.5 million in new annual payroll to the Jacksonville economy. The proposed expansion would make EverBank the third largest bank headquartered in Florida and create positions in banking, mortgage servicing, accounting, information technology, treasury, marketing, human resources and capital markets.

EverBank provides high value banking, mortgage, and investment opportunities to a nationwide customer base. This homegrown, Jacksonville-headquartered company has experienced strong growth since 2000, is the eighth largest bank headquartered in Florida and currently employs approximately 1,000 people in Jacksonville. EverBank recorded earnings of $32.6 million for the year ending December 31, 2006, up 15 percent from 2005 earnings of $28.2 million. Earnings for the fourth quarter of 2006 were $10.7 million, up 62 percent from $6.6 million a year ago.

Learn more about these companies at:

www.everbank.com

www.magenta-technology.com

Speaking of the banking industry, Amsouth has changed its name to Regions and the conversion can be seen at the historic Old Bisbee Building Downtown.  www.regions.com.

The JEDC Film & Television Office has been diligently marketing Jacksonville and assisting the production executives for an upcoming multi-million dollar HBO film project titled Recount, a film about the Florida recount after the 2000 presidential election.  The film will be executive produced by Paula Weinstein (Blood Diamond, Analyze This, The Perfect Storm), and produced by Michael Hausman (Brokeback Mountain, Gangs of New York, Man on the Moon, The Firm). Jacksonville will be dubbed for many other cities throughout Florida.

Recount will be the second HBO film produced in Jacksonville. The first was titled First Time Felon, produced by Paula Weinstein and Len Amato and directed by Charles S. Dutton. The film starred Omar Epps and Delroy Lindo. 

Rocket recently finished filming in Jacksonville, starring Sharon Stone, Jimmy Fallon, Lucy Liu and Tom Arnold, and produced by Ring Productions, LLC a Jacksonville-based production company.  This production brought approximately $1.3 million economic impact to Jacksonville and hired mostly local crew. 

Another recent production filmed in Jacksonville, Lonely Hearts, which starred John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Salma Hayek and Jared Leto.  This film had an economic impact of $3.2 million to the local community and was released nationally in April 2007.

The JEDC Film & Television office works with local film, digital media and related businesses to enhance job creation and economic development throughout the region. An essential part is attracting new film and video production to the area including motion pictures, television movies, commercials, music videos, corporate industrials and still photography.  For more information on the JEDC Film & Television office, contact Todd Roobin at (904) 630-2522 or troobin@coj.net.