• The JEDC Sports & Entertainment Office presents the University of Florida vs. University of Central Florida basketball game on December 20 at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.  Click here to purchase your tickets.

• Speaking of basketball, Jacksonville University (JU) is having a “City of Jacksonville Night” for the JU vs. Mercer basketball game on January 9 at 7 p.m. at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. 

• The City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Urban League, NAACP – Jacksonville Branch and Southern Christian Leadership Conference will host the 22nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on January 9 from 7:30 a.m to 9:30 a.m. at the Prime Osborne Convention Center.  For more information, contact the Chamber at (904) 366-6600.

Laura Street Improvements Program Update
• The funding for the proposed Laura Street Improvements Program which includes streetscaping, landscaping and traffic improvements along Laura Street will be presented to City Council on January 5 and 6.  If funding is approved, the project will begin in the fall of 2009.

FPZA’s 2008 Awards
• The 2008 Florida Planning and Zoning Association’s (FPZA) “Redevelopment Award- Public” was presented to the JEDC for the Main Street Streetscape & Library Park project on December 5.  The award recognizes a project that highlights renovations and redevelopment of a previously developed area.  The Main Street Streetscape & Library Park project was designed in 2006 to beautify the main corridor of Downtown Jacksonville.

Friendship Fountain Redevelopment Plans
• The JEDC recently issued an RFP for the redevelopment of the Friendship Fountain area.  The responses are currently being reviewed by staff and a consultant will be selected to move forward with the design process.

Jacksonville Urban League Receives Major Contributions
• The Jacksonville Urban League, a non-profit, nonpartisan, community-based organization located in the LaVilla area of Downtown, was recently presented with three major contributions:  Microsoft Corporation donated $153,000 in the form of cash and software to provide computer training to Jacksonville’s underserved individuals, Fifth Third Bank presented a $20,000 check for programs and services and The Wachovia Foundation donated $15,000 to support the Foreclosure Prevention Program.  Click here to read more. 

Dialysis Clinic Opens in LaVilla area
• The Dialysis Clinic, Inc. opened the doors at their newest facility after purchasing land from the city in 2001.  The new clinic, located at 757 Union Street West, is a great asset to the area. 

Courthouse Update
• The Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) approved the final design of the new $350 million courthouse at its December meeting.  The design team includes: KBJ Architects, Inc., Flagg Design Studio, LLC, McVeigh & Mangum Engineering, Inc and Turner Construction Company.   

During Rhodes’ tenure on the board as chairman, the JEDC approved more than 22 projects resulting in the creation of more than 2,000 jobs with more than $535 million in new private capital investment and expanded opportunities for small business. Rhodes was especially instrumental in the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan through the completion of projects meeting the vision of the Plan, including the Main Street Park and streetscape project. In 2007, Rhodes received the Thomas Klechak Downtown Development Award for his significant impact on continued development in downtown Jacksonville. During his nearly ten years of service to the city, Rhodes also served on the former Downtown Development Authority (DDA), which was later combined with the JEDC. 

It was also under Rhodes’ leadership that the JEDC helped to attract the first major aviation manufacturing project to Cecil Commerce Center (Alenia North America) and helped facilitate the development of a Request for Proposals for a Master Developer for Cecil that will result in long-term community benefits.

“Bob Rhodes has been an outstanding leader on the JEDC and in this city,” said Mayor John Peyton.  “He has generously shared his intellect and expertise with the community through his important work in economic development and as chair of my Growth Management Task Force, and the foundation he has helped to build in both areas will benefit the people of Jacksonville for many years to come.”