Chapter 26 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 25.304. - Legislative Delegation Coordinator and Secretary to attend sessions of Legislature, etc. Chapter 27 - OFFICE OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Chapter 26 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

PART 1. - OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 26.101. - Office of Economic Development Established.

There is hereby established the Office of Economic Development ("OED") within the executive branch (the "Office"). The functions and activities of the Office are set forth in Part 2, Chapter 26, Ordinance Code.

(Ord. 2016-140-E, § 13)

Sec. 26.102. - Economic Development Officer.

The chief operating officer of the Office of Economic Development shall be the Economic Development Officer (the "Officer"), who shall be appointed by the mayor subject to the confirmation by Council. The Officer shall have a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university or college. The officer shall possess at least ten years professional experience in commercial real estate, deal structuring, fundamental economics, banking or related legal experience and high-level negotiations, which must include at least two years of economic development and financial analysis. The Officer shall be responsible for managing the affairs of the Office subject to the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer, and shall serve at the pleasure of, the mayor. The Officer will employ the personnel to administer and operate the Office in accordance with applicable law, available appropriations, and employee authorizations.

(Ord. 2016-140-E, § 13)

PART 2. - FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Sec. 26.201. - Economic Development.

The functions and activities of the Office of Economic Development shall include, but not be limited to:

(a)

Negotiating economic incentive packages for the City (e.g. Qualified Targeted Industry Refunds, Recapture Enhanced Value Grants, and other incentives as approved by the City Council in the City's Economic Development Investment Policy), except that the DIA shall negotiate economic incentive packages for the Downtown area, with the assistance of the Office of Economic Development, in accordance with the BID Plan (as defined in Chapter 55, Part 1), and monitoring compliance with the same, which such monitoring compliance duties may be delegated by the Office or the DIA, as the case may be, to an appropriate City department or agency, with approval by the Mayor. Quarterly reports reflecting the status of compliance with incentive requirements shall be provided to City Council and shall be made available online;

(b)

Providing staff to the City's Enterprise Zone;

(c)

Providing support to the Council in its role as the governing body acting as the City's community redevelopment agency under F.S. Pt. III, Ch. 163;

(d)

Providing support to the Council in its role as the City's industrial development authority under F.S. Part III, Chapter 159;

(e)

Managing Cecil Commerce Center;

(f)

Operating the access to capital program as defined in Section 126.602;

(g)

Administering the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund;

(h)

Operating the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship;

(i)

Operating the Office of Equal Business Opportunity - Business Compliance;

(j)

Operating the Jacksonville Film and Television Office; and

(k)

Providing support to the Mayor's Advisory Commission on Television, Motion Picture and Commercial Production established by Executive Order 99-3.

(Ord. 2016-140-E, § 13; Ord. 2019-395-E, § 3; Ord. 2024-175-E, § 6)

Sec. 26.202. - Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

There is created as a function in OED the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship shall have the responsibilities of overseeing and managing the City's small business and entrepreneurship activities and programs.

(Ord. 2024-175-E, § 6)

Editor's note— Ord. 2024-175-E, § 6, amended the Code by, in effect, repealing former § 26.202, and adding a new § 26.202. Former § 26.202 pertained to the Office of International Trade, and derived from Ord. 2016-140-E, § 13.

Sec. 26.203. - Advisory Boards.

The OED shall provide support to the following advisory boards (as amended from time to time):

(a)

Enterprise Zone Development Agency Board established by Chapter 501, Ordinance Code;

(b)

Industrial Development Bond Review Committee established by Section 104.307 and 104.313, Ordinance Code;

(c)

JIA/CRA (Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Agency) established pursuant to Chapter 500, Ordinance Code, and Chapter 163, Part 3, Florida Statutes, and described in Sec. 500.115, Ordinance Code; and

(d)

KingSoutel Crossing Community Redevelopment Agency established pursuant to Chapter 500, Ordinance Code, and F.S. Ch. 163, Pt. 3, and described in Section 500.115, Ordinance Code;

(e)

Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Agency established pursuant to Chapter 500, Ordinance Code and Chapter 163, Part 3, Florida Statutes, and described in Sec. 500.115, Ordinance Code.

(Ord. 2015-738-E, § 5; Ord. 2016-140-E, § 13; Ord. 2019-94-E, § 2)

Editor's note— At the direction of the City, the amendments from Ord. 2015-738-E, § 5, have been added to § 26.203.

Sec. 26.204. - Jacksonville Film and Television Office.

There is created as a function in OED the Jacksonville Film and Television Office. The Jacksonville Film and Television Office shall have the responsibilities of overseeing and managing the City's film and television activities and programs.

(Ord. 2024-175-E, § 7)

Sec. 26.205. - Office of Equal Business Opportunity - Business Compliance.

There is created as a function in OED the Office of Equal Business Opportunity - Business Compliance. The Office of Equal Business Opportunity - Business Compliance ("EBO Office") shall be managed by the Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Administrator, described in Chapter 126, Part 6. The EBO Office shall be responsible for deployment and administration of Chapter 126, Part 6, and in addition shall:

(a)

Monitor City projects for compliance with the requirements of Chapter 126; and

(b)

Provide annual training, in consultation with the Chief of Procurement, to department heads and division chiefs, or their designees, and applicable staff of City boards and commissions regarding compliance with Chapter 126, Part 6 of the Code.

(Ord. 2024-175-E, § 7; Ord. 2025-411-E , § 1)

Sec. 25.304. - Legislative Delegation Coordinator and Secretary to attend sessions of Legislature, etc. Chapter 27 - OFFICE OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT