Military and police grants going Jacksonville’s way

At Thursday’s lunch meeting between the Jacksonville City Council and Mayor Lenny Curry, a surprisingly robust topic was the issue of grants.

Councilman Tommy Hazouri said that the city had “missed the boat” on effective grant writing during the Alvin Brown administration. John Crescimbeni talked about the use of outside grant writers, and how $30,000 over two years brought in $5 million of grants.

The utility was demonstrated, yet again, of grants on Thursday, when it was announced that Jacksonville received $464K from Tallahassee “to support local base infrastructure and advocacy efforts.”

These grants address various needs, related to an “encroachment protection initiative” in the Whitehouse area and a Defense Reinvestment Grant applicable to all Duval County military institutions. A key give for Beaches area residents: roadwork at Naval Station Mayport, which will ease the traffic sclerosis along A1A.

According to Harrison Conyers, interim director of the city’s Military Affairs and Veterans Department. “this support from the State of Florida furthers the work that is underway to sustain the defense industry’s $11.9 billion economic impact locally and more than 108,000 jobs in Duval County.”

Mayor Curry, meanwhile, said that “these grants will help continue efforts to enhance our city’s increasing role in our nation’s defense.”

Curry, the son of a retired member of the United States Navy, has a deep connection with the military, and understands its importance in Jacksonville. This grant success follows on the heels of his securing $250K (of a requested $429K) to help Jacksonville pay its part of the “matching grant program from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) within the U.S. Department of Justice.”

Curry feels optimistic about the future of Jacksonville’s relationship with Tallahassee. His relationships with key state legislators and the governor allow him meaningful access to make his cases for Jacksonville’s needs. This presents a contrast to the previous administration, which advertised its special relationship with Governor Rick Scott, yet brought less money home than it should have in the eyes Republicans and Democrats in local government.