A.G. Gancarski
On Thursday, the Florida Times-Union reported on a setback for a family business of Jacksonville City Councilwoman Katrina Brown.
Councilwoman Brown’s CoWealth LLC was found to be in default for $590,000 in loans and grants, related to Jerome Brown BBQ Sauce, a barbecue sauce manufacturing company that hasn’t ramped up as quickly as was intended when Brown’s family secured almost $600,000.
These monies were distributed in 2011.
The T-U report by David Bauerlein asserted that “the letter sent Thursday by the city’s Office of Economic Development says CoWealth LLC failed to keep current with repaying the city’s loan, didn’t turn in a report showing at least 56 permanent jobs were created at the plant, didn’t submit annual audited financial statements for 2014 and 2015, and owes about $26,000 in delinquent property taxes.”
Other than that? The plan is coming together, Brown wrote on Thursday evening.
“Hi Everyone … Sam’s Club will have Jerome Brown BBQ Sauce this week coming … yes the bbq sauce is sold out. We are their number one selling bbq sauce … we will also be expanding in more Sam’s Club stores soon,” Brown posted to Facebook Thursday evening.
Bauerlein has followed this story pretty closely, and he wanted to know why things have gone as badly as they did. He reached out to Brown Thursday, but got no answer.
Bauerlein should have been on my Facebook page; I shared his story, and Councilwoman Brown answered some questions.
Quotes, from my Facebook page, reflect original syntax.
“AG as far as the loan … just a few payments late … which will be paid,” Brown wrote.
When asked if there were extenuating circumstances, such as problems with the business plan, that were keeping her business from meeting benchmarks to avoid clawback provisions, Brown had no answer.
She then addressed the concept that she was getting favorable treatment from the Office of Economic Development because she was an elected official.
“We are not receiving any special treatment … we received city funding before I became an elected official. We will continue to provide jobs and bbq sauce … no one is perfect … not even me,” Brown wrote.
How many jobs?
“I will put job information on Facebook early next week … and give update on everything else … there are companies that did not meet job requirements … just not reporting it..”
When asked which other companies were not meeting “job requirements,” and who is choosing not to report it, and why, Brown had no answer.
The company has 15 days to, as Bauerlein called it, “clear up its problems.” The transparency Brown promises will be a good signpost as to whether that happens or not.
She vowed transparency again on her own Facebook page, in a post timed after our Facebook exchange.
“Hi Everyone … we will report job creation this week coming … Also we will post a video on Facebook from inside the manufacturing plant … updated the community … but we need your continue support … I have also been getting calls concerning Winn-Dixie some people can’t find the Jerome Brown BBQ Sauces. Most of the stores are sold out. In the process of changing distributors … Jerome Brown BBQ Sauces will be available by 4th of July … We will post a list of stores where you can purchase Jerome Brown BBQ Sauces.”
A final question, partially answered, had nothing to do with sauce or public incentive funds.
Rather, it revolved around a recurrent rumor in the Jacksonville City Council vice president race: that Corrine Brown called Katrina Brown and urged her to vote for John Crescimbeni. In turn, goes the narrative, Katrina Brown convinced Reggie Gaffney to flip his vote.
Council members Brown and Gaffney represented the winning margin; Brown was one of three unpledged council members headed into the vote last month, and Gaffney had pledged with Doyle Carter.
“No one influence me … I was elected by the people to serve and that’s what I’m doing,” Brown wrote.
