A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2019
6min949
"This is step one. Let's get this thing moving."
Tag: Kirk WendlandImage via Florida A&M University.
A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2019A.G. GancarskiApril 5, 2017
3min231
A Wednesday meeting of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee moved the council one step closer to a resolution of support for the beleaguered state incentive program Enterprise Florida. Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s Office of Economic Development offered its own take on Enterprise Florida, and incentive programs in general. _____ The pro-Enterprise Florida resolution cleared the Rules […]
A.G. GancarskiMarch 20, 2017
4min185
The best political theater in this state so far this year: arguably, Gov. Rick Scott‘s “Fighting for Florida Jobs” roundtables. Jacksonville gets its version of the roadshow Monday morning at Harbinger Signs in Mandarin. Scott started off March in Rep. Travis Cummings‘ district, where he repeatedly jabbed at Cummings and Rep. Paul Renner for opposing Enterprise Florida and […]
A.G. GancarskiMarch 16, 2017
11min287
Jacksonville may be Ground Zero for the debate about economic incentives. Local leaders want them, but the local Florida House delegation does not. This week, yet another prominent person in Jacksonville’s City Hall sounded the alarm for state incentives via Enterprise Florida. The Jacksonville Daily Record reports that local OED head Kirk Wendland made the case for […]
A.G. GancarskiJune 21, 2016
3min227
On Tuesday, the annual budget review of Jacksonville’s Office of Economic Development was conducted by Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa. The most interesting takeaway: surplus incentive funds that won’t be used, with a reduction in allocation year over year. The highlights: OED head Kirk Wendland is prepared to reduce QTI and Rev Grant monies by $400,000 in […]
A.G. GancarskiMay 20, 2016
4min312
On Friday, the Jacksonville City Council’s Special Economic Development Incentives Committee finalized a draft version of the city’s public investment policy, which has been discussed at previous meetings, finishing two years of dedicated work spanning two mayoral administrations. Included: countywide programs; state programs, such as qualified targeted industries; programs for economically distressed areas; programs for […]
A.G. GancarskiMay 6, 2016
4min194
On Friday morning, Jacksonville City Council members and Kirk Wendland of the Office of Economic Development again turned their attention to driving economic development incentives to distressed areas of the city. This discussion, which started two weeks ago in the previous meeting of the Economic Development Incentives Committee, was intended to address the “real challenge” of bringing […]
A.G. GancarskiApril 29, 2016
2min187
In 2015, Jacksonville’s Inspector General reported major issues with the Access to Capital program. After a hiatus, it appears the program shall return. The Access to Capital Program was established to provide capital to Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business vendors in order to successfully perform construction, contractual service and supply, and professional jobs with the city of […]
A.G. GancarskiApril 22, 2016
6min263
On Friday, the Jacksonville City Council Economic Development Special Committee discussed a wide range of issues related to public investment, ranging from the Downtown Investment Authority to economically distressed areas. The highlights: A discussion of films revealed that the Film and Television office is getting calls “weekly” related to potential film and television projects, including […]
A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2016
3min203
Parking downtown may get more expensive for Jacksonville’s city employees in the upcoming fiscal year, if a 2014 ordinance is allowed to sunset. In an email to CAO Sam Mousa, OED head Kirk Wendland notes that “Ordinance 2014-438-E gave all City employees who are monthly parkers at municipal owned parking garages operated by Public Parking a 50% […]