Economic yearbook 2011
Northeast - Yearbook
Jacksonville is looking for a new mayor. The region is looking for jobs, pinning high hopes on the port and the expanding financial services sector.
DUVAL COUNTY GOALS
Without exception, political and business leaders say jobs are the No. 1 priority in northeast Florida.
 Ron Barton [Photo: Ray Stanyard] |
Jacksonville leaders are hoping to work closely with new Gov. Rick Scott on economic development. Says Ron Barton, executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission: "Our ability to help the governor deliver on his promise to create jobs is going to link the local economic development function to the state economic development function. That's been our Achilles' heel over the last few years."
Jacksonville will elect a new mayor this spring. Early in the campaign, there was no candidate who was a clear favorite among the city's business leaders. To be effective, whoever wins will have to unite the business community behind a clear vision for the city over the next four years.
| Jobs | ||||
| MSA | DEC. 2010 | DEC 2009 | % Change | Jobless Rate |
| Jacksonville | 608,870 | 608,492 | NC | 11.0% |
| Source: Agency for Workforce Innovation |
||||
| Homes Single-family, existing-home sales by Realtors | ||||
| MSA | Jan. 2011 Sales | 1-Year Change | Jan. 2011 Price | 1-Year Change |
| Jacksonville | 846 | +7% | $129,600 | -6% | Source: Florida Realtors |
| Duval Population: 870,352 | ||||
| Population Growth Rate (2007-11): 0.63% | ||||
| Population by Age: | ||||
| 0-14 |
15-19 | 20-39 | 40-64 | 65+ |
| 20.7% | 6.1% | 29.6% | 32.4% | 11.2% |
| Per Capita Income: $39,362 | ||||
 Northeast Florida's business community expects the port to be a huge economic engine over the next decade if the Jacksonville Port Authority can complete a $500-million plus project to deepen the St. Johns River ship channel to 50 feet to allow for the next generation of cargo ships. Currently, the project is scheduled for completion in 2017, but authority board Chairman David Kulik is trying to persuade the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to finish it by 2016. In January, Hanjin Shipping Co. delayed opening its $300-million terminal because the channel is not deep enough to handle larger ships. Working with elected officials in Tallahassee and Washington is also a top goal of port CEO Paul Anderson (above). [Photo: Ryan Ketterman] |
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