Strategies:

1. Maintain a business climate in Duval County that is friendly to high-wage job creation, through expansion, retention, relocation and new business start-ups. The climate could include:
   
   
   1. Competitive incentive packages for high-wage jobs (paying above the Duval County average) with strict accountability.
   2. Favorable tax environment.
   3. Timely and efficient regulatory process.
   4. Business/education partnerships for workforce development.
   5. Increased bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs for engineers, information technology, science and other disciplines demanded by the marketplace now and in the future.
   6. Increased research and development.
   7. Recognition and commitment by residents, schools and public/private sector organizations of the requirement for continuous productivity improvement of workers to compete in the new global economy.
   8. The promotion of diversity and inclusion in job opportunities and advancement in the private and public sector.
   9. A strong military presence.
   10. Direct international flights.
   11. An environment that attracts businesses with high-wage jobs to Jacksonville's westside, northside and downtown.
   12. Higher paying jobs to be located in high-poverty zip code areas.
   13. Publicizing and encouraging the use of the in-depth business resources and research collections available at the Jacksonville Public Library. Encourage partnerships with the business community to enhance and provide needed services and collections.
       
       
2. Maintain an aggressive economic development marketing program for creating high-wage economic base jobs that produce products or services sold outside Duval County.
   
   They will be created through expansion and retention of existing businesses, relocation and new business creation. Pursue targeted industry sectors that help meet Blueprint Key Benchmarks in a very competitive global job market. Targets should include multinationals, technology companies, medical institutions, headquarters, innovative research entities, federal civilian and military jobs, mid-size and large companies and consulting firms. A major focus should be on jobs requiring advanced degrees, recognizing that a lower wage service job is created with the addition of each high-wage job.
   
   [Jacksonville's current targeted job sectors are: (a) information technology, (b) financial and insurance services, (c) medical products, services and research, (d) headquarters, (e) aviation and aerospace, (f) distribution and logistics, (g) specialized manufacturing, (h) electronics and semiconductors].
   
   Ensure cooperation between all private and public organizations involved in job creation efforts.
   
   
3. Encourage employers to invest in the development of employees. Activities could include:
   
   
   1. Providing incentives for further education and training.
   2. Having a commitment to inclusiveness.
   3. Encouraging promotion from within and ensuring that employees understand the requirements and opportunities for advancement.
   4. Encouraging highly paid workers to live inside Duval County.
   5. Aligning employers seeking qualified applicants with job seekers and increase access to training for chronically unemployed.
   6. Providing activities for young professionals.
   7. Offering workforce development activities that help low wage employees exit poverty status.
   8. Ensuring equal opportunity and equal pay for equal work
   9. Attracting and retaining educated young people.
   10. Providing opportunities for every citizen to volunteer in the community.
   11. Increasing job and internship opportunities for the disabled.
   12. Family-friendly policies and workplaces.
   13. Providing internships and apprenticeships.
   14. Developing policies and practices that retain older workers.
   15. Promoting advanced earned income tax credit in the workplace.
       
       
4. Support the development of small business start-ups and proprietors with an emphasis on both non-economic base companies that provide products or services inside Duval County and economic base companies that sell products or services outside Duval County. Action steps could include:
   
   
   1. Providing assistance with banking and capital requirements.
   2. Helping with business planning and marketing.
   3. Maintaining start-up business resources.
   4. Increasing the healthy growth of start-up companies.
   5. Mentoring small businesses.
   6. Providing networks for entrepreneurs to share experiences.
   7. Targeting high-growth potential in targeted job sectors.
   8. Facilitating small business access to provide services for larger businesses.
   9. Encouraging minority start-up and expansion.
   10. Increasing cooperation between organizations such as the Small Business Center, Small Business Development Center and JEDC.
   11. Providing assistance to small businesses for start-up opportunities in locations where the business would not be a nuisance with noise and appearance.
   12. Providing incentives for corporate partnerships and culturally diverse supplier development for small businesses.
       m. Promoting and encouraging the usage of business start-up information and resources available at the Jacksonville Public Library and the Small Business Center.
       
       
5. Increase visitors including conventioneers, tourists and eco-tourists. Increase convention and hotel space.
   
   
6. Attract more diverse retail to Northwest Jacksonville.
   
   
7. Attract high-income retirees to Duval County.
   
   
8. Increase the number of jobs downtown.