Most city government offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. 
 
Monday, May 25 closures include:

• City Hall at St. James, 117 W. Duval St.
• Ed Ball Building, 214 N. Hogan St.
• Jake M. Godbold City Hall Annex, 407 N. Laura St.
• Yates Building, 231 E. Forsyth St.
• The Office of the Tax Collector, as well as all Tax Collector branch offices, and the Office of the Property Appraiser.
• Duval County Courthouse, 501 West Adams St.
• Supervisor of Elections main office, 105 E. Monroe St.
• Animal Care and Protective Services, 2020 Forest St.
• Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department administrative offices, 515 N. Julia St.
• Recreation and Community Services Department offices, 214 N. Hogan St.
• All community and senior centers and gymnasiums managed by the Recreation and Community Services Department
• Victim Services Center, 403 W. 10th St.
• Jacksonville Children’s Commission, 1095 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
• Behavioral and Human Services Division Emergency Assistance office, 1809 Art Museum Drive
• Right-of-Way and Grounds Maintenance administrative offices, 609 St. Johns Bluff Road
• Solid Waste Division administrative offices, 1031 Superior St.
• Household Hazardous Waste Facility, 2675 Commonwealth Ave.
• The Ritz Theatre & Museum, 829 N. Davis St.

The 2015 Jacksonville Jazz Festival presented by AARP kicks off today with the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition presented by Keyboard Connection Piano & Organs and will last through Sunday May 24. The festival will feature over 40 performers, five stages, and a vibrant street festival atmosphere.

“AARP believes music brings people together and nurtures a sense of community,” said Ken Thomas, AARP Florida’s volunteer state president. “We are pleased to present the 2015 Jacksonville Jazz Festival and to help people from Jacksonville and all over the United States connect with wonderful music, outstanding performers and a great community.”

The festival lineup includes performances by Soul Rebels, Tito Puente Jr. Orchestra, Felix Peikli & The Royal Flush Quintet presented by the Buffet Group, Roman Street, Kellylee Evans, Spyro Gyra, Maceo Parker, Postmodern Jukebox, Jazz Attack featuring Peter White, Richard Elliot and Euge Groove, Michael Franks, The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra with Peabo Bryson, Andy Snitzer, Ignacio Berroa, Noel Freidline Quintet, and Lisa McClendon, along with local favorites. 

Hours Extended at 14 Community Centers and Gyms 

As part of continuing efforts to stop gang violence, Mayor Alvin Brown today announced he will expand summer hours at 14 community centers and gyms, and add four additional parks to his Summer Urban Parks/Rec ‘n Roll initiative. 

Disaster Loan Outreach Center to Open at City’s Henry T. Jones Community Center

Jacksonville residents and businesses affected by the April 25 EF-1 tornado can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) starting today at 11 a.m.
 
The City of Jacksonville is providing space at the Henry T. Jones Community Center at 3856 Grant Road for a Disaster Loan Outreach Center, where residents and business owners can connect with SBA staff to answer questions about the disaster loan program and help individuals complete their applications. Hours for the Center are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. The Center will be closed on Sunday, May 17. Services will be offered beginning on Monday, May 11, and end on Tuesday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m.
 
SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet made the loans available in response to a letter from
Governor Rick Scott on May 6, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers Duval County and the adjacent counties of Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns. Duval County Emergency Preparedness assisted efforts by the State and the SBA.

Mayor Alvin Brown announced Thursday that Waterproof Jacksonville, a countywide campaign to prevent accidental drowning by teaching children to swim, will expand for its third consecutive year to offer free swim lessons to more than 1,800 youth. This year, the initiative will enhance its partnership with Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) to provide lessons to youth attending Woodland Acres Elementary School and 10 DCPS summer camps.
 
The program will also provide lessons through the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation and JaxParks Summer Camps, and JaxParks will offer financial assistance scholarships to children from income-restricted families and families of current military personnel on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
The lessons are part of a unique expansion of Waterproof Jacksonville, made possible by a $25,000 donation from Jacksonville attorney Wayne Hogan. His donation will help pay for the JaxParks Summer Night Lights program as well as enable JaxParks to expand its partnership with Duval County Public Schools. Safe Kids Northeast Florida provided $7,000 in funding assistance to allow JaxParks to reach more kids. 

The new face of COJ.net launched this weekend, following a period of thorough testing and reviewing citizen feedback since launching a prototype site in February.

Take a look at the navigation guide. 

The new COJ.net will also prominently display photos of Jacksonville landscapes, landmarks and events. Jacksonville residents are invited to submit their original photos that showcase the city by visiting coj.net/photos. Selected photos will be featured on COJ.net. More information about the submission criteria can be found at coj.net/photos.

Proposed Project Would Create 100 New Jobs

Legislation being filed today by Mayor Alvin Brown could lead to a facility expansion for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. (JJVC) at its worldwide headquarters in Jacksonville. This extremely competitive opportunity would continue Jacksonville’s momentum as the go-to city for advanced manufacturing.

If the legislation is approved by City Council, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, also known locally as VISTAKON®, would add an additional 100 high-wage employees to its local workforce and invest $300 million into its Jacksonville contact lens manufacturing facility. 

The City of Jacksonville invites residents and visitors to Metropolitan Park to join in the 23^rd annual World of Nations Celebration. The event offers visitors the opportunity to explore more than 30 countries in a single visit without leaving Jacksonville. A one-day pass is $5.
 
The event will be open to the public on Saturday, May 2 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.* and Sunday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this time, patrons will be able to experience the cultures of 34 countries.
 
In addition, the City will host a Naturalization Ceremony on Saturday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m., during which 50 people will become U.S. citizens. Also on Saturday, a new element will be introduced to World of Nations – Taste the World: A VIP Experience. The $15 VIP tasting experience, being held from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. includes entry into World of Nations, live entertainment by Spice and the Po Boys, and the opportunity to taste delicacies from up to ten countries. Tapas and samples of cultural beer and wine will be served.

MyJax mobile app allows the citizen to report concerns such as blight, potholes, missed garbage collections, and a host of other issues. This benefits the citizen by helping to keep Jacksonville clean and functional, improving the overall quality of life.

Cathedral Terrace Apartments in Downtown Jacksonville will receive major renovations as part of the latest Renew Jax project announced Tuesday by Mayor Alvin Brown, City Council Member Kimberly Daniels and other local leaders.
 
As part of its expanding Renew Jax efforts, the City of Jacksonville will contribute $803,000 in State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program funding toward the $27 million project. The funding includes a combination of private tax credit financing and state and Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority sources.