Council Vice President Terrance Freeman visit Jaxport for Small Business Appreciation Day
May 25, 2022
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 24, 2022) – Today, 150 small business supporters and representatives received valuable education and resources during JAXPORT’s fourth annual Small Business Appreciation Day.
During the free event, participants discussed strategies for creating a diverse supplier base, developing a digital business modal, and securing available financing. JAXPORT’s Procurement Director Lisa Gee joined procurement leaders from other Jacksonville agencies in a panel discussion focused on strategies for securing bid opportunities at the city’s public agencies.
In addition, Jacksonville City Council Vice President and small business advocate Terrance Freeman discussed how Jacksonville’s growth, and the growth of our region’s transportation and logistics industry, benefits the small business community. “You’re sitting at one of the best organizations in the city when it comes to creating opportunities for small businesses,” Councilman Freeman told attendees. “Jacksonville is a city on the rise because of the sound foundation that has been laid by our small business community.”
JAXPORT has a number of growth projects underway that create opportunities for small businesses, including $70 million in terminal enhancements on Blount Island and the public-private partnership to relocate and expand Southeast Toyota Distributors’ Jacksonville operations from JAXPORT’s Talleyrand terminal to Blount Island.
“Just yesterday, we celebrated the completion of our harbor deepening project through Blount Island,” said JAXPORT CFO and Chief of Staff Beth McCague. “A 47-foot depth allows bigger ships to call JAXPORT and existing ships calling Jacksonville to carry more cargo on board. As cargo volumes grow, the opportunities available to small businesses expand as well.”
JAXPORT is committed to promoting equal opportunities in all capital and procurement contracts. During the past seven years, JAXPORT payments for work by Certified Small Businesses, which includes certified Jacksonville Small and Emerging Businesses (JSEB), have topped $36 million.
Link to photos from the event