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.

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.

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.
 

Solution Offers Energy Savings, Enhanced Data Analytics and Improved Efficiencies for City

The City of Jacksonville and JEA announced today that they will pilot a GE solution designed to enable a more intelligent city, offering an LED lighting solution coupled with advanced sensors and software that can enhance the City’s operations far beyond the LED benefits.
 
By connecting the street lighting infrastructure to the Industrial Internet, citizens, visitors, and city employees will benefit from access to real time data that never existed before. The pilot will focus on increasing efficiency through energy savings and better asset management of streetlights.
 
“Jacksonville is excited to be on the front lines with this pilot project, using new technology to increase efficiency and drive innovation, at no cost to taxpayers,” said Mayor Alvin Brown. “This is another example of how public-private partnerships can drive innovation and provide a return on investment for our taxpayers. This technology has the potential to transform how our city solves problems by allowing us to use the power of data to drive outcomes that give us flexibility, efficiency and new, creative actions to enhance life in our city.”

Plan Outlines Four Key Strategies to Boost Exporting

Mayor Alvin Brown and the Northeast Florida Global Cities team released a regional export plan outlining specific steps local business, civic and government leaders will take to promote Jacksonville’s economic development. It assesses Jacksonville’s current export climate, sets market-based goals for increasing exports and lays out an implementation plan to support local businesses in increasing exports.
 
The plan is the culmination of a year-long process conducted under the region’s participation in the Global Cities Initiative, a five-year joint project of the Brookings Institution and JPMorgan Chase. Launched in 2012, the Global Cities Initiative helps business and civic leaders grow their metropolitan economies by strengthening international connections and competitiveness.  GCI activities include producing data and research to guide decisions, fostering practice and policy innovations, and facilitating its Exchange, a peer learning network. As part of the Exchange, Metro JAX/Northeast Florida is developing a metropolitan global trade and investment plan.

View the Metro Jacksonville/Northeast Florida Export Plan | Learn more about the Northeast Florida Global Cities Initiative

City and State Will Improve Façade of Historic Venue

Partnering with City Council members, Mayor Alvin Brown announced the City will provide money along with a state grant to repair and restore the façade of the Florida Theatre.
 
Joining Mayor Alvin Brown to support the Downtown venue were City Council Member Jim Love, Florida Theatre President Numa C. Saisselin, Cultural Council Executive Director Tony Allegretti and the members of the non-profit Cultural Fusion.