Mayor Donna Deegan, along with other city officials, inaugurated Jacksonville’s first Entrepreneurship Workforce Development Center on Wednesday, May 7th. The center is located at 865 Golfair Boulevard in the Brentwood neighborhood.
The unveiling of the center, which took place during Small Business Week, marks a significant step in providing practical entrepreneurship education and career readiness support to Jacksonville residents. The hub aims to unite local institutions, nonprofits, corporations, small businesses, and community partners to establish a stable and sustainable workforce development ecosystem.
At no cost, entrepreneurs will gain access to resources to launch, grow, and expand their businesses. Simultaneously, job seekers can develop skills to initiate, advance, and build their careers.
Managed by Jacksonville’s Small & Emerging Business Division (JSEB), the Entrepreneurship Workforce Development Center will host a diverse range of activities, including:
- Workshops on business development, financial literacy, and technology skills
- Mentorship and consulting sessions
- Job placement assistance and networking events
- Industry certification programs
- Specialized workforce development training for upskilling and reskilling local talent
“This center is more than just a building,” stated Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “It is a testament to our shared commitment to fostering innovation, supporting small businesses, and creating pathways to economic opportunity for all Jacksonville residents.”
The center’s regular operating hours will be Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Additional hours may include evening events from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm as needed, and occasional Saturday morning workshops.
The city is set to open three additional Entrepreneurship Workforce Development Centers in the coming days at the following locations:
- Main Library: 303 N. Laura Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Phoenix Arts + Innovation District: 2320 N. Liberty St., Jacksonville, FL 32206
- Cecil Commerce Center: 13541 Lake Newman St. Suite A, Jacksonville, FL 32221
Gregory Grant, JSEB Administrator for the City of Jacksonville, commented, “These Centers will be catalysts for uplifting our community, advancing workforce readiness, and expanding entrepreneurial opportunities across Jacksonville.”
These new centers underscore Mayor Deegan’s commitment to establishing Jacksonville as the Small Business Capital of the Southeast through investments in local entrepreneurs and workforce development.
In addition to the centers, the City has implemented several other initiatives over the past 22 months to support small businesses, including a 30% increase in the number of JSEBs, a $22 million year-over-year growth in city contracts awarded to them, the inclusion of JSEBs in the construction of the Stadium of the Future, and the provision of $2 million in micro grants and low-interest loans for small businesses.
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