Why You Should Consider Jacksonville's Opportunity Zone

Preferential Tax Treatment

One of the most significant reasons businesses and developers should  consider Jacksonville's Opportunity Zone is that they may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Contact Jacksonville Planning, Permitting and Zoning for details at 910 938-5293

In the Opportunity Zone developers won't have to pay for building from the ground up when talking infrastructure. Jacksonville's Opportunity Zone has a lot already in place.  Another asset is that the neighborhoods in and around the Opportunity Zone provide a steady stream of customers and an established workforce. This Opportunity Zone is a mature community with with a diverse population.

Infrastructure

Stormwater  - The City has a designated Soil and Erosion Control, CAMA LPO, and Stormwater permitting/enforcement program so that permitting can be done locally and with a reduced time period. The City has Industrial, Commercial and Residential development with existing stormwater SCM’s (Stormwater Control Measures) in place. An existing Stormwater Collection System is in place with stormwater pipes, ditches, culverts and catch basins.  If any of these collect water from a City street, the system is maintained by the City’s drainage crews. City stormwater staff inspects privately owned SCM’s for compliance annually.

Water - The City of Jacksonville operates the City’s wells, storage facilities, water treatment, and pumping facilities in order to provide an adequate, reliable, safe, and palatable water supply to the community. Using nano-filtration, the City's new water plant provides drinking water that meets higher standards than that of bottled water. This  plant has the capability for desalination, if needed, to help in producing water that is palatable.

Wastewater - The City of Jacksonville’s wastewater collection system is composed of over 300 miles of sanitary sewer lines and 45 wastewater pumping stations. Twenty of these pumping stations have on-site generators to provide power in the event of power failures and the other 25 pumping stations have standby connections, which allow them to be powered by portable generators during power outages.The City of Jacksonville Land Treatment Site treats up to 6 millions gallons of wastewater daily, which is re-purposed back into the environment. Wastewater that has been naturally purified is distributed to cultivated forest land on the site. Trees are grown and harvested for sale to help sustain a healthy local economy.

Streets and Sidewalks - The City's Streets Division coordinates maintenance for all City-owned streets, sidewalks, and related infrastructure. Maintenance includes initiatives within the City Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and includes:

• Asphalt preventative maintenance, construction, repair, and correction
• Brick street repair
• Curb and gutter repair
• Pothole repair
• Sidewalk maintenance, repair, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp construction
• Soil road repair and stabilization

First Class in Service Public Safety 

A team approach to getting aid to medical emergencies within the City of Jacksonville is but one of the benefits of living in the City. The Medical First Responder program operated by the Department of Public Safety combines strategic fire station locations, advanced training and dedicated personnel to create a highly successful program that has saved lives. When an emergency medical call is received in the City’s 911 Communications Center, first responders from Jacksonville Police and Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services are dispatched within 40 seconds of receiving the call. Jacksonville Police Officers are first to arrive providing emergency CPR, providing important medical information to Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services over the radio as they are en route. Jacksonville Fire and Emergency Services, Emergency Medical Technicians provide life saving measures to stabilize the patient for transport to a medical facility.

Transportation & Connectivity

Between the roadways, Transit system, bike lanes, trails, and sidewalks, there are many ways to get around Jacksonville. Driving through the City is getting easier and the Jacksonville Urban Planning Organization’s (JUMPO) goal is to look at ways to improve traffic flow and to enhance multimodal opportunities for pedestrians, bicyclists, riders and drivers. One of City Council’s directives is to increase ways that pedestrians can get around the City. New trails and greenways for bicyclists, joggers and walkers are being added to the more than 18 miles of existing pathways. More sidewalks are also being built to improve pedestrian flow. A multimodal Transportation Station is in the planning stages for the City which will connect a multitude of transportation options. Visit JUMPO-NC.org to learn more.

Easy Ways to Get Around Jacksonville:

• 18+ miles of bicycle & pedestrian trails 
• Clean, structurally sound sidewalks and bike lanes
• Jacksonville Transit System available on and off base
• Ease of traffic flow with Intelligent Transportation System
• Nearby airport (Albert J Ellis Airport)

Planning for today and into the Future 

City Council works with Community Advisory Boards, Community Engagement & Development, Planning, Permitting and Zoning and other City Departments to identify opportunities to enhance communications and engagement with Citizens and foster livable neighborhoods in all residential areas of the City of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville is an "Entitlement City," receiving annual Community Development Block Grant funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These federal dollars translates into assistance for Jacksonville's Citizens looking to rent, buy or maintain a home; supports nonprofit organizations seeking to provide public services; and is to make improvements to public facilities and infrastructure.