[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6595206,"mediaKeyId","3040094-8163b6ef8edc8e5cf82618015a56480f","parentId",3040094,"title","Brentwood residents and small-business leaders press for true community use of proposed JSEB center","audioSeconds",232,"startMs",3116000,"endMs",3348000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040094-8163b6ef8edc8e5cf82618015a56480f&start=3116&end=3348","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040094-8163b6ef8edc8e5cf82618015a56480f/thumbnail_3116000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595206/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Brentwood-residents-and-small-business-leaders-press-for-true-community-use-of-proposed-JSEB-center","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595206-b90ff9bcab98a022a60420cbef5bc9fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770312403&Signature=W9AsdCg6VQHXeYOspAgoUmUW5u2WNd~M2ba6HU8I~KmsZhwEcU4RnUsUVtlnMmukvRpKNi0uAdtPTrlDeWMB071QH-vK19CrO~NeCgMS-2dgBYeaHgdpD9W70TDyl-4ndGqqFfrPf3u~RNKmJHCr7pG~ViHGcs09XvSywpw3I1ul0IiPYkbkeZTbsxqRn2OMM7Q-yRN-DFUICXlJQd0MTAqyYTvOJ1EZlPgFcVDSCPCmiTm06viZifpvpFmZuEd8almd-4uIIpPBmv9uVau5J6UGuXRD9OeZf4s4xhG5GMeqkUAv1IWkypQLf5WAxJhiRGE7uk4gRbmqdkt61ffhEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","Residents of Brentwood and small-business representatives addressed the JSEB special committee on April 17 seeking clearer community access and input for a proposed entrepreneurship center in the neighborhood. Lydia Bell, president of the Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association in Brentwood, told the committee she and neighbors “knew nothing about JSEB coming out there” and asked the city to consider a site proposal she brought to the meeting for use as a community center.

JSEB administrator Gregory Grant explained the centers are designed to serve two purposes: entrepreneurship support and workforce development. “The purpose of these centers is twofold,” Grant said, adding that centers will host education programs, have a receptionist, and include reservable space for community use.

Small-business representatives urged programming that pairs capital with education. Tina Pham of the Asian Chamber and a JSEB member suggested more entrepreneurship education and staged financing so new owners build the business systems and credit profiles that make later larger loans viable. Pham proposed smaller startup loans and education that lead to eligibility for larger capital once a business matures.

Committee members acknowledged communication gaps and asked staff to continue community engagement in Brentwood. The committee encouraged JSEB staff to coordinate follow-up meetings with local residents to refine the center's programming and ensure it functions as both an entrepreneurship hub and a neighborhood community space.

Why it matters: The centers are intended to expand entrepreneurship supports and workforce training; residents want certainty that the facilities will be available for broader community activities, not solely programming for certified firms.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville, FL - JSEB Special Committee - Apr 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the April 17 JSEB special committee meeting residents from Brentwood and small-business leaders urged the city to ensure new entrepreneurship centers function as community hubs. JSEB staff said centers will include education, workforce development and reservable space open to the public.","taxTitle","Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida","taxId",2881,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6595211,"JSEB special committee narrows legislative priorities, defers reciprocity and disparity items",95,2945000,3040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040094-8163b6ef8edc8e5cf82618015a56480f&start=2945&end=3040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040094-8163b6ef8edc8e5cf82618015a56480f/thumbnail_2945000.jpg","/articles/6595211/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/JSEB-special-committee-narrows-legislative-priorities-defers-reciprocity-and-disparity-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595211-51fc72050816856db00176a65ece01e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770312403&Signature=PHFShCWTKn-P38p9pEs6EjshiUetSeLPU--3m0qNm~VX~jQO5KBlZrv4LYYUYhx9iFvet7vabBd6e-8Y-jgLulqRgf2iUyA4LuyM8AwHwSpXsuF-67S7b6jTIJ0YTdhBsIHjh~LNM0EWHDB33UA~DLhjMCy276Z8EiX-qb2dGntgyk-p0IlhHakDhGNbztn87oCEgUPoCBbKytyEz20fKer8T06lMC-EI~VGs1Fk5fldXoqpJhZP8Zd~~8ULdjskjjMO~yDjLClsxtDKfx4CI2Rka402tMwGtBdXMpPiUfCtYKN4O5HS2PnRpc-BoKZRuHuuJqVs0PaSP-uMnAMbUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacksonville's JSEB special committee on April 17 identified several items to move toward legislation and deferred others for further work. Office of General Counsel representative Shannon McGillis summarized the committee's posture at the meeting's close: staff are drafting language for (1) increased minimum program funding, (2) expansion of the JSEB prime program, and (3) refocusing reporting to show dollar payments to JSEB contractors in addition to contract counts. The committee deferred work on reciprocity among regional counties and left the disparity study's long-term placement unresolved.

McGillis told the committee that the centralized database sharing item is an internal component that does not require immediate legislation. She said the increase to capital access would appear as a strong recommendation to the administration (the committee recommended a $500,000 injection and program guideline changes) rather than a legislative mandate. The disparity study remains under review; staff reported the study was originally prompted by a federal lawsuit and that code currently triggers the study only if funding exists.

Why it matters: The referrals will shape forthcoming ordinances or administrative directives on small-business program administration and transparency. Councilmembers and staff said they intend to preserve oversight and reporting mechanisms that track program performance and payments to certified firms.

The committee requested that staff work with the administration on drafting and placement of the proposed language and return with formal wording for the committee's report or subsequent ordinance windows.","At its April 17 meeting the committee directed staff to draft legislation in three areas — increased minimum program funding, expansion of the JSEB prime program, and refocused reporting on payments — while deferring a reciprocity pilot and clarifying the disparity study's status.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6595215,"JSEB committee recommends $500,000 injection to capital access fund, sets tighter loan terms",1717,763000,2480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040094-8163b6ef8edc8e5cf82618015a56480f&start=763&end=2480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040094-8163b6ef8edc8e5cf82618015a56480f/thumbnail_763000.jpg","/articles/6595215/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/JSEB-committee-recommends-500000-injection-to-capital-access-fund-sets-tighter-loan-terms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595215-e5ed9886833d5da4b402ea9afec4a7ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770312403&Signature=CNbI6E7Csrek8XCKBy4TgrV5QR8axf40ccCNzVrmxggi~pSYh~hXqUaTb8MPpacsr5HdfrPrELUocpTjLTfc2k3-OPKsHS~-S5a4gbPPRch-zIdsc1Y2mo13ZBKJvB2mNFQoX8E5E1CjykJdJ6wY4xp7JnSqv50dzIy9xAGjT~VZbF3lTgt7dsI5zCiCnV8usUxNC87zpvTyhl-96G8sjJrCt4Mm8Exw2ibUSEl0e5MJzwXu~5Q~4eeLbBd96enmB5BL~fIlC9wNCXK7HP0YMgxc~BbYYtd7oYcoav3fTg1qVoeDSs8U5ZlCmH04GHzODVKpxwuzJlZDTxjZdixD0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jacksonville's JSEB special committee recommended a $500,000 injection into the JSEB Access to Capital Program Trust Fund and narrower loan terms at its April 17 meeting. The committee approved a voice vote urging the administration to keep the program tiered, limit maximum loans to $100,000, set interest between 4% and 5%, and reduce maximum terms from 60 months to 36 months.

The recommendation grew from a briefing by JSEB administrator Gregory Grant, who said increasing access to capital “is critical for promoting job creation [and] economic stability” and described a prior $1,000,000 pool that was fully deployed within months. Grant told the committee the original million-dollar fund drew overwhelming demand when it was advertised, and that 13 loans have been issued so far, with one fully repaid and most borrowers current until recent payment delays.

The committee's action was procedural: members framed the $500,000 as a strong recommendation to the administration rather than an ordinance to be enacted immediately. Councilmember Rahman Johnson moved the original larger funding motion earlier in the meeting and later withdrew it; the motion that advanced the $500,000 recommendation was seconded by Councilmember Ken Amaro and passed by voice vote.

Members debated the size and structure of loans. Grant and others argued that larger ‘‘tier 3’’ JSEB companies—firms with seven-figure revenues that struggle to scale because they lack capital—require larger loans (in the hundreds of thousands) to expand and compete for bigger contracts. Several council members, including Amaro and others, urged more conservative repayment terms so the pool replenishes faster, suggesting shorter terms and possible modest rate increases to 5% to protect taxpayer dollars.

Administration staff signaled fiscal constraints. Britney Norris (Administration) told the committee that the mayor’s office could not guarantee a $4,000,000 appropriation to reach a $5,000,000 target during the current budget process and recommended exploring smaller tranches or reserve funding. Ed Randolph (Office of Economic Development) also cautioned that historically small-business loan programs have mixed repayment performance and emphasized the budgetary challenge of finding new funding.

Committee members and witnesses discussed structuring the $500,000 to serve microenterprises (for example, $10,000–$15,000 microloans) while preserving the existing longer-term fund for larger loans. Grant said the existing portfolio had about $887,000 outstanding and estimated most repayments would return within two years, though some 60-month loans extend to five years. Members asked staff to pursue procedures (including vetting and potential collateral requirements for larger loans) to reduce program risk.

Why it matters: The recommendation aims to expand short-term, lower-dollar lending to more small businesses quickly while balancing fiscal stewardship. Committee members characterized the step as a way to broaden participation among tier-one and tier-two JSEBs and to pilot microloans before seeking larger appropriations in a future budget.

The committee recorded the action as a voice vote; no roll-call tally was provided. The committee instructed staff to work with the administration to implement the recommended terms and report back through the JSEB monitoring processes and at the next special committee meeting.","At its April 17 special committee meeting, Jacksonville's JSEB committee voted to recommend the administration inject $500,000 into the JSEB Access to Capital Program Trust Fund and set a tiered structure with 4–5% interest and a maximum 36-month term; the committee framed the step as a recommendation, not legislation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brentwood residents and small-business leaders press for true community use of proposed JSEB center

JSEB special committee narrows legislative priorities, defers reciprocity and disparity items

JSEB committee recommends $500,000 injection to capital access fund, sets tighter loan terms