Jacksonville council hears chambers’ funding pitches; chair proposes equal $40,000 share for three small chambers

Representatives from local business chambers told the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee on Sept. 16 that they are helping small businesses access capital and training and asked the council to set a stable city funding stream for smaller chambers.

Andre Wallace of the JAX USA Partnership (JAX Chamber) and a delegation from the Jacksonville Black Chamber described membership growth, training and loan-access work and said they were seeking city support. ‘‘We use your money for marketing this great region so people know that there’s jobs here,’’ Andre Wallace said, summarizing the chamber’s regional marketing role.

Council Chair (presiding) told the panel he would not take millage or budget action at the meeting but raised the chambers’ appropriations during the session. He said current budget language places chamber appropriations ‘‘below the line’’ for the coming fiscal year and that a floor amendment would be the mechanism to move funds ‘‘above the line’’ if the council chooses. He told the Black Chamber representatives he planned a public meeting after Oct. 1 to develop a formula for allocating funds and said he preferred even distribution among the Hispanic, Asian and Black chambers if supported by the committee.

Kim May, chief compliance officer for the Jacksonville Black Chamber, said the chamber had rebranded late last year, grown membership and provided business intake, licensing assistance and connections to capital (Kiva, SBA) for small business owners. She told the committee the organization had limited funding and asked that the city restore or provide direct appropriations. ‘‘We’ve been able to assist business owners like The Grand who was working on getting a COU for over a year. Myself and the vice chair came along and had it done within 24 hours,’’ May said.

Council members asked for more financial detail and cautioned about setting a flat-dollar precedent. Council member Joe Carlucci questioned a uniform $40,000 grant because it could create pressure from other groups to form new chambers and ask for the same amount. ‘‘Perhaps it shouldn’t be $40 across the board — maybe a percentage tied to budget or other metrics,’’ Carlucci said. Council member Ron Salem said the committee should consider each chamber’s budget, track record and years of operation when setting any formula.

Council Chair and staff said the current budget shows $40,000 appropriated for the Hispanic Chamber for the first time; additional funding for the Asian and Black chambers would require finding another $40,000 so the three could be funded ‘‘evenly across the board.’’ Staff said the appropriation is currently coded under membership and dues and the council would need to decide whether a different budget category (for example, ‘‘program/activity’’) would be more appropriate if funds are used for expos, training or small-business supports rather than simple dues.

The chair said the final decision would come after the formal budget process: members must file floor amendments by the Monday before the council meeting if they want language changes in the city’s budget ordinance, and he committed to a public meeting in October to develop an allocation formula and to invite chamber leadership. He said any legislation to move funds ‘‘above the line’’ would be filed after the fiscal year begins so the council could specify how the dollars would be used.

What’s next: the chair plans a public meeting after Oct. 1 to develop an allocation formula for the three small chambers; council members may file floor amendments next week if they want budget changes on the council floor.