Wednesday, Dec. 10: Food Aid + UNF Expands AI Programs + Council Weighs $15M Education
Wednesday, Dec. 10
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Council weighs $15M education, workforce funds amid deficit concerns.
The Jacksonville City Council is set to vote Monday on a $15 million funding package for local education and workforce development projects. The proposal includes $5 million for Florida State College at Jacksonville to purchase a charter school building for a skilled trades training center. UNF would receive $6 million to upgrade Hodges Stadium, and Edward Waters University would get $2 million toward a future campus housing and conference facility. Additional funding supports the Northeast Florida Builders Association, Operation Boost, and a union apprenticeship program. Some council members oppose the spending amid budget deficit concerns.
Eastside native leads LIFT JAX, championing ‘withintrification’ over gentrification.
Travis Williams, a fourth-generation resident of Jacksonville’s Eastside, is the new president and CEO of LIFT JAX, the nonprofit leading redevelopment efforts under a $300 million community benefits agreement tied to the Jaguars stadium deal. Williams says revitalization should start from within, guided by long-time residents—not outsiders. His deep roots in the neighborhood, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023, shape his vision for preserving heritage while addressing housing and economic opportunity. Williams calls this approach “withintrification,” not gentrification.
Baptist Health boosts food aid with major regional hunger donation.
Baptist Health is ramping up its response to food insecurity in Northeast Florida with a $250,000 donation to Feeding Northeast Florida. The funding will provide an estimated 215,000 meals across a 12-county region, just as demand surges amid SNAP reductions and the recent federal shutdown. This follows Baptist’s earlier gift of a refrigerated truck to Waste Not Want Not, a Clay County-based food rescue nonprofit. The initiatives align with Baptist’s Community Health Needs Assessment, which identified food access and transportation as urgent health priorities.
UNF expands AI programs as campus debates innovation and impact.
The University of North Florida is expanding its artificial intelligence efforts with new initiatives led by President Limayem’s AI Council. Building on the success of the “AI for Work and Life” certificate, which has drawn over 38,000 enrollees, UNF plans to launch additional certifications tailored to business, construction, and engineering. The university is also developing AI workshops and digital badges for staff while using AI tools in marketing to maintain brand consistency. Reactions on campus are mixed, with some praising the innovation and others raising concerns about critical thinking and environmental impacts.
Huge Northside land sale hints at future master-planned community.
A major land deal on Jacksonville’s Northside may signal new development ahead. More than 1,000 acres of pastureland near Jacksonville International Airport have been sold for nearly $29.5 million to The Hutson Companies, a major St. Augustine-based developer known for projects like SilverLeaf and OakLeaf Plantation. The property, located off Lem Turner Road, was previously owned by Lem Turner Road Developers LLC. While Hutson hasn’t shared specific plans for the site, the scale and location suggest the potential for another large-scale master-planned community.
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