8/7/2019 JCCI Job Growth Question Audrey Moran

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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Audrey Moran, Republican, for Mayor of Jacksonville.

As Mayor, what would you do you over the next four years to increase Duval County annual percentage job growth at a rate above the State average?  

  ANNUAL EMPLOYMENT CHANGE 

     2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 

FLORIDA  +1.7% -1.3% -5.6% -4.8% +0.6%

JACKSONVILLE +3.0% -0.2% -3.9% -4.5% -0.3%

 Source: Bureau of Labor and Statistics Data, 2.18.2011 

While there are many challenges in our city in need of attention, there is one priority that nearlyall agree on for our next Mayor: jobs, jobs, jobs.

 Our country, our state and our city have unquestionably experienced several tough years with

respect to job growth.   Duval County has not experienced annual positive job growth since2006.  In 2008, the city experienced negative job growth at a rate of -3.9%; in 2008, the numberworsened, at -4.5%.  As we look at 2010 data for Jacksonville, the economic environmentappears to be improving, with the negative number shrinking to -0.3%

 Over the same period of time, the State of Florida has experienced a similar trend.  In 2008,Florida weathered negative annual job growth at a rate of -5.6%; in 2009, the number was -4.8%.   However, as we are also seeing in Duval County, the state’s 2010 numbers areencouraging:  Florida is now projected to have its first increase in annual job growth since2006at 0.6%.

 As we look to the next four years, we must put in place an aggressive plan to leverage our city’sbiggest economic engines: the port, the military, our health care system, and our logisticsindustry. These are unique and defining components of our city’s economic foundation, and wemust do all that we can to cultivate growth in these areas that set us apart from other cities inour state and broader region.

 This includes emphasizing strategies to encourage growth in areas with significant potential.Cecil Commerce Center, positioned to be a leading site in the southeast for logistics andmanufacturing, is one such place.

 As we cultivate our city’s larger economic contributors, we must also remember the smallbusiness owners and entrepreneurs who, combined, are a powerful and essential component ofour city’s financial fabric. 

 Within the first 90 days of my administration, I will hold a small business summit for businessowners to discuss how their government can be a better partner in growth.

 We need to have jobs in this community.  We are positioned better than many othercommunities in this country to capitalize on what we hope is a turning point in this economy tobetter economic times.  The city should be a true working partner with the private sector in orderto create jobs and spur economic development, and as mayor, I will build and strengthen therelationships to make this happen.

8/7/2019 JCCI Job Growth Question Audrey Moran

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Political advertisement paid for and approved by Audrey Moran, Republican, for Mayor of Jacksonville.

 JAXBIZ, the political arm of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and theAssociation of Builders and Contractors have endorsed me as the candidate who will focus onjob growth and economic development.

 As mayor, I will lead the efforts for economic development from City Hall.  I will work with theJacksonville Economic Development Coalition and the Jacksonville Regional Chamber ofCommerce and other partners to bring new business and job opportunity to our city.  I will makethis a priority for my team as we go about our work and drive for resultsevery single day.