Chamber planning October trip to Cincinnati

[tufsu1]

Unrelated to the Chamber's vacation plans but - how do you joing the Chamber? I've been on their website a few times and I can't find anywhere on there how a small business owner joins. Is it an invitation only type of thing?

really?

if you go on their website, the top right corner includes a hotlink to "Join"

http://www.myjaxchamber.com/public/pub_join.aspx

[Anti redneck]

Still, this is the scenario I imagine:

GUY #1: ...So, any ideas on how to improve downtown?
GUY #2: Uh... I heard they're gonna take the chairs and some of the trees out of Hemming Plaza...
GUY #3: Are there sumore buildings maybe the city could tear down?
GUY #4: I think we did a pretty good job making sure nobody starts any food truck businesses down there. That's something, right?
GUY #1: ...Anymore ideas?
GUY #2: I only got ONE idea... ROAD TRIP!!!

And then the press release follows: "We learned many important ideas on this trip and have formed a committee to review our study and compose a position paper which will present best practices going forward."

Seems like that's how it is, doesn't it?

[Keith-N-Jax]

Now that's funny, so they created a downtown investment from San Diego I rather have San Diego they can keep the investment

[WmNussbaum]

Someone please explain why streetcars on fixed rail is better than the Trolley which can alter routes without the need for laying new rails. Please don't tell me those streetcars are powered by overhead lines.

[tufsu1]

^ the short and simople answer is that fixed rail can and often does generate spinoff economic development that trolleys/buses do not.....for just the reason you stated...trolleys/buses can alter routes at anytime, so there is little encouragement from land owners and developers to invest along the route.

[mtraininjax]

Who from around the country comes to Jacksonville to view our Economic powerhouse? I know cities come and view our structure for incorporation, but really, who comes to dream, I wish I had the economic engine of Jacksonville?

[vicupstate]

Who from around the country comes to Jacksonville to view our Economic powerhouse? I know cities come and view our structure for incorporation, but really, who comes to dream, I wish I had the economic engine of Jacksonville?

In the late '90's, Charlotte sent a delegation to Jax for one of these trips.  At the time both were of similiar size, and both had just gotten an NFL franchise.  Also,  CLT was pondering Consolidation at the time.

Anyway, to quote the Charlotte Observer chief business writer (the equivalent of the T-U's Karen Brune Mathis at the time), the Charlotte folks came away very impressed - with Charlotte.   

True story. 

[mtraininjax]

In the late '90's, Charlotte sent a delegation to Jax for one of these trips.  At the time both were of similiar size, and both had just gotten an NFL franchise.

Ask anyone on the board who got the better end of that trip, and then stand back....

[thelakelander]

Who from around the country comes to Jacksonville to view our Economic powerhouse? I know cities come and view our structure for incorporation, but really, who comes to dream, I wish I had the economic engine of Jacksonville?

In the late '90's, Charlotte sent a delegation to Jax for one of these trips.  At the time both were of similiar size, and both had just gotten an NFL franchise.  Also,  CLT was pondering Consolidation at the time.

Anyway, to quote the Charlotte Observer chief business writer (the equivalent of the T-U's Karen Brune Mathis at the time), the Charlotte folks came away very impressed - with Charlotte.   

True story.

Same goes for Lakeland.  A few years back they sent a delegation to Orlando (2005), Jacksonville (2006) and Memphis (2007) back to back.  During their Jacksonville visit, since I had a direct relationship with both communities, they asked me to speak to their delegation about the characteristics of communities that have been successful in attracting young professionals. 

For some reason, they also wanted to hear a different viewpoint from the standard public entity promotional and marketing pitch most communities present.

It was that meeting where a Publix executive, when directly asked, said they wouldn't be opening anything in downtown Jacksonville anytime soon because the demographics were no where close to being able to support a store.

http://lakelandedc.com/HighSkill/HSCityVisits.aspx

A year later, a friend of mine who works for the LEDC mentioned that they were more impressed with the vibrancy of Memphis.  In recent years, they've visited Austin and San Diego and are now planning to visit San Francisco.  I'm not going to waste me time asking for them to compare since I already know what the answer will be.