JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan signed the long-awaited Community Benefits Agreement Friday morning.
City leaders gathered at In the Word International Church to sign the CBA after the Jacksonville City Council finally decided on Tuesday night how to spend millions of dollars that were originally part of the Jaguars stadium deal.
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“We knew we wanted to do more than build just the Stadium of the Future, as huge as that is, we wanted to make one of the largest quality of life investments in our city’s history, and that is exactly what we’ve done,” Deegan said.
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Watch the full signing ceremony in the video below
Initially, the $1.4 billion stadium renovation deal with the Jaguars also included a $300 million Community Benefits Agreement, split evenly between the team and the city. The city would’ve paid $150 million over four years, while the Jags would’ve given $5 million a year over 30 years.
However, incoming City Council President Randy White crafted an amendment, along with the mayor’s office, to keep $56 million for parks development in the stadium bill but removed $94 million so it could be considered later after objections by some council members.
Under the final version of the CBA:
- $40 million will go toward the Eastside over seven years
- Another $40 million will be given to the county over 15 years
- The final $14 million will go to each of the 14 council districts
That plan passed Tuesday with a 13 to 2 vote.
Councilmen Rory Diamond and Mike Gay were the two “no” votes. Three council members did not vote.
“Out east has been underserved far too long, hopefully no more. Today is a great day, and it’s a reminder of what can be accomplished if we work together,”
The total $150 million investment will also go toward affordable housing, workforce development and homelessness services.
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Jacksonville is poised to set a record among NFL markets after City Council approved the remaining portion of a $300 million community benefits agreement between the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
If ratified by the NFL owners group in October, the benefits agreement will be the largest in the history of the 32-team league.