JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nearly $8 million in unused money from the city of Jacksonville’s 2023-2024 budget is getting moved to support Jacksonville Fire Rescue and the University of North Florida.
The mayor’s office says the reinvestment of $7,980,286 into projects at JFRD and UNF will help move the city forward.
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The decision to fund the projects, which will head to City Council for final approval, was unanimously approved by the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee.
The largest portion of the funding, $4 million, is allocated for renovations at two fire stations.
Fire Station No. 45 at 15725 Sawpit Road, an old volunteer station, needs upgrades to support the full-time firefighters who work there now.
Fire Station No. 54 at 4220 Jones Road will be remodeled to fit a tanker, which is crucial for maintaining the city’s ISO rating—a factor in determining insurance rates.
Another $692,823 will be used to build a personal protective equipment (PPE) wash facility at 2610 Fairfax St.
The building will be used to wash and inspect firefighter gear and would follow National Fire Protection Association standards. JFRD will also use the building to store PPE for emergencies.
Ironically, the location on Fairfax Street is a former Superfund site that had to undergo extensive cleaning to remove chemicals left behind from a wood treatment plant that used to operate there.
The remaining $3 million will be used to create a “state-of-the-art E-sports Arena” in the John A. Delaney Student Union at UNF.
The goal is to create a space that will attract more students in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
UNF would also use the arena for gaming competitions.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan emphasized the importance of these investments.
“We continue to make investments that create the greatest return for our citizens, and these projects are no exception,” Deegan said. “The fire station renovations and wash facility will ensure our firefighters have the resources to continue keeping citizens safe and insurance rates down. UNF’s e-sports arena will help us build a next-generation workforce and position Jacksonville as a leader in the fastest-growing sports genre nationally and globally.”
