Jacksonville Civic Council

The Jacksonville Civic Council (JCC) is a nonpartisan civic-leadership organization based in Jacksonville, Florida. It brings together approximately 95 chief executives, presidents, and senior local representatives from major businesses, hospitals, universities, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions. Its purpose is not to sell consumer products but to use business leadership, research, convening power, and public advocacy to address Jacksonville's long-term civic challenges. The council's stated ambition is to help make Jacksonville a destination of choice for businesses, families, and graduates. It describes that destination as a safe, personally satisfying, and economically rewarding city in which to live and raise a family. Its broader mission is to strengthen Jacksonville's reputation as a successful medium-sized city characterized by integrity, predictable growth, equal opportunity, and respect for all residents. The organization's origins reach back to 1993, when an informal group of Jacksonville business leaders known as the Non-Group began working on community issues, initially including support for the Duval County Public Schools' Alliance for World Class Education. That education effort later became associated with the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. The Jacksonville Civic Council was incorporated on May 17, 2000, but remained largely inactive until the late 2000s. After Jacksonville business leaders examined Kansas City's civic-public-private partnership model in 2009, the Non-Group voted in December of that year to dissolve and reorganize as the more formal and public Jacksonville Civic Council. At its relaunch, the council identified fiscal responsibility, job creation, public education, public safety, and retention of the Jacksonville Jaguars as priority concerns. Over time, its policy agenda broadened to include downtown redevelopment, public finance, pension sustainability, transportation, education facilities, economic mobility, racial equity, public health, and human rights. It has taken positions that may be politically difficult or unpopular, while presenting itself as nonpartisan and evidence-led rather than aligned with a political party. JCC is funded through dues assessed according to the size of member organizations' businesses. Its activities include interdisciplinary research, private member discussions, public reports, policy recommendations, civic education, and collaboration with governmental, nonprofit, and private-sector partners. The council has been associated with advocacy for a Downtown Investment Authority, opposition to privatization of the Jacksonville Electric Authority, pension-reform research, support for a local-option gas tax, public-school facilities funding, education reform, and removal of Confederate monuments. It also developed a COVID-19 vaccination outreach campaign and conducted a local business survey concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion. A strategic-planning process begun in 2021 shaped a ten-year effort organized around four pillars: Inspire, Advance, Prepare, and Connect. These pillars address civic identity and communication, economic mobility and health, literacy and workforce preparation, and the physical places and connections that support quality of life. The council's EpicJax method uses short, collaborative sprints focused on measurable outcomes, preceded by research and community inquiry. Topics identified for sprints or warm-up work have included digital literacy, public safety, downtown redevelopment, early learning, Black wealth, Jacksonville's identity, and neighborhood development. The council also supports Jax 365, a community-wide idea-sharing effort, and established the Jacksonville Civic Council Foundation to provide additional capacity for research, execution, advocacy, and civic-engagement training. Under CEO and President Dennis Whittle, JCC continues to operate as a city-focused civic institution rather than a conventional commercial brand.

The Jacksonville Civic Council developed from an informal network of Jacksonville business leaders known as the Non-Group. Established in 1993, the Non-Group initially acted as a civic brain trust and supported the Alliance for World Class Education in Duval County. That education initiative later evolved into the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. The early organization used the influence, expertise, and resources of business leaders to address community problems without operating as a conventional political party or commercial enterprise. The Jacksonville Civic Council was incorporated on May 17, 2000. Individuals associated with the incorporation included Hugh Greene, John Delaney, Lynn Pappas, Pete Rummell, and Steven Halverson. Although incorporated, the council did not immediately become an active public institution and remained inactive until the end of the decade. A significant turning point came in October 2009, when Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce members traveled to Kansas City, Missouri, to study public-private partnerships that had contributed to that city's revitalization. The Kansas City Civic Council provided a model for a more organized business-led civic institution. Lynn Pappas, then chairwoman of the Non-Group, brought the concept back to Jacksonville. At a December 2009 meeting, members voted to dissolve the informal organization and reorganize it as the Jacksonville Civic Council. The relaunched council identified five initial priorities: fiscal responsibility, job creation, public education, public safety, and retaining the Jacksonville Jaguars. The council subsequently expanded its work across local government, education, infrastructure, downtown development, public health, economic mobility, and social inclusion. It participated in the establishment of the Downtown Investment Authority, opposed privatization of the Jacksonville Electric Authority, conducted recurring public-finance analysis, and researched pension reform. It also supported education initiatives, including reform efforts and a proposed tax for Duval County Public Schools facilities. Other positions and projects included support for a local-option gas tax, advocacy related to a human-rights ordinance, a survey of local businesses concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion, and advocacy that contributed to the removal of Confederate monuments in Jacksonville. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the council organized a vaccination-focused public-health campaign. Its broader operating model has emphasized research, convening, nonpartisan advocacy, and collaboration among business, government, educational, healthcare, and nonprofit leaders. The organization is funded through dues tied to member-business size and is structured as a tax-exempt 501(c)(6) entity. In 2021, JCC conducted a strategic-planning process intended to guide Jacksonville's development over the following decade. The council recruited Dennis Whittle as CEO and President following a national search. Whittle brought experience as a co-founder of GlobalGiving and Feedback Labs and as a former senior partner for strategy and innovation at the World Bank. The resulting strategy was organized around four pillars: Inspire, Advance, Prepare, and Connect. These pillars address civic identity, economic mobility, health and safety, literacy, early learning, post-secondary education, workforce readiness, downtown and stadium redevelopment, universities, walkable communities, and urban parks. The EpicJax process became a principal mechanism for implementing the strategy. It uses a period of inquiry and preparation followed by a 90-day sprint in which cross-sector teams test ideas, establish monthly milestones, and pursue a defined outcome. Reported sprint and warm-up topics include digital literacy, public safety, downtown redevelopment, quality early learning, building Black wealth, Jacksonville's identity, and neighborhoods and place. JCC also supports Jax 365, which invites Jacksonville residents to submit ideas for creating a world-class city. To supplement the council's membership-funded work, its board and staff established the Jacksonville Civic Council Foundation. The foundation focuses on research, execution, advocacy, and civic-engagement training. As of the supplied 2025 reference material, the council had approximately 94 to 95 members and was in the second year of its ten-year strategic plan.

• 2025

  Continuation of the ten-year plan

  [1]Jacksonville Civic Councilen.wikipedia.org

  The council was described as having approximately 94 to 95 members and being in the second year of its strategic plan.

• 2021

  Strategic plan and executive transition

  [1]Jacksonville Civic Councilen.wikipedia.org

  JCC began a decade-long strategic-planning effort and hired Dennis Whittle as CEO and President.

• 2009

  Reorganization of the Non-Group

  [1]Jacksonville Civic Councilen.wikipedia.org

  Following research into Kansas City's civic model, members voted to dissolve the Non-Group and reorganize it as the Jacksonville Civic Council.

• 2000

  Formal incorporation

  [1]Jacksonville Civic Councilen.wikipedia.org

  The Jacksonville Civic Council was incorporated on May 17, although it did not become active immediately.

• 1993

  Formation of the Non-Group

  [1]Jacksonville Civic Councilen.wikipedia.org

  An informal network of Jacksonville business leaders began civic and education-focused work that eventually led to the Jacksonville Civic Council.

A nonpartisan, business-led civic strategy and advocacy organization focused on measurable improvements in Jacksonville's economic competitiveness, public institutions, equity, education, safety, and quality of life.

• Civic innovation and collaboration process

  EpicJax

  EpicJax is a structured process for moving community initiatives from inquiry to action. A preparatory warm-up period is followed by a 90-day sprint focused on a specific outcome. Cross-sector teams set monthly milestones, test approaches, learn from results, and adjust their work. The process is intended to produce measurable progress while bringing together business, government, nonprofit, educational, and community participants.

• Community engagement initiative

  Jax 365

  Jax 365 is a community-wide idea-sharing movement supported by the Jacksonville Civic Council. It encourages Jacksonville residents to submit ideas that could help shape the city's future and advance the goal of making Jacksonville a destination of choice for businesses, families, and graduates.

• Public-policy research

  Annual public-finance study

  The council's recurring public-finance research examines Jacksonville's fiscal condition and is intended to promote transparency, accountability, and informed discussion of municipal financial decisions.

• Civic research and advocacy foundation

  Jacksonville Civic Council Foundation

  The foundation was created to provide additional revenue and institutional capacity for research, execution, advocacy, and civic-engagement training. Its work supports the council's objective of addressing Jacksonville's major social, economic, educational, and quality-of-life challenges.

• COVID-19 vaccination campaign

  Jacksonville · Duval County

  JCC developed and led a public-health campaign encouraging Jacksonville residents to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

  Source
• Public-school facilities tax advocacy

  Duval County

  The council advocated for a tax intended to fund renovation and repair of Duval County Public Schools facilities.

  Source
• Confederate monument removal advocacy

  Jacksonville

  JCC participated in advocacy and public discussion concerning the removal of Confederate monuments in Jacksonville.

  Source
• Business diversity, equity, and inclusion survey

  Jacksonville

  The council surveyed local businesses about diversity, equity, and inclusion to inform more inclusive business practices and civic strategies.

  Source

• 2021

  Adoption of a ten-year strategic frameworkStrategy

  Background

  JCC sought a more proactive model for influencing Jacksonville's development over the following decade.

  Action taken

  The council organized its strategic work under the pillars Inspire, Advance, Prepare, and Connect.

  Aftermath

  The framework informed EpicJax sprints and focus areas including literacy, economic mobility, public safety, early learning, downtown development, and neighborhood quality.

  Source

• Opposition to JEA privatizationStrategy

  Background

  The council assessed the proposed privatization of Jacksonville Electric Authority as a major long-term issue for the city and its residents.

  Action taken

  JCC opposed privatization and advocated consideration of its long-term civic and financial consequences.

  Source

• Support for Downtown Investment AuthorityStrategy

  Background

  Jacksonville sought stronger institutional capacity to coordinate investment and redevelopment in its downtown area.

  Action taken

  The council participated in efforts associated with establishing the Downtown Investment Authority.

  Source

• Advocacy for a local-option gas taxStrategy

  Background

  The council considered transportation infrastructure a central requirement for Jacksonville's long-term competitiveness and connectivity.

  Action taken

  JCC supported implementation of a local-option gas tax to fund transportation projects.

  Source

1. 1Jacksonville Civic Councilen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Jacksonville Civic Council official websitejaxciviccouncil.com