DUVAL COUNTY · LOCALlocal legislationEnacted

Enacted

City Grant for Baker’s Sports, Inc. Infrastructure Improvements

Original title: ORD Approp $175,000 from the NW OED Fund - Contingency Acct, to the NW OED Fund - Subsidies & Contributions to Private Orgs Acct, for the Purpose of Providing a NW Jax Economic Dev Fund (NWJEDF) Business Infrastructure Grant to Baker’s Sports, Inc. to Fund Certain Infrastructure Improvements in Connection with the Renovation of an Existing Bldg on the Property Located at 5245 Commonwealth Ave; Making Certain Findings, & Auth the Mayor, or Her Desig, & the Corp Sec to Execute & Deliver, for & on Behalf of the City, an Economic Dev Agrmt btwn the City & Company, to Support the Proj; Auth the Big Grant; Auth Appvl of Tech Amends by the Executive Director of the OED; Waiver of the Conflicting Provision of the Public Investment Policy Adopted by Ordinance 2022-726-E, as Amended, to Authorize a Big Grant for the Proj in the Amount of $175,000; Prov for City Oversight by the OED (Revised B.T. 25-104) (Dillard) (Req of Mayor) (Co-Sponsor CM Johnson) 7/22/25 CO Introduced: F 8/5/25 F Read 2nd & Rerefer 8/12/25 CO PH Read 2nd & Rerefer 8/19/25 F Amend/Approve 6-1 (Diamond) 8/26/25 CO Amend(FL)/Approve 17-1 (Diamond) Public Hearing Pursuant to Ch 166, F.S. & CR 3.601 - 8/12/25

August 26, 2025

economic development business grants infrastructure city budget urban renewal

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Finance Connection

Notable money activity

$148,250across 20 reported contributions

Trace money trail →

Candidate	Donor	Amount	Industry	Date
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Laborers' International Union of North America - Local 89 PAC Fund	$20,000	N/A	Sep 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Southern California District Council of Laborers PAC - SCC	$20,000	N/A	Oct 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Southern California District Council of Laborers PAC - SCC	$20,000	N/A	Oct 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Laborers' International Union of North America - Local 89 PAC Fund	$20,000	N/A	Sep 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Laborers' Pacific Southwest Regional Organizing Coalition PAC - SCC	$20,000	N/A	Oct 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union No. 1230 PAC - SCC	$5,000	N/A	Oct 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union No. 1230 PAC - SCC	$5,000	N/A	Oct 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Southern California Pipe Trades District Council #16 PAC - SCC	$5,000	N/A	Oct 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	Southern California Pipe Trades District Council #16 PAC - SCC	$5,000	N/A	Oct 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	William Baber	$4,000	Councilmember	Oct 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	William Baber	$4,000	Councilmember	Oct 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	Joshua Rebello	$2,700	Youth and Family Service Coordinator	Jul 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	Joshua Rebello	$2,700	Youth and Family Service Coordinator	Jul 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	Jon Segal	$2,500	Sales	Oct 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	Jon Segal	$2,500	Sales	Oct 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	Clarence A. Shelmon	$2,000	Retired	Aug 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021	Clarence A. Shelmon	$2,000	Retired	Aug 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2022	Clarence A. Shelmon	$2,000	Retired	Jun 2021
Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2022	Clarence A. Shelmon	$2,000	Retired	Jun 2021
Working Families in Support of Patricia Dillard for La Mesa City Council 2021, Sponsored by Laborers' International Union of Northern America Local 89	DMFI PAC	$1,850	N/A	Oct 2021

Reported financial relationships and timing signals. This does not prove motive or influence. Readers draw their own conclusions.

The Frame

What this does

The city is providing $175,000 in public funds to a private business for building renovations, which requires a waiver of existing city investment policies.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Baker’s Sports, Inc.

The company receives a $175,000 grant for building infrastructure improvements.

Office of Economic Development (OED)

The agency is responsible for project oversight and approving technical amendments.

City Taxpayers

Public funds are being allocated to a private entity for property development.

What changed

Last recorded activity August 26, 2025.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This ordinance authorizes a $175,000 economic development grant to Baker’s Sports, Inc. to help fund infrastructure improvements for a building renovation at 5245 Commonwealth Avenue. The funds are being transferred from the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund contingency account to support the project.

Key Facts

The city approved a $175,000 grant to Baker’s Sports, Inc. for infrastructure improvements.
Funds are transferred from the NW OED Fund Contingency Account to the Subsidies & Contributions to Private Orgs Account.
The project involves the renovation of an existing building at 5245 Commonwealth Avenue.
The ordinance includes a waiver of conflicting provisions in the Public Investment Policy (Ordinance 2022-726-E).
The Mayor or her designee and the Corporate Secretary are authorized to execute the economic development agreement.
The Office of Economic Development (OED) is tasked with project oversight.
The Executive Director of the OED is authorized to approve technical amendments to the agreement.
The ordinance was approved by the City Council with a 17-1 vote on August 26, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the money for this grant coming from?

The funds are being moved from the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund's contingency account.

What is the money being used for?

The funds are designated for infrastructure improvements related to the renovation of a building at 5245 Commonwealth Avenue.

Did the city have to change its rules to allow this grant?

Yes, the ordinance includes a waiver of specific provisions in the city's (Ordinance 2022-726-E) to allow for this specific grant amount.

Why It Matters

The city is providing $175,000 in public funds to a private business for building renovations, which requires a waiver of existing city investment policies.

News Coverage

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