Daily Record Financial News &
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 057 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
$40M for 2 rehab, nursing centers
Photos by Fran Ruchalski
Facilities would be in Clay, Duval
Prayers, tears and hopes for an end to violence Retired Bishop Rudolph McKissick Sr. speaks to the overflow crowd at Bethel Baptist Institutional Church during Monday night’s vigil to remember 22-month-old Aiden McClendon and other murder victims. The toddler’s death in a drive-by shooting Friday is one of 14 murders in Jacksonville this year. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest in Aiden’s death. Call First Coast Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477.
Mayor Lenny Curry breaks down after apologizing to Aiden’s family members for their loss.
Aiden’s mother, Tomeshia Brown, is comforted during the service by her mother, Rhonda McDowell.
Committees OK term limits bill, but barely By David Chapman Staff Writer Four City Council committees have decided three consecutive four-year terms are better than two for elected officials. It’s an issue that hardly has everyone in agreement, though. Tommy Hazouri called it a “bad bill” the public would resoundingly defeat if it lands on a ballot this year. During Monday’s Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee, he wanted a different approach: staggered term limits. Split the council into two pools
Public
somehow. Have elections every two years. The Duval County School Board, his stop before council, has that system. Swapping the language proved too difficult Monday, so Hazouri backed off for now. Reggie Gaffney couldn’t support any extension. Throughout TEU and the Finance Committee, Gaffney maintained dedicating the effort toward passing a half-cent sales tax extension to solve pension issues was more important. Mayor Lenny Curry has been pushing for that in the Legislature Term limits continued on Page A-3
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Health Care Managers Inc. wants to break ground this year on two area skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, representing at least a $40 million investment. The Fernandina Beach-based company plans centers in North Jacksonville and in Clay County, both near new medical centers. In North Jacksonville, Health Care Managers, through First Coast Health Ventures LLC, bought 9.8 acres at Max Leggett Parkway and Owens Road last week for $2.85 million. Ameris Bank issued a $2.145 million mortgage. It intends to develop River City Rehabilitation Center on the site, which is near River City Marketplace and the new UF Health North medical office complex, which opened a year ago, and its 92-bed hospital to be completed next year. Health Care Managers Managing Partner Steve Sell said Monday the 75,000-squarefoot structure would have 111 beds. Company partner Charles Wilson estimated the investment at $18 million to $20 million. Sell said the proximity to UF Health North was a factor. The company looked throughout North Jacksonville and Nassau County with the advent of UF Health’s first medical office building. “We felt like they really had the future in mind of the Northside,” Sell said. He said Health Care Managers wants to partner with hospitals as a preferred provider to offer short-term rehabilitation service for patients who need to be discharged but are not ready to return home. He said Mathis continued on Page A-2
Program’s goal is to better educate workers
By Max Marbut Staff Writer
Hazouri
Help wanted: Higher education required. That’s the sign hung out by many businesses and the trend is only expected to grow. It’s estimated that by 2018, 48 percent of all jobs will require a trade certificate or two-year degree. By 2025, the percentage of jobs that will require post-secondary education is projected to be as high as 60 percent. Earn Up was launched in December 2014 to better position Northeast Florida in the workforce development market.
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At the time, only 36 percent of working-age residents were educated beyond high school. Earn Up has helped increase that by 2 percentage points, or more than 10,000 better-educated job candidates, said Tina Wirth, vice president of workforce development for JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of the JAX Chamber. “For economic development efforts, a skilled workforce is the key consideration for companies looking to relocate or expand,” she said. The focus of the career tracks in Earn Up is on information Earn Up continued on Page A-3
consecutive weekdays