Mayor appoints economic development officer

Theodore Carter appointed head of head Jacksonville's new Office of Economic Development.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Alvin Brown has chosen Theodore N. Carter, an executive with more than 20 years of public and private sector experience, to head Jacksonville's new Office of Economic Development.

Carter will manage the city's day-to-day economic development functions with an aim to attract good-paying jobs and quality business opportunities to make Jacksonville more competitive, according to a news release from the mayor's office.

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His appointment is a critical component of the mayor's vision to transition away from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and create an Office of Economic Development with executive management capacity, according to the release.

Prior to his appointment, Carter was an executive managing director for CB Richard Ellis in Washington, D.C. He also has extensive experience in finance and public-private partnerships working with agencies such as the U.S. Department of the Treasury and city governments in New York, Newark and Washington D.C., according to the release.

City Council backed the mayor with a unanimous vote to create the Office of Economic Development. The mayor's plans also gained state-level approval from both houses of the Florida Legislature and Gov. Rick Scott. The bill CS/HB 1253 granted the mayor the authority to move forward.

Carter's appointment is subject to a City Council nomination. His salary will be $195,000.