JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida is making meaningful progress in reducing childhood poverty, a key indicator of the state’s long-term economic health. According to new data highlighted by Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the number of children living in poverty statewide has dropped by hundreds of thousands over the past six years.
Wilson shared, “There’s about 711,000 kids in Florida in poverty. And while that’s a high number, it’s down a couple hundred thousand from about six years ago.” In Duval County alone, approximately 3,000 fewer children are living in poverty compared to previous reports, a positive sign that targeted efforts are working.
PREVIOUS EPISODE: Gateway Jax CEO shares vision for downtown’s transformation
The Florida Chamber’s Florida Prosperity Initiative focuses on breaking cycles of generational poverty by using detailed zip code-level data. Wilson explained why geography matters: “Poverty is a neighborhood thing... We go into a zip code, we analyze it with over 150 metrics... and figure out the three or four things that matter most.” This approach helps businesses and community leaders direct resources and programs where they are needed most.
Wilson emphasized the critical role businesses play in this effort: “The best way to find loyal employees is to find people who need to work and want to work... Someone who’s trying to work their way out of poverty right now. That means they want training, they want to learn, they want to better themselves.” By partnering with local organizations and focusing on workforce development, businesses can help create economic opportunities that benefit both families and the community.
Safety and education are also vital components of breaking the poverty cycle. Wilson noted, “If kids aren’t safe in their community, if they’re not safe to learn, if the parents aren’t safe to go work, then it’s impossible to break the cycle of poverty.” Partnerships with law enforcement and education leaders are part of the comprehensive strategy.
The Florida Chamber aims to cut childhood poverty in half by 2030, but Wilson acknowledges more work is needed: “We do need to pick up the pace. The best way to do that is to raise awareness.” Businesses and community members are encouraged to get involved by learning about their local zip codes and taking leadership roles in supporting children and families.
For more information, visit www.flchamber.com and explore tools like the FloridaGapMap.org to see how you can make a difference in your community.