JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nearly two years after a mass shooting at a Dollar General in Northwest Jacksonville left three people dead, city and state leaders say they are investing millions into the community — with the goal of preventing violence before it starts.
A $3 million state investment announced Thursday will fund programs focused on small business support, workforce training, food access, healthcare, and youth crime prevention in District 10.
Standing just steps away from where that tragedy unfolded, leaders called the investment long overdue.
“This has never been done before, because this has never been done Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman said.
State Rep. Wyman Duggan (R-Duval County) said the funding, included in the governor’s budget, is designed to stay local — going directly to organizations already working in the community.
“We made sure those dollars go directly to the local organizations that already know what’s needed and or already doing the critical hard work. That’s who should be making the call”, Duggan said. “This money stays home.”
Officials say about $2 million of the funding will go toward five key areas:
- health and social wellness
- affordable housing and economic development
- education and workforce training
- infrastructure
- small business support
The remaining $1 million will be used for youth prevention programs.
Leaders say that $2 million investment alone could generate more than $5 million in economic impact through jobs, food access, and expanded opportunities.
But questions remain about how that money will actually be distributed — and which businesses will benefit.
News4Jax’s reporter Briana Brownlee asked Councilwoman Pittman how those businesses are selected and who gets access to the funding.
“I have funding from my colleagues, that they voted on several years ago, since I’ve been in office every year, and I just add to that. So those businesses have been identified as a source of leverage for the money that we have. They were selected, like Holly’s BBQ, we are also looking at Families of Slain Children, nonprofits, that need and for-profit businesses that need support fixing up their businesses on the outside.”
For Pittman, the investment is about more than numbers — it’s about changing what people see every day.
“When you look around, you see a lot of abandoned buildings in our district. We want to make sure we have a drive-by appeal for those corridors and make some money for the district,” Pittman said.
Some programs are already showing early results.
An industrial training program has trained dozens of students in recent months, with many going on to secure jobs. A local nursing academy says it has helped residents begin careers in healthcare — offering a pathway to stability in a community where opportunities can be limited.
The full list of programs expected to receive money:
- Beaver Street Enterprise Center (will help facilitate distribution and implement the district‑10 initiative)
- Florida Department of Children and Families (finalized distribution details with Beaver Street Enterprise Center)
- Sharon Marshall Nursing Academy
- James Coleman’s industrial training program
- Clara’s Grow and Go
- Farm Share
- Feeding Northeast Florida