Originally published in the Jacksonville Business Journal February 4, 2022
When the Founding Fathers envisioned our country, one of the things they indirectly created was a series of communities. All over the colonies, state and local governments came together to form the infrastructure for what would become communities all over the country. Fast forward 250 years, it’s hard to believe they could imagine the growth that has occurred, and the stresses that growth would put on our society to provide the services needed to keep that sense of community alive.
Northeast Florida has historically been an area of expansion, the more recent explosion in the population is unprecedented. In the last decade, the region has experienced population growth rates between 14% and 21%, outpacing the rest of Florida and almost double the growth rate for the country as a whole, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“Jacksonville and the surrounding area has a deep need for professionals who can strengthen and build up our communities through visionary work and leadership,” said Jeff Blount, Meyer Najem Construction chief operating office for the Southeast.