In an effort to create more homeownership options for low and moderate-income citizens in Jacksonville, Mayor Lenny Curry announced the launch of the Jacksonville Community Land Trust today. The community land trust will help neighborhoods resist gentrification, provide community members with a meaningful voice in development and enable low and moderate-income households to build generational wealth. “Strong, financially stable families and neighborhoods are the key to a great city,” said Mayor Curry. “I am proud to share that the City of Jacksonville is the first city in the state of Florida to have passed the first-look ordinance which allows the JCLT to have first right of refusal of tax-reverted, municipal-owned real estate.” Over the past year, the Curry administration has been working with community partners to research best practices, recruit a diverse board of directors and secure funding from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. The City is also committing $250,000 to fund JCLT operations. “The JCLT will acquire land, housing and other critical community-serving real estate and steward them to ensure they remain affordable in perpetuity,” said inaugural JCLT Board Chair Steve Kelley. The JCLT will create homeownership options for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in Jacksonville, improve neighborhood stability, promote economic development and build wealth while preserving affordable homes for future generations.