Jacksonville Business News | Small Business & Economic Development | September 17, 2026
Quick Answer
Jacksonville small businesses can access city-funded micro-grants ($500–$5,000), low-interest loans up to $50,000, Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund grants and 3% loans, Downtown Investment Authority retail and façade grants up to $30 per square foot, and city-level job-creation incentives such as REV grants. Note: Florida’s QTI tax refund program is no longer accepting applications.
Jacksonville Small Business Incentive Checklist
Use this checklist to identify which programs your business may qualify for. Amounts and eligibility reflect published program guidelines as of September 2026; funding is appropriated annually and can be exhausted mid-year, so confirm availability with the administering office before applying.
Citywide micro-grants and loans (Small Business Capital Access Programs)
- Small Business Micro-Grant Funding — grants of $500 to $1,000 for aspiring and emerging micro-businesses in Duval County
- Veterans Entrepreneurship Funding — grants up to $2,000 for veteran-owned micro-businesses
- Jacksonville Small & Emerging Business (JSEB) Funding — grants of $1,000 to $5,000 for JSEB-certified micro-businesses
- Small Business Low-Interest Loan Funding — tiered loans from $5,000 to $50,000
- Eligibility: Duval County location; micro-business status; JSEB certification for the JSEB tier; underwriting applies to loans
- Administered by: LISC Jacksonville (904-353-1300) on behalf of the Office of Economic Development; JSEB office at 904-255-8620
- Funding source: $1 million approved by City Council in the FY2023-24 budget
JSEB Access to Capital Program
- What it is: short-term working capital loans for JSEB-certified firms delivering goods and services to the City of Jacksonville and its authorities and agencies
- Eligibility: must hold active City of Jacksonville JSEB certification and a city or agency contract or purchase order
- Contact: JSEB office, 904-255-8840, jseb@coj.net
Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund (NWJEDF)
- Grants: up to 10% of total project cost
- Loans: up to 25% of total project cost at a base rate of 3% per annum; individual loans can exceed $500,000
- Owner equity: minimum 20% of total project cost required
- Eligible uses: land or building acquisition, façade improvements, infrastructure, leasehold improvements, new construction, renovation, machinery and manufacturing equipment, professional fees, design, engineering and permitting
- Eligibility: business or project must be located inside the NWJEDF boundary area (map published by OED); funds are disbursed as reimbursement under an Economic Development Agreement
- Related program: Non-Residential Septic Tank Repair, Replacement and Sewer Connection Grant — up to $30,000 for commercial and nonprofit properties in the Northwest area with failing septic systems (funded at $1 million under Ordinance 2018-196-E)
- Fund position: $4.35 million balance as of September 30, 2024, with $2.32 million available after approved appropriations
- Governance: quarterly advisory committee meetings at City Hall, 117 W. Duval St.
Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) retail and storefront grants
- Core Retail Enhancement Grant — up to $30 per square foot leased or occupied, not to exceed 50% of project construction cost; extra $5 per square foot for goods-based (not service) retailers; applicant must match grant dollar-for-dollar; available in the Northbank and Southbank Core Retail Enhancement Areas
- Food & Beverage Retail Enhancement Program (FAB-REP) — zero-interest grant paid on completion for restaurants and bars inside two targeted Northbank dining districts; extra $10 per square foot boost for contributing historic-district structures
- Basic Retail Enhancement Grant — up to $20 per square foot, 50% cap, dollar-for-dollar match; covers retail outside the core areas and qualifying creative-office uses with street-facing storefronts
- Sidewalk Enhancement Grant — forgivable loan for outdoor dining and streetscape improvements inside FAB-REP districts, forgiven in equal amounts over three years
- Storefront Façade Grant — five-year, interest-free forgivable loan up to $30 per square foot of eligible street-facing façade in the Downtown Historic District; $950,000 allocated at launch; no local landmark designation required
- Commercial Revitalization Program (CRP) — lease grants for tenants signing first-time leases in existing Downtown office space (on the tax rolls five-plus years); minimum 1,000 sf ground-floor or 5,000 sf upper-floor in a building with at least 15% vacancy; capped at 120 months and 50,000 sf
- Condition: sales reporting required for all retail programs except the stand-alone sidewalk grant
- Contact: DIAPrograms@coj.net
Job-creation and capital-investment incentives (City of Jacksonville Public Investment Policy)
- Recapture Enhanced Value (REV) Grant — rebates a portion of the incremental ad valorem taxes generated by a new project over a set term; requires a City Council-approved Economic Development Agreement
- Large-Scale Economic Development Fund (LSEDF) Grant — grants limited to 10% of total project cost, capped at $600,000, scaled by project wage levels; subject to job-creation requirements unless waived by Council
- Business Infrastructure Grant/Loan (BIG) — assistance with public infrastructure tied to a qualifying private project
- Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) — tax-exempt conduit financing for facilities, land or equipment; OED is the designated issuer; company must secure its own bond purchaser (OED: 904-255-5444)
- Tax Increment District (TID) infrastructure — CRA-funded infrastructure in the Northbank and Southbank community redevelopment areas
State of Florida programs still active
- Florida Flex (formerly Quick Response Training) — reimbursable grants for customized employee training at new or expanding businesses
- Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) — corporate income tax credit for large capital-intensive projects in target industries
- High Impact Performance Incentive (HIPI) — negotiated grants for major projects in designated high-impact sectors
The QTI Question: What Happened to Florida’s Signature Tax Refund
Business owners researching Jacksonville incentives still encounter references to the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) Tax Refund, which offered $3,000 per new job (up to $6,000 in enterprise zones or rural areas) with a 20% local match. That program matters historically: between 1994 and 2019 more than 1,360 companies participated and over $260 million in refunds were paid.
But the state’s authority to certify new QTI applicants expired on June 30, 2020, when the Legislature declined to reauthorize it. In 2023, the Legislature formally repealed QTI along with the Quick Action Closing Fund and several other credit programs, while folding Enterprise Florida into the renamed Florida Department of Commerce. Existing QTI contracts continue to pay out under their original terms through roughly fiscal year 2037-38, but no new business can enroll.
The practical consequence for Jacksonville: the city’s own REV grants, LSEDF grants and NWJEDF have become the primary discretionary incentive tools for job-creating projects, because the state layer that used to stack on top of them is gone.
How the Programs Fit Together
| Business profile | Best-fit programs |
|---|---|
| Startup or micro-business anywhere in Duval | SBCAP micro-grant; low-interest loan; JSEB certification |
| Veteran-owned micro-business | Veterans Entrepreneurship grant + SBCAP loan |
| Retail or restaurant opening Downtown | Core Retail or FAB-REP grant + Sidewalk grant + Storefront Façade grant |
| Office tenant leasing existing Downtown space | Commercial Revitalization Program |
| Expansion or new construction in Northwest Jacksonville | NWJEDF grant + loan; septic/sewer grant if applicable |
| Company creating 25+ jobs or investing in a new facility | REV grant; LSEDF grant; IRB financing; Florida Flex training |
Brian’s Take
By Brian French, Publisher, Florida Authority Network
Two observations from someone who spent years reading incentive agreements before I started writing about them.
First, Jacksonville’s real advantage is geographic layering, not headline dollars. A restaurant on Laura Street can stack a Core Retail grant, a Sidewalk grant and a Façade grant on one buildout. A manufacturer on the Northside can pair an NWJEDF loan with a REV grant. Most Florida cities offer one of these tools; Jacksonville offers all of them in defined zones. The work is figuring out which boundary your address falls inside. Do that before you sign a lease, not after.
Second, stop searching for QTI. I still see relocation consultants and out-of-state brokers quoting it. It has been dead for six years. Any incentive estimate that includes a QTI line is wrong, and it tells you the person preparing it hasn’t updated their model since 2020. The replacement math is local: REV grants tied to your assessed value, and the $600,000 LSEDF ceiling.
The micro-grant tiers are modest, and $1 million of citywide funding does not stretch far across 66,000 small businesses. Treat those programs as a door-opener into LISC and JSEB relationships rather than a capital strategy. The meaningful money in Jacksonville sits in the DIA and NWJEDF programs, and both reward applicants who arrive with contractor bids, a construction budget and a sales-reporting plan already in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Jacksonville offer cash grants to small businesses?
Yes. The Small Business Capital Access Programs provide micro-grants of $500 to $5,000 depending on tier, administered by LISC Jacksonville. The Downtown Investment Authority and the Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund offer larger project-based grants tied to construction spending.
What is the maximum NWJEDF grant?
Grants are capped at 10% of total project cost. Loans are capped at 25% of project cost at a 3% base interest rate, and the business must contribute at least 20% equity.
Can I still apply for Florida’s QTI tax refund?
No. The state stopped certifying new QTI applicants on June 30, 2020, and the program was repealed in 2023. Only previously executed agreements remain in effect.
How much is the DIA retail grant?
Up to $30 per square foot in the Core Retail Enhancement Areas (plus $5 for goods-based retailers), or $20 per square foot under the Basic program, in each case limited to 50% of construction costs and requiring a dollar-for-dollar match.
What is JSEB certification and why does it matter?
Jacksonville Small & Emerging Business certification is the city’s program for small firms seeking city contracts. It unlocks the JSEB grant tier of SBCAP, the JSEB Access to Capital working-capital loans, and procurement set-aside opportunities.
Who do I contact to apply?
City micro-grants and loans: LISC Jacksonville, 904-353-1300. Downtown retail and façade grants: DIAPrograms@coj.net. NWJEDF and REV/LSEDF incentives: Office of Economic Development, 904-255-5444. JSEB certification: 904-255-8840 or jseb@coj.net.
Sources and Further Reading
- City of Jacksonville — “City Announces Small Business Capital Access Programs” (August 14, 2024): https://www.jacksonville.gov/welcome/featured-news/city-announces-small-business-capital-access-programs-08-14-2024
- Jax Daily Record — “City of Jacksonville announces new programs to support small businesses” (August 13, 2024): https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/aug/13/city-of-jacksonville-announces-new-programs-to-support-small-businesses/
- CareerSource Northeast Florida — “Jacksonville launches small business capital access program”: https://careersourcenortheastflorida.com/jacksonville-launches-small-business-capital-access-program/
- City of Jacksonville OED — Small Business Assistance: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/office-of-economic-development/small-business/small-business-assistance
- City of Jacksonville OED — Business Financing Programs (IRBs, SBA, FFCFC): https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/office-of-economic-development/business-development/business-resources/business-financing-programs
- JSEB — Access to Capital Programs: https://jseb.jacksonville.gov/business-support/access-to-capital
- City of Jacksonville OED — Northwest Jacksonville Economic Development Fund overview: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/office-of-economic-development/northwest-jacksonville-economic-development-fund-(nwjedf)
- City of Jacksonville OED — NWJEDF Goals, Policies, Guidelines and Map: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/office-of-economic-development/docs/northwest-jacksonville/2016-nwjedf-goals-guidelines-policies-and-map
- City of Jacksonville OED — NWJEDF FY2024 Annual Report: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/office-of-economic-development/docs/northwest-jacksonville/nwjedf-fy24-annual-report.aspx
- City of Jacksonville — Public Investment Policy (2024 amendment): https://www.jacksonville.gov/getContentAsset/a4508026-6a5c-4d88-81f4-85d5e489565f/135b97c9-84fa-4e82-b956-0fbccec4aa1f/2024-286_2026_PIP_Amendment_FINAL-EDA-Update.pdf?language=en
- Downtown Investment Authority — Commercial Incentives index: https://dia.jacksonville.gov/doing-business-with-us/doing-business-with-dia/commercial-incentives
- DIA — Core Retail Enhancement Program: https://dia.jacksonville.gov/doing-business-with-us/doing-business-with-dia/commercial-incentives/retail-enhancement-grant-program/core-retail-enhancement-program
- DIA — Basic Retail Enhancement Program: https://dia.jacksonville.gov/doing-business-with-us/doing-business-with-dia/commercial-incentives/retail-enhancement-grant-program/basic-retail-enhancement-program
- DIA — Food & Beverage Retail Enhancement Program (FAB-REP): https://dia.jacksonville.gov/doing-business-with-us/doing-business-with-dia/commercial-incentives/retail-enhancement-grant-program/food-beverage-retail-enhancement-program-(fab-rep)
- DIA — Commercial Revitalization Program: https://dia.jacksonville.gov/doing-business-with-us/doing-business-with-dia/commercial-incentives/commercial-revitalization-program-(crp)
- City of Jacksonville — “DIA Launches New Storefront Façade Grant Program”: https://www.jacksonville.gov/welcome/news/dia-launches-new-storefront-facade-grant-program-t
- OPPAGA Report 22-06 — Florida Economic Development Program Evaluations (November 2022): https://oppaga.fl.gov/Documents/Reports/22-06.pdf
- BDO — “Florida Credits and Incentives Major Programs Update – Tax Credits Repealed” (June 2023): https://www.bdo.com/insights/tax/florida-credits-and-incentives-major-programs-update-tax-credits-repealed
- Florida TaxWatch — QTI reauthorization report (September 2021): https://floridataxwatch.org/florida-taxwatch-releases-report-encouraging-reauthorization-of-qti-program/
- The Center Square — “Business leaders lobby lawmakers to restore Florida’s target industry tax refund” (January 2021): https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/business-leaders-lobby-lawmakers-to-restore-florida-s-target-industry-tax-refund/article_fc3ed76c-6263-11eb-bcd9-d3c8c1c21a5d.html
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