Revitalizing Jacksonville's Urban Commercial Corridors | FUSE Executive Fellowship

Jacksonville’s historic urban core neighborhoods are home to vibrant communities and rich civic history, and the city is making a bold commitment to ensure its commercial corridors reflect that strength. The City of Jacksonville and LIFT JAX will partner with FUSE to develop and launch place-based revitalization strategies for the urban commercial corridors linked by the emerging Emerald Trail, advancing the mayor’s priority of equitable neighborhood investment.

The partnership with LIFT JAX will build upon the experiences and successes that LIFT JAX has had working with the Eastside neighborhood. The objective of the partnership is to share and spread those successes and experiences throughout neighborhoods across Jacksonville. Over two years, the FUSE Executive Fellow will deliver corridor-specific strategic plans, strengthen cross-sector partnerships, and catalyze public, private, and philanthropic investment that supports existing businesses and residents, building lasting economic vitality without displacement.

October 26, 2026 – October 20, 2028

Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual salary of $95,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. This amount is not representative of market-rate salaries for the experienced professionals in our program but is intended as compensation for a year of public service.

FUSE is a national nonprofit dedicated to increasing the capacity of local governments to work more effectively for communities. We embed private sector executives in city and county agencies to lead projects that improve public services and accelerate systems change. Since 2012, FUSE has led over 400 projects in 58 governments across 26 states, impacting a total population equivalent to 1 in 10 Americans.

When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and community stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward high-priority local needs. Projects address today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities, including affordable housing, economic mobility, climate resilience, public safety, infrastructure, technology, and more.

FUSE conducts a full executive search for each individual project to ensure that the selected candidate has at least 15 years of professional experience, the required competencies for the role, and deep connections to the community being served.

Executive Fellows are embedded in government agencies working with senior leaders for at least one year of full-time work. Prospective responsibilities may include thorough data analytics and research, developing enhanced operations and financial models, building change management and strategic planning processes, and/or building broad coalitions to support project implementation efforts. Executive Fellows are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects.

They build strong relationships with a broad array of stakeholders, foster alignment within and across various layers of government, and build partnerships between governments and communities.

Throughout the fellowships, Executive Fellows receive training, coaching, and professional support to help achieve their project goals.

Jacksonville is a city of distinct and storied neighborhoods. Its urban core, encompassing communities such as Historic Eastside, Springfield, Avondale, Riverside, Brooklyn, San Marco, Durkeeville, LaVilla, and Five Points, represents the city’s original fabric, home to generations of residents and small business owners who have shaped Jacksonville’s culture and identity. Running through most of these…