Northeast Florida Regional Council

Join Us for the Brownfields Coalition Grant Kickoff Webinar!

The Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) invites you to an informative and interactive webinar as we kick off the U.S. EPA Brownfields Coalition Grant application process.

In partnership with the Bunnell City Commission, this effort strengthens regional collaboration to spur redevelopment and revitalize communities across Northeast Florida.

October 14, 2025 | 10:30 a.m.

Virtual Webinar - Register Here: https://tinyurl.com/BrownfieldsNEFRC

Thank you to all our partners and stakeholders helping move this important initiative forward. Together, we’re paving the way for a cleaner, more resilient future.

The Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) continued its Military Installation Readiness Review (MIRR) engagement series with a two-day site visit and stakeholder workshop on September 23rd and 24th, 2025. We were thrilled to be joined by Jose Mauricio Castro, the grant manager from the Department of Defense, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC), the agency funding this project. The visit included a briefing with Captain Ryan Dexter, Commanding Officer, and representatives from Navy Region Southeast. This was followed by a regional stakeholder workshop convening partners from Clay County, the City of Jacksonville, utility providers, and state and federal agencies. The goal was to identify risks, vulnerabilities, and community-based resilience strategies to support the long-term mission assurance of NAS Jacksonville and the surrounding areas.

Visit our website to read the full summary: https://www.nefrc.org/news/mirr-naval-air-station-jacksonville-installation-visit-and-stakeholder-workshop

The Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) and Resilient First Coast (RFC) invite you to celebrate a major milestone in our region’s resilience journey, the launch of the Regional Resilience Action Plan (RRAP).

📅 October 27, 2025 | 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
📍 Jessie Ball duPont Building - 40 E. Adams St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

Developed through a collaborative effort of 80+ partners across multiple sectors, the RRAP provides a unified framework to help our region mitigate and adapt to climate and growth-related challenges together.

This event will feature highlights from the plan, key insights from regional leaders, and a look at how collective action can strengthen our communities for generations to come.

All are welcome to attend.

Limited hard copies available; all attendees will receive digital access to the RRAP.

RSVP today to reserve your seat! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/regional-resilience-action-plan-launch-tickets-1743684470189?aff=oddtdtcreator

Our Resilience Team in Action!

In a packed afternoon session this week, speakers highlighted how Florida’s Regional Planning Councils are pairing resilience planning with military readiness.

Christina Miskis, South Florida Regional Planning Council Principal Planner, shared her experience as the first region to complete a Military Installation Resiliency (Readiness) Report with funding from the Department of Defense. Cara Serra, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council Planning Director/Deputy Executive Director, shared how City of Tampa is building long-term partnerships with their military installation to pilot resiliency innovations. Hannah Quenga, Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape Resilience Specialist, and Buck MacLaughlin, Avon Park Air Force Range Operations Officer, highlighted how the Sentinel Landscape Partnership strengthened the Avon Park Air Force Range MIRR and resiliency initiatives. Fara Ilami, Northeast Florida Regional Council Regional Resiliency Manager, shared how Northeast Florida is building on success stories across the state to build resiliency in their region.

The Northeast Florida Military Installation Readiness Review is off to a successful start! On June 17, 2025, a significant collaboration took place as the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) partnered with Jacobs Solutions to host its first site tour and stakeholder workshop, focusing on the Marine Corps Support Facility (MCSF) at Blount Island and Naval Station (NS) Mayport. This event aimed to address the unique vulnerabilities, infrastructure needs, and resilience opportunities specific to military installations within the region.

The workshop brought together representatives from military installations, utility providers, regional planners, and community stakeholders. This collaborative effort aimed to identify vulnerabilities and regional challenges that impact both military operations and community infrastructure.

Click here to read more about the Tour & Workshop: https://www.nefrc.org/news/mirr-marine-corps-support-facility-blount-island-tour-naval-station-mayport-stakeholder

On May 29, 2025, in partnership with the Northeast Florida Regional Council, St. Johns County Emergency Management led a hurricane preparedness exercise to strengthen the county’s response to major storms. The training brought together more than 40 local, regional, and state agencies to simulate emergency operations during a powerful storm.

To read the full story click here: https://www.nefrc.org/news/st-johns-county-practices-hurricane-readiness-countywide-exercise

Emergency Preparedness | What if the 4th of July fireworks carried more than just sparkle?

On May 22, NEFRC, Department of Health - Flagler, and partners ran a full-scale emergency exercise simulating a bioterrorism threat during a major event. The team tested how quickly and effectively they could set up Points of Dispensing (PODs) to get life-saving medication to the public.

Planning | Coordination | Real-world practice| This is how we prepare to protect our community. Read the full article here: https://www.nefrc.org/news/protecting-public-emergency-flagler-doh-full-scale-pod-exercise

Yesterday, the Northeast Florida Regional Council in collaboration with Jacobs Solutions Inc. proudly hosted the kickoff for the Military Installation Readiness Review (MIRR) for the Northeast Florida Region, bringing together military leaders, local governments, utility providers, and regional partners. This collaborative effort marks an important step in supporting mission assurance for our local military installations while identifying shared challenges and opportunities across Northeast Florida. Thank you to all who participated and looking forward to the work ahead.

To stay updated on this project visit our website and/or subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g6tQUbUb

On October 29, 2024, ADAPT, part of Jacksonville Today, partnered with the City of Jacksonville’s Environmental Protection Board to host *Regional Resilience in Action*, a panel discussion on preparing Northeast Florida for climate change impacts. Moderated by Jessica Palombo, Editor of *Jacksonville Today*, the event featured local leaders, including Beth Payne of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, Jessica Beach of St. Augustine, and Anne Coglianese and Ashantae Green of Jacksonville, who shared updates on resilience efforts addressing flooding, heat, and storms. The panel highlighted regional collaboration, sustainability in governance, and citizen empowerment, emphasizing the critical role of partnerships in creating a resilient and sustainable future for the region.

To watch the panel:

ADAPT Regional Resiliance: Oct.29, 2024 https://jaxtoday.org/adapt/ADAPT: Regional Resilience in Action Join us for a panel discussion with local leaders working at the city and regional level each...

The Northeast Florida Regional Council invites you to the 21st Annual NEFRC Elected Officials and Regional Awards of Excellence Luncheon on Thursday, January 9, 2025. This event celebrates the outstanding contributions of our region's elected officials and recognizes initiatives that have positively impacted Northeast Florida in these categories:
1. Affordable Housing
2. Culture, Historic Preservation, or Adaptive Reuse
3. Economic Development and Tourism
4. Environmental Stewardship
5. Healthcare Emergency Preparedness
6. Planning and Growth Management
7. Public Safety
8. Resiliency
9. Transportation
10. Quality of Life

The event's highlight will be the presentation of the Regional Leadership Award, honoring an individual whose leadership has shaped and strengthened our region.
To register, please use the link below. For questions or to reserve a group table, please contact Tyler Nolen at [email protected] or call (904) 715-0423. Your participation will enhance this celebration of excellence and leadership in Northeast Florida. Save the date and join us on January 9, 2025, as we recognize the accomplishments of those who inspire positive change in our region.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM (following the NEFRC Board of Directors meeting)
Location: Studio A, WJCT Building - 100 Festival Park Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32202
Ticket Options: Free or $30 (For those that wish to pay)
Registration Link: https://nefrcawardsforexcellence.eventbrite.com