LARGEST (Realtor.com)
U.S. Urban
Park System
80,000 Acres COST OF LIVING
JACKSONVILLE AND NORTHEAST FLORIDA SPONSORED SECTION 17
Easy
Living
A wide variety of
entertainment and
lifestyle options appeal
to residents and visitors
alike. But the best part may
be finding “it’s easier here.”
River Taxi
y
When Grant Thornton opened its Jacksonville
office in 2016, it had no problem recruiting staff
from other offices of the accounting firm to relocate.
Julie Lamey, partner-in-charge of the office, says
workers were attracted to the warmer climate and
the natural beauty of the area.
“People were kind of surprised at how pretty it
was,” she says.
Not only experienced accountants, but young
graduating students also find the lifestyle appealing.
Jacksonville University attracts students from all 50
states and several foreign countries, says university
President Tim Cost, and 75% of them decide to
remain in the area after graduation.
Lamey says Grant Thornton workers like the
different “vibe” you can find in various neighborhoods
of Jacksonville, from the artsy culture
of districts near downtown like Five Points and
Riverside to the laid-back atmosphere of the beaches.
“You can pick the culture that you like,” Lamey says.
“Jacksonville’s a very easy place to live.”
The Brooklyn Riverside
Visit Jacksonville, the organization that promotes
tourism, says the same thing. It recently unveiled
a new slogan, “It’s Easier Here,” to describe why
people love to visit.
“Unlike other major Florida cities with their overcrowded
beaches, long lines and heinous traffic,
Jacksonville offers visitors an easier vacation;
one that’s still rich with art and culture, exciting
outdoor adventures and thrilling sporting events;
but at a slower, easier, more relaxed pace,” it says.
Katie Mitura, vice president for marketing and
communications with Visit Jacksonville, says
Florida tourists often overlook Northeast Florida
when they think about the big attractions in the
state.
“They don’t necessarily think of Jacksonville,”
she says.
But she says Jacksonville has a lot to offer vacationers.
“You don’t have to have a reservation to
walk into a top restaurant. And we just have beautiful
parks, amazing waterways.”
You
can
pick
the
culture
that
you
like.”
#2 NEW HOT SPOT
Where Americans are Moving
Below the National Average
and one of the most competitive
in the Southeast
Jacksonville
“You Vi
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