The Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership facilitates the creation and retention of quality jobs and significant capital investment, resulting in a higher standard of living and a better quality of life in Northeast Florida. Cornerstone works in partnership with the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, JEA, the regional county partners — Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns — WorkSource, JAXPORT, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and about 300 top private sector investor corporate entities in the Jacksonville area. 

History of Cornerstone
The Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce has a long and storied history in the area of economic development. In 1924 the Chamber launched the first national recruiting effort, taking business leaders by train to key cities in the Northeast and Midwest to tell businesses about Jacksonville. The group named itself “Believers in Jacksonville” and made aggressive and successful efforts in expanding business in the area.

The economic development function continued throughout the decades, and ”super funds” were raised on a number of occasions to provide a special account for efforts to market and recruit business, especially in the decades of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

The ”Committee of 100” was formed in 1961 and operated as a division of the Chamber to put special emphasis on the effort of recruitment. The Committee of 100 utilized these occasional super funds to do the work of the Chamber.

In 1990, following a major visioning process for the community, Cornerstone was conceived and organized as a method of providing a more formal relationship to fund and conduct economic development. Following a fundraising effort, it was formally established in 1991, with planned five-year commitment terms from investors, allowing for consistency in budgeting and staffing the economic development effort. This approach also allowed for the formalization of goals and a separate funding of economic development, while maintaining it as a division of the Chamber. Cornerstone is now in its fourth five-year program, having gained increasing support and commitment from the investors.

Cornerstone, as it was formalized, was envisioned as a regional economic development effort. In 1994 the regional effort began to take shape, as Clay County became the first formal partner outside of Duval County by pooling resources and working together to recruit business to the region. Shortly thereafter, Putnam and Baker counties joined the group, quickly followed by Nassau County. Several years later, St. Johns and Flagler Counties completed the inclusion of all the counties of the First Coast. A formula based on the distance from Jacksonville and population base determined the investment of the regional partner.

From a regional perspective, Cornerstone is a marketing, prospecting and international trade partnership. From a Jacksonville perspective, it also includes the expansion of existing business and the development of small business as key components of the economic development program. Each county handles its own existing and small business development independently, but in a coordinated fashion.

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