The City of Jacksonville has been selected as one of 32 cities worldwide to participate in the 2025-2028 European Union’s EU Cities Gateway North America Program. Jacksonville will take part specifically in the Affordable and Attainable Housing cluster – one of the program’s four thematic areas focused on addressing shared urban challenges.
The EU Cities Gateway Program connects European, U.S., and Canadian cities to co-develop solutions around affordable housing, environmental resilience and sustainability, digital innovation, and urban development. Activities include study visits, online collaboration, and co-created pilot projects that will be implemented during the three-year program.
“Jacksonville’s selection places us on a global stage as we continue our work to make housing more affordable for everyone,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “This partnership allows us to collaborate with leading cities across Europe and North America, learn from their strategies, and bring home innovative approaches that strengthen neighborhoods, ease the strain on family pocketbooks, and support Jacksonville’s fast population growth.”
Jacksonville’s International Partner Cities: As part of the Affordable and Attainable Housing cluster, Jacksonville will collaborate with six cities:
- Laval, Québec, Canada
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Tampere, Finland
- Barcelona, Spain
- Parma, Italy
Working together, these cities will exchange best practices, explore new housing models, and design a pilot project that will be developed and implemented during the program period.
Program Activities and Local Benefits: Over the next three years, Jacksonville will participate in:
- Study visits in Europe, the United States, and Canada
- Thematic workshops and webinars
- Online and in-person meetings within the housing cluster
- Joint development of a pilot initiative focused on attainable housing solutions
“This initiative aligns perfectly with Jacksonville’s commitment to expanding housing access and ensuring residents of all income levels can find a place to call home in Downtown and throughout the city,” said Colin Tarbert, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA), who will serve as the city’s primary program coordinator. “We look forward to learning from cities with deep experience in design innovation and affordable housing solutions.”
“Jacksonville’s inclusion in this prestigious program underscores our ongoing efforts to address housing affordability. It comes at a time when we are making real progress in Jacksonville with thousands of affordable homes being built and programs in place to keep people housed,” said City of Jacksonville Affordable Housing Director Joshua Hicks. “Collaboration with leading cities around the world will accelerate our momentum and bring the most effective, innovative housing solutions back home.”