A Vision For The Future
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A Vision For The Future •
Bringing the JA Experiential Learning Center to North Florida
REAL-WORLD LEARNING STARTS HERE
Igniting Economic Mobility for North Florida’s Students
Junior Achievement of North Florida is on a bold mission to transform how students learn about money, careers, and the economy.
This new facility will serve as a launchpad for students across Jacksonville and neighboring counties, equipping them with critical life skills in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness.
Our mission at JA is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.
With the Experiential Learning Center, we’re turning our mission into a powerful community resource, ensuring every young person in North Florida has access to real-world financial and career education.
THE VISION
Education Beyond the Classroom Walls
Imagine a place where learning doesn’t stop at textbooks. Where students run businesses, earn paychecks, and manage their spending. Where they can explore budgeting, investing, and planning for the future. This is the promise of the JA Experiential Learning Center - home to JA BizTown® JA Finance Park®, and JA Dream Accelerator.
Here, students will:
Discover career paths and economic systems
Learn how to manage money by doing it themselves
Build confidence and skills that will serve them for a lifetime
This is learning that sticks—because it’s learning that feels real.
Impact That Lasts a Lifetime
Interactive free-market simulation where students become business leaders, consumers, and employees
JA BizTown®
Immersive experience where students make financial decisions based on real-life scenarios, learning to budget, save, & make smart choices
JA Finance Park®
Interactive, responsive career exploration experience that inspires students to develop a path to a meaningful career
JA Dream Accelerator
BY THE NUMBERS
Transforming North Florida: The Annual Impact of the JA Experiential Learning Center
4,000+
volunteers
200+
companies
30,000
students
A Critical Investment in Our Future
WHY NOW
North Florida’s youth are facing unprecedented challenges in preparing for adult life. Today’s classrooms are stretched to meet every standard, yet many students graduate without knowing how to budget, save, or understand how the economy works.
This campaign is about changing the trajectory.
A level setting experience available to public, private, charter, and homeschool students
Impact that spans 6 counties – Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Putnam, and Baker.
Hands-on curriculum aligned with state financial literacy mandates and Career & Technical Education (CTE) initiatives
A community asset that creates a workforce pathway to the region’s top hiring needs
This is more than a building. It’s a movement toward empowerment, opportunity, and economic equity for the next generation.
Together, We Can Build a Brighter Future
BE PART OF THE VISION
With a capital campaign of $15 million, we’re calling on community leaders, philanthropists, and business partners to help us bring this center to life. Your contribution will directly impact tens of thousands of students each year, shaping a generation of confident, capable, and financially empowered young people.
Let’s invest in the future – together.
Winter 2025
Secure a Site
Summer 2025
Design & Engineering
Summer 2026
Construction
Fall 2027
Soft Opening
LEARN MORE
The Vision Starts Here
EXPLORE
Learn more about the vision
COFFEE & CONVERSATION
Reach out to Shannon to schedule an info session
DONATE
Help us achieve the vision