W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc. is the first company to step forward as a founding signature storefront partner of Junior Achievement of North Florida’s Experiential Learning Center (ELC), a first-of-its-kind learning hub in Northeast Florida.
The center, expected to break ground later this year, will be located at Florida State College of Jacksonville’s downtown campus. It is projected to serve more than 30,000 students annually through its JA BizTown and JA Finance Park programs.
A longtime supporter whose involvement with Junior Achievement dates back to the nonprofit’s arrival in Jacksonville in the early 1960s, W.W. Gay is continuing its legacy of community engagement by lending both its support and its name to a JA BizTown storefront.
Just one of 36 companies that will be represented in the center, the W.W. Gay storefront will be a place where students can learn about the different job opportunities available in Jacksonville and interact on a real-life level by becoming business leaders, employees and consumers.
“W.W. Gay represents exactly the kind of company we hope students will discover through the Experiential Learning Center — a Jacksonville company with deep roots, strong values and real career opportunities for the next generation,” said Shannon Italia, president of Junior Achievement of North Florida. “The immersive, career-connecting learning that students will receive through the ELC programs will give them the skills and mindsets to pursue future opportunities and strengthen the talent pipeline in our region. We look forward to adding more of Jacksonville’s best companies to our list of partners for the ELC.”
As a signature storefront partner in JA BizTown, W.W. Gay has made a multi-year commitment to improving the lives of youth in the region by providing a place where they can build the skills and practical knowledge they need to thrive in a global economy. Students will first participate in JA’s classroom-based, state-aligned curriculum, followed by a day-long simulation at the center that bridges classroom learning with real-world application.
Companies that join Junior Achievement of North Florida as standard or signature storefront partners play a direct role in expanding economic opportunity for youth across the region, helping students build stronger financial capability, workforce readiness and career confidence. Through customized experiences in JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, students will engage with real career pathways represented by each storefront partner. W.W. Gay is the first company to commit as a storefront partner, with additional partners expected to be announced soon.
"W.W. Gay was built on the idea that strong communities create strong businesses,” said Paul Jones, CEO of W.W. Gay. “Partnering with Junior Achievement allows us to give back, help students explore career pathways, and uphold the values that have guided our company for more than 60 years."
W.W. Gay has been a steadfast supporter of Junior Achievement of North Florida since the nonprofit organization began operating in Jacksonville in 1963. Founder Bill Gay served on JA’s original Jacksonville board, and he and his wife, Eloise, were honored with the 2007 Thompson S. Baker “Solid as a Rock” Award. In 2017, Bill Gay was also recognized with the Junior Achievement of North Florida Lifetime Achievement Award.
Junior Achievement of North Florida is actively raising the $5 million needed to break ground on its new Experiential Learning Center, with construction expected to begin later this year. The overall fundraising goal for the project is $15 million, which will support the facility’s design, construction and initial operating costs.
The storefront agreements with companies represent the community’s commitment to improving the lives of students on the First Coast. Companies interested in becoming a storefront partner can contact Junior Achievement of North Florida President Shannon Italia at shannon@janfl.org.
