From Chalk Dust To Startups: Annie R. Morgan School Snapped Up For Tech Hub
One of Jacksonville's oldest school buildings is getting a very 2026 makeover. MyVillage Project has purchased the shuttered Annie R. Morgan Elementary on the Westside and plans to turn the century-old campus into a tech incubator and workforce hub. The nonprofit says the former neighborhood school will host coding programs, startup offices, after-school robotics labs, video-game design suites and AI training for both students and adults.
The Duval County School Board agreed to sell Annie R. Morgan Elementary to Ronnie King’s MyVillage Project for $1.25 million, according to News4Jax. The district lists the building as Annie R. Morgan Elementary at 964 St Clair St, and it was closed last summer as part of a consolidation plan, with Duval County Public Schools showing the school’s address and recent enrollment history.
Planned Labs, Classes And Startup Space
MyVillage says the conversion will go beyond basic coding classes into dedicated robotics labs, video-game design suites and AI-training programs, as reported by the Jacksonville Business Journal. The nonprofit, founded and led by Ronnie King, who also runs Scratchwerk Tech, plans to offer office space for startups alongside after-school programs and adult workforce classes. Scratchwerk Tech describes the MyVillage Project as a community platform for tech training and investment.
Why The District Sold The Building
Enrollment at Annie R. Morgan had fallen to under 200 students in recent years, and district leaders decided to consolidate the Westside campus with nearby Biltmore Elementary as part of a broader strategy to close budget shortfalls. News4Jax also reports that City Council member Tyrona Clark-Murray has voiced support for the project, including a possible Community Benefits allocation to help with restoration, although any funding would still need council approval.
What Comes Next For The Westside
Leaders with MyVillage and its partners say they will now turn to planning renovations and lining up program partners, with an eye toward building an accessible pipeline to tech careers on the Westside, according to the Jacksonville Business Journal. City approvals and restoration funding are next on the to-do list, and neighborhood groups are expected to watch closely to see how the century-old building is preserved and repurposed for its new tech-focused role.
