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WHAT THEY ARE SAYING… Florida Job Growth Grant Fund Recipients Highlight Initiative’s Impact on Economy

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Yesterday, Governor Rick Scott announced nearly $10 million in awards for six Florida Job Growth Grant Fund projects. The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, established by Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature last year, provides $85 million for improving public infrastructure and enhancing workforce training in Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has received more than 246 proposals requesting more than $866 million in funding. Yesterday’s announcement reflects a total of nearly $70 million in funding awarded to 27 communities across the state to promote infrastructure and job training since 2017.

Here’s what this round of grantees are saying:

Dr. Jim Richey, President of Eastern Florida State College said, “We’re very grateful to Gov. Scott for his efforts to provide the grant. It will play a significant role in helping us educate and train a new generation of high-tech workers for business and industry in Florida, and for companies launching a new era of human spaceflight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. We look forward to working closely with Daytona State College to ensure the initiative is a success.”

Bobby Steele, Chairman of the Baker County Board of Commissioners said, “We would like to thank the Governor and his team for their continued support of economic development throughout the state; and more specifically for their support of economic development here in Baker County. Woodstock Industrial Park is a premier development opportunity that will bring industry and investment to Baker County; creating opportunities for good jobs for our entire region. This investment in Baker County is a large step forward in advancing Baker County as a preferred location for new business.”

Joe Pickens, President of St. Johns River State College said, “St. Johns River State College appreciates the funding received from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund and is honored to be one of the recipients. The grant will support the establishment of a new Engineering-Advanced Manufacturing program that was designed in partnership with our regional businesses to help meet their demand for a trained and skilled workforce to support the production and automation needed in today’s advanced manufacturing environments. This initiative demonstrates our strategic commitment to build sustainable, high skilled/high wage opportunities for the citizens and businesses of Northeast Florida, further diversifying our local and state economy.”

Dr. Lawrence Barrett, President of Florida Gateway College said, “Florida Gateway College embraces Governor Scott’s support of economic development and job growth opportunities in the Lake City, Columbia County area. We look forward to working with our industry partners in pursuing this outstanding workforce initiative.”

Ken Doherty, Chairman of the Charlotte County Commission said, “Florida Job Growth Fund grants are awarded to a limited number of applicants. This grant shows that Gov. Scott and his team are believers in the economic potential of Charlotte County. We are proud of our strong working relationships with the state and sincerely appreciate being selected for a grant of this magnitude.”

Kevin E. Hyde, Interim President of Florida State College at Jacksonville said, “We are grateful for this grant and our partners who allow us to further our workforce development initiatives in these key areas of opportunity. Many thanks to Governor Scott, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Enterprise Florida for entrusting us with this award to build more students’ learning and employment opportunities and come closer to closing the talent gap in the manufacturing and logistics industries.”

For more information about the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, visitwww.FloridaJobs.org/JobGrowth.

Feds send $22.8 million to Florida public transit agencies impacted by last year’s hurricanes

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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today announced the allocation of $22.8 million to 15 public transit systems across Florida impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. The funding, sought by U.S Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), will help the agencies pay for hurricane response costs, including replacing and repairing damaged equipment and facilities and projects designed to reduce the risk of future storms.

“This is welcome news for a number of transit systems in Florida,” said Nelson.  “For months they’ve had to struggle to find ways to pay for damages caused by last year’s devastating hurricanes. Thankfully, they’re finally getting some relief.”

Congress approved $330 million for the FTA’s Emergency Relief Program in February. In addition to Florida, the FTA today also announced transit agency allocations of $223.5 million for Puerto Rico, $23.3 million for Texas, $6.7 million for the U.S. Virgin Islands and $187,000 for Georgia.

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Below are the Florida agencies receiving funding. Click here for the FTA’s funding announcement in today’s Federal Register. 

Brevard County
$153,000

Broward County
$857,000

Charlotte County
$57,000

Collier County
$226,000

Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority
$110,000

Jacksonville Transportation Authority
$734,000

City of Key West
$209,000

Lee County
$515,000 

Lynx/Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority
$432,000

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners
$70,000

Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works
$11,432,000

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
$80,000

Sarasota County
$111,000 

South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
$1,136,000

StarMetro (Tallahassee)
$41,000

Jacksonville Woman Turns $5 into $500,000 After Playing Gold Rush Scratch-off Game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Tenise Scott, 33, of Jacksonville, claimed a $500,000 top prize in the $500,000 GOLD RUSH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She purchased her winning ticket from Parental Food Mart, located at 1896 Parental Home Road in Jacksonville.

The $5 game, $500,000 GOLD RUSH, offers more than 7.5 million prizes ranging from 
$5 to $10,000 and 24 top prizes of $500,000. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-4.23.

Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

Nelson renews call for Zinke to provide details of plan to keep Florida “off the table” to new drilling

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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) renewed his call today for Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to explain exactly what he meant when he said that Florida would be “off the table” to new offshore oil drilling.

The move comes in response to comments made last week by a spokesman for Florida Gov. Rick Scott who said the governor “supports a 125-mile barrier around Florida,” a move that would allow oil rigs to drill 110 miles closer to Tampa Bay than they are currently allowed under federal law. Nelson says despite a Jan. 9 news conference where both Scott and Zinke announced that they had reached a deal to keep Florida “off the table” to new drilling, more recent comments made by both men suggest that “off the table” may not necessarily mean maintaining the current moratorium.

[Read more…] about Nelson renews call for Zinke to provide details of plan to keep Florida “off the table” to new drilling

Florida Companies Report Nearly $13 Million in Export Sales Following FIDAE Air Show in Chile

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The recent Enterprise Florida-led export sales mission to the FIDAE Air Show in Santiago, Chile produced more than $12.6 million in total export sales for the five small and mid-sized Florida businesses in attendance. All five of the companies that exhibited in the Florida Pavilion received Target Sector Trade Grants. The air show was held April 3-8.

“The FIDAE show was another great opportunity for Florida businesses to exhibit their innovative products and services to a global market,” said Manny Mencia, senior vice president of international trade and development for Enterprise Florida. “The aerospace sector continues to be a strong one for Florida companies and this show provided unmatched access to companies in the Latin American market.”

This year marked the 20th anniversary of FIDAE as the leading aerospace and defense trade show in Latin America. The show is a vital and growing international aerospace event that addresses the full scope of commercial, military and space interests. The 2016 edition hosted some 580 exhibitors from 46 nations whose products and services, including 132 aircraft on the flight line, attracted more than 120,000 professional visitors, including 600 delegations from 31 countries.

Florida is a premier aerospace location, and is a top state for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness. Nearly 500 Florida companies excel in the industry, in areas from aircraft parts and assembly, to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Florida also offers unmatched space launch assets and talent.

“Enterprise Florida supported our international growth strategy – the cornerstone of our firm’s future – by giving us a generous grant to attend FIDAE,” said Adrian Viller, director of international business development for PartsBase in Boca Raton. “Our participation at FIDAE has allowed us to solidify partnerships in South America and beyond, introduced us to new prospects in the hemisphere, and will deliver thousands of dollars in new recurring revenue over the next years. 

“This was the first time Delta International Inc. has officially visited Chile and the FIDAE show in Santiago,” said Tony de la Torre, sales manager with Delta International in Miami. “Overall, the show was a success and great experience with the quality and number of contacts we established. Chile and the surrounding countries of the region (Argentina, Peru) are new markets for us and this show was an important first step in establishing business connections. The grant provided by Enterprise Florida was the determining factor in the decision to attend this trade show.”

Tatiana Vazquez, director of military sales for Ocean Air Defense in Miramar also attended the show. “FIDAE was a very successful event,” said Vazquez. “We hope to continue to work with our new found contacts in hopes of solidifying a mutually beneficial relationship. Our main objective is to make a presence within the Latin American market and support end users directly.”

Enterprise Florida maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. Last year, merchandise trade valued at $147.7 billion flowed through Florida’s ports with Florida-origin exports reaching $55 billion. Florida exported more goods than 190 countries in 2017, making the state one of the world’s leaders in international trade. 

Mayor Spencer Deno IV Endorses Diaz

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Today, the Manny Diaz Campaign announced the endorsement of Virginia Gardens Mayor Spencer Deno IV. Diaz has represented District 103 in the Florida House of Representatives since 2012 and is seeking the District 36 seat in the state senate. Deno was elected Mayor of Virginia Gardens in 2003 and is the latest Miami-Dade mayor to join the growing list of elected officials endorsing Diaz.

[Read more…] about Mayor Spencer Deno IV Endorses Diaz

Lake City Woman is $1 Million Richer After Playing $10,000,000 World Class Cash Scratch-off Game

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The Florida Lottery announces that Thomacia Rowe, 40, of Lake City, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $748,000.00.

Rowe purchased her winning ticket from Fast Track Foods, located at 923 Southeast State Road 100 in Lake City. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.            

The $25 game, $10,000,000 WORLD CLASS CASH, features more than $549 million in total cash prizes, including two top prizes of $10 million and 46 prizes of $1 million! Overall odds of winning are one-in-2.89.

Scratch-Offs are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, generating more than $784 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in FY 2016-17, and comprising approximately 68 percent of ticket sales.

Gov. Scott: Nearly $10 Million in New Florida Job Growth Grant Fund Projects to Propel Florida’s Thriving Economy

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Today, Governor Rick Scott announced nearly $10 million in awards for six Florida Job Growth Grant Fund projects. The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, established by Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature last year, provides $85 million for improving public infrastructure and enhancing workforce training in Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has received more than 246 proposals requesting more than $866 million in funding. Today’s announcement reflects a total of nearly $70 million in funding awarded to 27 communities across the state to promote infrastructure and job training since 2017.

[Read more…] about Gov. Scott: Nearly $10 Million in New Florida Job Growth Grant Fund Projects to Propel Florida’s Thriving Economy

Rutherford, Members of Congress Send Letter to AG Sessions to Release Guidance on STOP School Violence Act Grants

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Today, Congressman John Rutherford (R-FL), as well as the original cosponsors of the STOP School Violence Act – Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Hal Rogers (R-KY), and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) – led a letter signed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking that the Department of Justice work quickly to release guidance for the school security grant programs funded by the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus bill that was passed in March.

“As a former sheriff and career law enforcement officer, I know firsthand the importance of taking a multilayer approach to ensuring the safety of our schools and our communities,” said Congressman Rutherford. “That is why I am proud to have introduced the STOP School Violence Act, which provides funding for training students, teachers, and law enforcement officers to identify signs of violence and know how to intervene before violence occurs in our schools while hardening the target to increase school security and facilitating coordination with local law enforcement and mental health professionals. 

“We now need the Department of Justice to act quickly to issue the necessary guidance for these grants and work with community partners so that our states, localities, and tribes know how to access these new resources available to them.  We must act quickly to prevent the horrific tragedies we have experienced in Parkland, Florida, and now again in Santa Fe, Texas. There is no time to waste. I want to thank the original cosponsors of the STOP School Violence Act, as well as Congressman Don Bacon, for their work to prevent these horrific tragedies from occurring in the future and keep our children safe in our schools.” 

The STOP School Violence Act, which was signed by President Donald Trump on March 23 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, authorizes funding for state and local schools to make evidence-based investments in the development and operation of FBI & DOJ school threat assessment teams to help schools to intake and triage threats before tragedy strikes; implement anonymous reporting systems for students in coordination with local law enforcement; administer training and technical assistance for students, school personnel and law enforcement to identify signs of violence and intervene early to prevent students from hurting themselves and others; facilitate coordination between schools, local law enforcement, and mental health professionals; and provide significant improvement in Physical plant security at schools. Upon sending the letter, Congressman Rutherford released the following statement:

The letter was sent today on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. In total, 49 Republicans and 15 Democrats signed onto the letter. To read a copy of it, click here.

DNC Announces Florida As Grant Recipient

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Today the Democratic National Committee announced the Florida Democratic Party as a recipient of a grant from the State Party Innovation Fund (SPIF), a first-of-its-kind, competitive grant program that incentivizes early organizing through state parties and supports efforts to engage local communities. The Florida Democratic Party will receive $100,000, which will be used to expand engagement efforts with Puerto Rican voters across the state in 2018 and beyond.

“Florida Democrats have been working tirelessly to organize in every community, and mobilize voters in every election,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez. “With this grant, we’re making sure that Florida Democrats have the tools they need to identify and connect with new Puerto Rican voters, and provide them with the support they need as they settle in the Sunshine State. By using innovative digital outreach efforts combined with grassroots organizing, we will be able to reach thousands of potential voters. The DNC is proud to partner with the Florida Democratic Party through this grant to expand our engagement in every single ZIP code.”

“The Florida Democratic Party is dedicated to investing in and growing our grassroots in every community. This SPIF grant shows that the DNC is committed to ensuring we in Florida have the resources necessary to reach out to key voters like new arrivals from Puerto Rico who have been ignored by Donald Trump and Rick Scott,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo. “We have a unique opportunity with this investment to share our message with thousands of potential voters. I want to thank Chair Perez and the DNC leadership for granting this SPIF award and making this goal possible.”

In addition to SPIF, through the DNC’s Every ZIP Code Counts program, state parties have consistently been receiving $10,000 a month since October 2017, which is a 33% increase over the base funding levels from 2016 and a 100% increase over 2015, and is based on state-specific strategic plans.