Capital Soup

Florida News Straight From the Source

You are here: Home / Archives for Contributor

Contributor

Commissioner Adam Putnam Recognizes Dr. Martha Rhodes Roberts as the 2017 Woman of the Year in Agriculture

Posted on

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today recognized Dr. Martha Rhodes Roberts as the 2017 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. Commissioner Putnam presented the award to Dr. Roberts at the annual Woman of the Year in Agriculture Luncheon held at the Florida State Fair.  Since 1985, the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award has recognized women in all areas of the industry who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture.

“Florida’s robust agriculture industry would not be as bright as it is today without the dedication and service of individuals such as Dr. Roberts,” said Commissioner Adam H. Putnam. “I’m honored to present Dr. Roberts with the 2017 Woman of the Year in Agriculture award.”

Dr. Roberts dedicated 35 years of service to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, beginning in 1968, where she championed policy changes for the advancement of Florida’s agriculture industry, trade and production practices. She was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture in 1984, and was the first woman in the United States to hold this position. Beginning in 2003, Dr. Roberts served 13 years as Director of Industry Relations and then as Special Assistant for Government Affairs for the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).

Throughout her career, Dr. Roberts served in leadership capacities for numerous organizations that aimed to shape and enhance the agriculture industry. Her contributions to Florida agriculture have been awarded by the FDA, USDA and industry associations, and in 2003, Dr. Roberts was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame.

The Woman of the Year in Agriculture award is sponsored by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida State Fair Authority. More information about the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award and past award winners can be found here.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

Lake Worth man wins top prize playing new FLORIDA 50X THE CASH Scratch-Off game

Posted on

The Florida Lottery announces that Henry Vasquez Perez, 46, of Lake Worth, claimed the second of eight $2 million top prizes in the new FLORIDA 50X THE CASH Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,600,000.00.

Vasquez Perez purchased his winning ticket from Supermercados El Bodegon, located at 4704 Forest Hill Boulevard in West Palm Beach. The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.

The $10 game, FLORIDA 50X THE CASH, launched on January 15, and features more than $162 million in cash prizes, including eight top prizes of $2 million! Overall odds of winning are one-in-3.46.

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.

Commissioner Adam Putnam to Attend 2018 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Posted on

MEDIA ADVISORY

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will attend the 2018 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Florida State Fair on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Men and women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture are inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame annually.

Event: 2018 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame induction ceremony

Attendees: Commissioner Adam H. Putnam

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 13

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Special Events Center
Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 U.S. 301
Tampa, FL 33610

Please enter the Florida State Fairgrounds at the Orient Road Security Gate, located at the intersection of Interstate 4 at Orient Road. Parking is behind the Special Events Center. For directions, click here.

For more information about the Florida State Fair, visit FloridaStateFair.com.

Attorney General Bondi Leads Bipartisan Coalition of All 56 US AGs Urging Congress to Help Protect Employees from Sexual Harassment

Posted on

Attorney General Pam Bondi and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein are leading a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from every U.S. state and territory urging Congress to end secret, forced arbitration in cases of workplace sexual harassment. Too often employees are required to sign employment contracts containing arbitration agreements mandating that sexual harassment claims be resolved through private arbitration instead of the judicial process. The secrecy surrounding these proceedings can protect serial violators and provide inadequate relief to victims.  

“Decades of private arbitration proceedings regarding sexual harassment have had the unintended consequence of protecting serial violators and it must end,” said Attorney General Bondi. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan coalition of all 56 U.S. attorneys general, along with General Stein, and look forward to the passage of strong federal legislation to help protect employees from workplace sexual harassment.”

The letter sent Monday to leaders in the United States House of Representative and the United States Senate asks Congress to pass appropriately-tailored legislation to ensure that sexual harassment victims have a right to their day in court.

“Congress today has both opportunity and cause to champion the rights of victims of sexual harassment in the workplace by enacting legislation to free them from the injustice of forced arbitration and secrecy when it comes to seeking redress from egregious misconduct condemned by all concerned Americans,” states the letter.

Attorneys general from the states, D.C. and five U.S. territories joined the letter: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  

It has been a decade since all 56 U.S. Attorneys General have joined a letter to Congress. A copy of the letter is available here. 

Gov. Scott: Next Horizon to Expand in Sanford and Create More Than 20 New Jobs at New Corporate Headquarters

Posted on

Governor Rick Scott today announced that Next Horizon will be expanding to a new corporate headquarters in Seminole County and will be creating more than 20 new jobs. The company will also invest $1.9 million in the local community. Next Horizon is a Sanford-based technology company specializing in IT managed services, application development and digital marketing solutions that currently employs more than 26 Floridians.

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Next Horizon will be expanding in Sanford and creating more than 20 new jobs in Seminole County. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and have led to the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs since 2011. Our focus remains on growing our economy by creating an environment where companies like Next Horizon can grow and hire more Floridians.”

The more than 20 new jobs will include positions for full time application developers, quality assurance professionals, and project managers, and will pay an average of 84 percent more than Seminole County’s annual average wage. Next Horizon will build the new facility adjacent to its current location in Sanford. Construction is scheduled to start December 2018 with completion slated for fourth quarter in 2019.

Next Horizon President and CIO Harry Ellis, III, said, “As our company grew, we had to consider all our options and decide how best to expand. The city of Sanford and Seminole County came together to meet our needs and create a business-friendly means for expansion. We have a wealth of resources here – educated professionals, creative designers, and a vibrant and engaged business community. We foresee an exciting and successful future right here in Sanford and this partnership has fueled our path to growth.”

The project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Orlando Economic Partnership, Seminole County Government and the city of Sanford. The Partnership assisted Next Horizon by validating the region’s labor market and business value proposition as well as providing connections to talent recruitment resources.

Peter Antonacci, CEO of Enterprise Florida, said, “Next Horizon’s expansion will bring new high wage jobs to Florida families. This represents a big win for Seminole County.”

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Congratulations to Next Horizon on the expansion of its corporate headquarters, another sign that Florida’s business friendly policies are having significant impacts on our economy. These high wage jobs in Seminole County will provide opportunities for hardworking Floridians in the technology industry.”

Seminole County Commission Chairman John Horan said, “Our Commission is pleased to support one of our existing businesses as they can continue to thrive in Seminole County. The high-tech sector is one of the fastest growing in our area, and the growth of Next Horizon demonstrates why it is important that government remain involved and supportive of economic development.”

Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett said, “Next Horizon has been a tremendous corporate citizen in the city of Sanford for many years. The company provides high wage, high value employment for the citizens of our community. We are very excited that during this time of growth, they have decided to expand operations in Sanford.”

Orlando Economic Partnership President and CEO Tim Giuliani said, “As Orlando’s economy continues to grow, we are seeing more companies choosing to stay in our market. In addition, our region is rich in tech talent and in Seminole County alone, there’s been a 23 percent growth rate in the number of software developers over the past four years. The key to Next Horizon’s growth has been the company’s ability to successfully find and attract highly skilled workers.”

Next Horizon Networking & Technology has been serving the Central Florida area for more than 25 years, Next Horizon makes sense of technology, digital marketing, custom development, and IT Managed Solutions. Next Horizon helps customers by focusing on reducing client costs, increasing productivity and decreasing downtime. Next Horizon’s staff of certified IT technicians, staff programmers, web design developers and graphic designers offer complete technology solutions to businesses, from supporting client IT departments, developing custom software, to driving conversions from Internet visitors through strategic, creative and measurable internet marketing campaigns. Next Horizon is led by President, Harry Ellis III, who in 2017 was named one of Orlando Business Journal’s CEOs of the Year.

Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.

The Orlando Economic Partnership (the Partnership) works to provide the Orlando region with quality jobs, economic growth, broad-based prosperity and a sustainable quality of life. It is a not-for-profit, public/private partnership representing Central Florida’s seven counties – Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia – as well as the City of Orlando. The Partnership was formed from the merger of the Central Florida Partnership and the Orlando Economic Development Commission. For more information, visit Orlando.org.

Sen. Bill Nelson statement on International Space Station

Posted on

Following is a statement from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee which oversees NASA, on the president’s budget proposal to end funding for the International Space Station by 2025:

“The administration’s budget for NASA is a nonstarter. If we’re ever going to get to Mars with humans on board and return them safely, then we need a larger funding increase for NASA. The proposal would also end support for the International Space Station in 2025 and make deep cuts to popular education and science programs. Turning off the lights and walking away from our sole outpost in space at a time when we’re pushing the frontiers of exploration makes no sense.”

CFO Jimmy Patronis Increases Investment in Israel to Unprecedented Amount

Posted on

Florida to Hold $50 Million in Israel Bonds in 2018

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced today an increase in Florida’s investment in Israel Bonds by $10 million in 2018, increasing the state’s holdings to an unprecedented $50 million. The decision comes after discussions with Israel’s Finance Minister, Moshe Kahlon, and representatives, including the president, from Israel Bonds. Florida is the third largest U.S. state investor in the State of Israel.

“During a time when our nation is criticized and attacked for moving our embassy to Jerusalem, it’s incredibly important to signal to the world that we stand firmly with the State of Israel,” said CFO Jimmy Patronis. “Israel’s economy has seen significant growth over the years including expanded development in the high-tech industry. Increasing our investment in Israel by $10 million this year not only provides a good return on investment, but strengthens our relationship. The interests of Israel will always be the interests of the United States, and this unprecedented investment further cements us as friends, allies, and economic partners.”

“With a commitment to innovation and cutting edge technology, the State of Israel’s economy is vibrant and growing,” said Moshe Kahlon, Finance Minister of Israel. “Investment in Israel Bonds is an investment in Israel. It tells to the world that Florida and Israel are not only friends, but have shared economic interests. I’m grateful for CFO Jimmy Patronis’ leadership and commitment to the relationship forged between our great nations.”

“Israel Bonds is thrilled to deepen our partnership with the State of Florida,” said Israel Maimon, President of Israel Bonds. “We are proud to work with CFO Jimmy Patronis to increase Florida’s investment. Investing in Israel Bonds supports Israel’s economy, helping to keep it strong and resilient.’’

The State of Florida, through the Department of Financial Services (DFS) Division of Treasury, currently holds $40 million in Israel Bonds.

UT Academic Leaders to Travel to Cuba to Build Educational Partnerships

Posted on

The University of Tampa has been selected as one of 10 schools in the U.S. by the Institute of International Education (IIE) to participate in the binannual Congreso Universidad Cuban International Education Conference.

As part of the program, David Stern, UT’s provost; Marca Bear, associate dean of international programs; Frank Ghannadian, dean of the Sykes College of Business; David Gudelunas, dean of the College of Arts and Letters; Jack Geller, dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education; and Paul Greenwood, dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, will travel to Havana Feb. 11–17.

“Engaging in academic and cultural exchange with institutions of higher education in Cuba deepens Tampa’s international heritage that is a unique part of our community’s history,” said Stern.

“This is a critical moment for academic cooperation between the United States and Cuba,” said Clare Overman, head of higher education initiatives at IIE. “We firmly believe in the opportunity to expand bi-lateral exchange. This delegation aims to foster and explore those opportunities for academic collaboration despite challenges.”

At the Congreso Universidad, U.S. representatives will meet with their Cuban counterparts, opening opportunities for future academic partnerships and student exchanges between the two nations. IIE’s International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) will lead the delegation.

Since current restrictions limit options for individual travel to Cuba from the United States, this trip represents a unique opportunity to foster educational exchanges and partnerships between the two countries. Moreover, Congreso Universidad will allow representatives of U.S. universities to connect with their counterparts in remote or difficult to access regions of Cuba.

The Cuban Ministry of Higher Eduation (MES) hosts the Congreso Universidad semi-annually, inviting delegations from Latin America and the world to meet with higher education officials from Cuba.

UT previously attended Congreso Universidad in 2015, which led to the University being named the first U.S. affiliate of the Center for Martí Studies in April 2016.

In May 2016, UT offered two travel courses to Cuba: Government and World Affairs 353: Cuba and the U.S., and Communication 224: Mass Media and Society. In October 2016, seven UT faculty presented research papers during the UNICA Conference, organized by the University of Ciego de Avila in Cuba.

For more information, contact Lisa Shemon, coordinator of international programs education and outreach, at [email protected] or (813) 258-7431.

New UNF Poll Shows Florida Governor Candidates Lack Name Recognition

Posted on

Respondents Show High Support for Restoring Felon Voting Rights

The Public Opinion Research Lab at the University of North Florida has a new poll that reveals an overwhelming lack of name recognition among Democratic candidates and Republican candidates running for Florida governor. The survey also shows that a majority of respondents support restoring the voting rights of individuals with felony convictions.

The poll, comprised of Florida registered voters, asked respondents to give their opinion on Andrew Gillum, Gwen Graham, Phillip Levine, Richard Corcoran, Ron DeSantis and Adam Putnam, all candidates running for Florida governor. Concerning the Democratic candidates, the percentage of respondents who had never heard of them ranges from 73 percent for Levine to 81 percent for Gillum. Graham had the highest favorability of the three Democratic candidates, with 11 percent viewing her favorably and 4 percent unfavorably, while 78 percent had never heard of her.

The Republican candidates didn’t fare any better as 67 percent had never heard of Putnam, 72 percent never heard of DeSantis and 78 percent never heard of Corcoran. Putnam received the highest favorability among Republicans, with 14 percent viewing him favorably and 7 percent unfavorably.

“It’s a little surprising that so few people have heard of the candidates, particularly Adam Putnam who has won two statewide races, and Gwen Graham, who is a former member of Congress and the daughter of former Gov. and Sen. Bob Graham,” said Dr. Michael Binder, faculty director of the Public Opinion Research Lab at UNF. “These results highlight both the opportunities for the candidates to shape the voters’ perception of them and the challenges they face in getting out their message.”

The poll also shows that respondents show high support for restoring felon voting rights. When asked whether they would vote yes or no on a proposition to restore the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions, 71 percent of registered voters claimed they would vote “yes” on the proposition, with 22 percent who would vote “no.”

“Amendment 4, the voting rights restoration measure, facing voters in the fall is so widely supported, even a majority of Republicans support it. What remains to be seen is whether or not an influx of money opposing this ballot measure will knock off enough support to prevent it from reaching the 60 percent necessary to pass,” Binder said.

When asked whether they support or oppose lifting the bans on offshore oil drilling, 55 percent of registered Florida voters polled either strongly or somewhat oppose, while 37 percent strongly or somewhat support lifting the bans. Regarding DACA, respondents were asked about their views on illegal/undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. A large majority, 82 percent, supported letting them stay in the U.S. to eventually apply for citizenship, while 5 percent stated they could stay but not apply for citizenship. Nine percent claimed they should be required to leave the U.S.

“Even though DACA and offshore oil drilling will likely get sorted out at the national level, Floridians have strong opinions on these issues—very supportive of a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and opposed to opening up offshore oil drilling—and these opinions could very well influence the upcoming senate and gubernatorial elections,” noted Binder.

Regarding some policies facing Florida’s legislature, 59 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat oppose allowing concealed weapons to be carried on university and college campuses, with 35 percent in support. When asked about removing Florida’s home rule, 47 percent strongly or somewhat oppose giving the state government additional power over local government decisions, while 30 percent support it either strongly or somewhat. A majority of respondents, 62 percent, strongly or somewhat support legalizing and regulating recreational marijuana, with 35 percent in opposition.

“This is the third time over the past year we’ve asked about concealed weapons on college campuses, and the results are remarkably consistent. Voters are opposed to changing the current restrictions, and it will be interesting to see if the legislature listens to their electorate,” Binder said. “There is also opposition, though not nearly as strong, in scaling back Florida’s home rule, something legislators may want to pay attention to before acting to fundamentally alter governance in Florida.”

When asked about the most important problem facing Florida today, the most popular response was education at 20 percent, followed closely by health care, 16 percent, and crime, 15 percent. Out of all respondents, 52 percent either strongly or somewhat approve of the way that the Florida legislature is handling its job, with 33 percent disapproving either strongly or somewhat.

For details about the methodology of the survey and additional crosstabs by partisanship, sex, education, race and age, click here.

Amscot Financial Launches 13th ‘Just a Dollar’ Campaign to Benefit Local Students and Schools

Posted on

Amscot Financial, a leading provider of convenient, consumer-oriented financial services, is asking customers to give $1 this month to support local public schools. It’s the 13th ‘Just a Dollar’ customer giving campaign to support local teachers and students through their local education foundation by providing targeted assistance beyond what public school budgets provide.

“We conduct this campaign because the generosity of our customers continues to make a tremendous difference in the lives of children in the community,” said Ian MacKechnie, founder and CEO of Amscot Financial. “Everyone sees the importance of investing in their local students and is eager to give back. It’s up to the community to help fill in the gaps where tax dollars and school budgets don’t fully meet the students’ needs.” Amscot Financial will match the first $10,000 in customer contributions and the company’s founder and his wife Jean are demonstrating their commitment to the effort by personally donating $50,000.

Now in its second decade, Amscot Financial’s ‘Just a Dollar’ campaign has cumulatively raised more than $1.2 million benefitting students throughout the company’s 20 county service territory. Classroom grants, extra support for struggling readers, teacher supply stores and student scholarships are all examples of how the funds have been used in past years.

This year’s campaign is coming at a time when more than 10,000 students displaced from Puerto Rico and other hurricane-damaged areas have enrolled in Florida schools. Many are arriving without the basic items they need to be successful in their new schools and local education foundations are stepping in the gap to provide school supplies, clothing and hygiene items so they can get back to the business of learning as quickly as possible.

“What our local educations especially appreciate about this support is that it can be invested in the areas where it’s needed most in each school district. The needs may be different in rural communities like Highlands and Hardee counties or in urban areas like Orange and Broward. Regardless, donors can rest assured that every dollar raised will remain in the communities where contributions are made and used to meet local student needs,” said Mary Chance, president of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, the statewide organization that distributes the funds raised by Amscot.

Founded in 1989, Amscot Financial employs more than 2,000 associates working at 237 retail branches and at the company’s corporate headquarters in Tampa. The company currently operates retail locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Marion, Citrus, Flagler, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.