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Gov. Scott Directs DEP to Expedite Additional Marine Debris Clean-Up in Monroe County Waterways

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Governor Rick Scott today announced that, at his direction, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), with assistance from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), has signed an agreement with Monroe County to assist in the clean-up and removal of marine debris caused by Hurricane Irma. Following the significant and widespread damage caused by Hurricane Irma, Monroe County expended its available funding resources for clean-up activities.

The state has now agreed to cover the costs of debris removal to ensure that this important marine debris clean-up work can begin immediately since the local government has used all available funding. The state will be reimbursed by the county once Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements are received.

Under the agreement, DEP will provide $6 million and immediately begin overseeing the cleanup of marine debris in impacted canals and nearshore waters in Monroe County. The county will provide local coordination for the clean-up effort and FDEM will assist the county in applying for reimbursements from FEMA.

Governor Scott said, “Since Hurricane Irma impacted our state, communities across Florida have been working tirelessly to clean-up and recover from this destructive storm. The Florida Keys undoubtedly experienced significant damage when the storm made landfall at Cudjoe Key. We’re doing everything we can to help Monroe County and the Florida Keys as they continue to recover from Irma and I am proud to direct DEP to enter this agreement and immediately get to work removing debris. In Florida, we know that our pristine environment is a big part of what drives our booming tourism industry and this is especially true for the Florida Keys.”

DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein said, “The Florida Department of Environment Protection’s top priority is protecting our state’s world-renowned natural and water resources. We are honored to partner with Monroe County to help with this unprecedented and complex clean up.”

FDEM Director Wes Maul said, “I am proud that we were able to help Monroe County enter into this agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection. Thanks to Governor Scott’s leadership and support, working directly with DEP will be the best and fastest way to clear the debris remaining in these waterways following Hurricane Irma’s devastating impact. FDEM staff will continue working hand-in-hand with our state and local partners to ensure not only that impacted communities recover successfully, but that every available federal reimbursement dollar is delivered as quickly as possible.”

UCF Hydrogen Fuel Expert Selected for International Award

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A UCF Florida Solar Energy Center scientist with 40 years of experience in research and innovation in the field of hydrogen energy has been selected to receive an international award named after the visionary futuristic writer Jules Verne.  [Read more…] about UCF Hydrogen Fuel Expert Selected for International Award

Florida Companies Record $122 Million in Sales at MEDICA Trade Fair

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The 23 small and mid-sized businesses that exhibited in last year’s MEDICA Trade Fair reported more than $122 million in total projected export sales. Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) hosted the Florida Pavilion, the largest of any state in attendance. MEDICA was held November 13-16 in Düsseldorf, Germany and is the world’s largest trade event for the medical/health industry.

“MEDICA was once again a highly successful show for Florida and the companies that exhibited in Florida’s pavilion,” said Manny Mencia, EFI’s senior vice president of international trade & development. “I congratulate those companies and thank them for helping us tell the Florida business story. Because of the success Florida companies consistently have at MEDICA, the state is recognized around the world as a leader in the medical/health care industry.”

2017 marked MEDICA’s 34th year. Over the four days of the trade fair, approximately 130,000 trade visitors from 70 countries attended, and more than 5,000 exhibitors displayed a broad spectrum of innovations and products.

In addition to the 23 companies that exhibited in the two-story Florida Pavilion, 25 other Florida businesses attended the show. Florida Pavilion exhibitors were:

David Kerr, Orthomerica chairman and CEO, said, “We were first introduced to MEDICA years ago by EFI. We continue to attend and certainly have added scores of jobs as a result. Attending MEDICA enables me to meet with many existing distributors, saving me a considerable number of visits to their cities. We make good use of the Florida Pavilion and the Enterprise Florida staff serves us well logistically. I say every year that Enterprise Florida is a great use of my tax dollars!”

“MEDICA 2017 exceeded our expectations with the help of Enterprise Florida’s team both on and off-site,” said Oz Ozkaya, president of Infinium Medical in Largo. “This exhibition has been a huge success.  We displayed our products in more a professionally designed, larger booth space and therefore allowed more customers to visit our company. Due to expected sales increases and other strategic connections that were made during the exhibition, we anticipate growth and the addition of more Florida jobs in 2018. Thank you Enterprise Florida! We will be back next year!”

Enterprise Florida conducted nearly 60 meetings with global leaders in the medical device manufacturing industry during the show. EFI co-sponsored the U.S. Pavilion reception, giving Florida companies an informal opportunity to meet with U.S. and international companies attending the trade event.

EFI maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. In fiscal year 2016-17, more than 500 small and mid-sized Florida businesses reported $738 million in total export sales following international events.

Gov. Scott and Florida Cabinet “Flip the Switch” to Open Florida State Fair

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The Governor and Florida Cabinet (l-r) Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, CFO Jimmy Patronis, Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi stand with Florida State Fair Board Chairman Doyle Carlton III and military and first responders to “flip the switch” for the 114th Florida State Fair.

Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet – Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Pam Bondi – today kicked off the Florida State Fair with the annual “flip the switch” ceremony, turning on the lights to the nation’s largest traveling Ferris wheel.

The Florida State Fair is a 12-day salute to the state’s best in agriculture, entertainment and food. Opening day of the Florida State Fair is “Salute to Heroes” day, and it continues the longstanding tradition of welcoming active duty military, veterans and first responders free of charge in recognition of their service to Florida and the nation.

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

Florida Solar Workforce Grows Following Bipartisan Leadership

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Vote Solar urges continued Florida support
for solar as Washington withdraws support

The Solar Foundation today released its annual National Solar Jobs Census, showing Florida’s solar industry employs 8,589 workers, climbing four percent more than 2016. Solar advocates and industry called on state lawmakers to continue support for policies that create local jobs and grow Florida’s clean energy economy.

“Florida solar jobs continue to outpace the economy thanks to a number of factors, including improved solar policy through property tax relief, strong net metering for investor-owned utilities and leveraged buying power through the recent surge of solar cooperatives,” said Patrick Altier, President of Florida Solar Energy Industries Association. “Most importantly, the uptick in consumer awareness on the benefits of solar, both financially and environmentally, have driven the sunshine state’s clean energy economy.”

“The solar industry is a bright spot in Florida’s economy, creating thousands of local jobs across the state,” said Scott Thomasson, Southeast Director at Vote Solar. “Time and again, policymakers, on both sides of the aisle, deliver when Florida voters overwhelmingly support solar progress. State legislators showed that again this week, voting to move forward Senator René Garcia’s bill to invest in solar and battery storage solutions that keep communities up and running during national disasters.”

When Hurricane Irma shut the power grid down for days, many Florida families were able to keep their lights on and their refrigerators cold using solar panels paired with new battery technology. This year, Florida House Bill 1133 and Senate Bill 1888 would establish a pioneering new pilot program that will expand the use of solar and battery storage and build a more resilient energy grid.

Florida’s solar job growth is in contrast with national trends, which decreased year over year largely due to policy uncertainty at the federal level. The national Solar Energy Industries Association estimates that President Trump’s solar tariffs will cost the economy another 23,000 jobs in the coming years.

League of Women Voters Florida, coalition partners highlight worst of the worst proposed amendments before the CRC

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The League of Women Voters Florida (LWVFL) today joined with allied organizations in Tallahassee to alert Floridians to a host of bad ideas that could be on the ballot when they go to the polls this fall.
“There are a handful of good proposals still alive before the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), but they are overshadowed by numerous proposals seeking to strip away constitutional protections,” said Pamela Goodman, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida. “As commissioners travel the state for a second round of public hearings, Floridians need to make their voices heard in opposition to these harmful proposals.”
The CRC is convened once every 20 years to conduct a thorough review and propose amendments to the Florida Constitution. The amendments that the commission approves will go directly on the ballot next November for voters to decide.
“The League of Women Voters has not submitted or endorsed any proposals. We’ve joined with a broad coalition of organizations working to promote transparency and hold the commission accountable to the citizens of Florida,” Goodman explained. “The commission’s failure to adopt rules in a timely manner and a continuing tendency to ignore their own rules of procedure are a serious concern. But even more concerning at this point is a very clear agenda unfolding for the CRC that mirrors the legislature.”
Flanked by representatives of coalition partner organizations including American Civil Liberties Union Florida, Anti-Defamation League, Common Cause Florida, Florida Policy Institute, Florida Education Association, SEIU Florida, Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, Progress Florida, Florida NOW, For Our Future, Florida PTA, Florida AFL-CIO, Sierra Club, Southern Poverty Law Center, Florida Public Defender Association, Equality Florida and Florida First Amendment Foundation during a press conference on the capitol steps, Goodman questioned whether the appointed commission was acting independently or under the control of their appointing authorities.
“With so many bills mirroring CRC proposals moving through the legislature, it begs the question of who is really in control,” Goodman said.
Coalition partners highlighted what they consider to be the “worst of the worst” proposals under consideration by the CRC. Most of the measures making the “Terrible Ten” list have the common goal of restricting or eliminating protections currently provided by the Florida Constitution.
“We are calling upon the members of the CRC to use the public tour that launched yesterday to really listen and act on what Floridians want in their constitution,” Goodman urged. “If they don’t, Florida voters will have no trouble saying NO in November.”

FWC approves guidelines for conserving 8 imperiled species

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Tricolored Heron. (FWC photo)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today approved Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines for eight state-threatened species that are among the 57 species in the agency’s Imperiled Species Management Plan.

Each of the eight species – Barbour’s map turtle, Big Cypress fox squirrel, Black Creek crayfish, blackmouth shiner, Florida burrowing owl, Florida pine snake, saltmarsh topminnow and Santa Fe crayfish — now has its own Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines.

The species guidelines are designed to be a tool for landowners, consultants, agency partners and other interested parties on how to conserve these eight imperiled species.

“Landowners will have predictability, can avoid pitfalls and can avoid the taking of wildlife,” said Chairman Bo Rivard. “These guidelines will really help.”

The guidelines offer options for avoidance, minimization and mitigation of take of the species. They provide species-specific information on key issues relevant to real-world conservation, including:

  • Essential behavioral patterns,
  • Survey methods,
  • Recommended conservation practices,
  • Exemptions or authorizations for take,
  • Coordination with other regulatory programs, and
  • Permitting options for achieving conservation or scientific benefit.

During 2017, the FWC reached out to stakeholders on multiple occasions, through meetings, workshops and webinars, to discuss and get input on the development of the species guidelines.

“Our goal is to keep all of these species around for current and future generations,” said Brad Gruver, who leads the FWC’s Species Conservation Planning Section. “These guidelines will greatly benefit our efforts in doing so.”

For an overview of how Florida conserves imperiled species, go to MyFWC.com/Imperiled.

Gov. Scott Announces New Partnership to Connect Families Displaced by Hurricane Maria with Jobs in Florida

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Following a recently announced $1 million investment in Florida’s workforce system to help Puerto Rican families find jobs, today, Governor Rick Scott announced a new job placement partnership between education, business and workforce development organizations. CareerSource South Florida, the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida and the Ana G. Méndez University System will work together to connect families relocating from Puerto Rico with available job positions and provide needed job training. Today’s announcement took place on the South Florida campus of the Ana G. Méndez University System, which has provided scholarships for more than 50 Puerto Rican students to continue their studies in Florida.

Governor Scott said, “This week, I visited Puerto Rico and assured everyone there that Florida will continue to help those displaced by Hurricane Maria in any way that we can. A large part of any family’s success is the ability to find a good job. That is why I recently announced a $1 million investment into Florida’s workforce system to help connect those displaced by Hurricane Maria with job opportunities in Florida. Our state currently has more than 260,000 job opportunities because of our focus on the economy, and this new partnership will make sure that every family has the ability to support themselves and get back on their feet.”

DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “As Floridians, we understand the importance of returning to work after a natural disaster. DEO is proud to work with local CareerSource Florida workforce boards across the state to connect dislocated job seekers with job opportunities. We will continue to use these grants and all other resources we have available to help families impacted by Hurricane Maria return to work.”

President of Ana G. Mendez University Jose F. Mendéz Mendéz said, “The Ana G. Mendéz University System feels honored to be part of this collaborative alliance. I appreciate Governor Scott’s efforts and those of all who make it possible to fulfill his public policy of helping our people on the Island; particularly, for all the initiatives created for the thousands of families who have decided to turn Florida into their new home. Our learning centers in Florida, through our Dual Language Immersion Program, are the ideal place for the Hispanic community to acquire the necessary skills for the challenges that professionals face in today’s business world.”

CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard said, “The CareerSource Florida network shares the commitment of our business and education partners to help families impacted by Hurricane Maria rebuild their lives. We are grateful to Governor Scott for his leadership in providing all available resources to assist our neighbors, and we are excited to be part of this new initiative.”

CareerSource South Florida Executive Director Rick Beasley said, “My team looks forward to working closely with the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida to ensure the business community knows the wide range of skills job seekers who have relocated due to Hurricane Maria bring to our workforce. CareerSource South Florida also stands ready to assist Ana G. Mendez University students with finding job opportunities upon graduation.”

President of the South Florida Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Dynamic Community Development Corporation Luis De Rosa said, “Governor Scott has been a champion for the people of Puerto Rico as they recover from Hurricane Maria, and the South Florida business community is working tirelessly to assist in these efforts. Joining forces with CareerSource South Florida and Ana G. Méndez University will extend our reach and our ability to help these families.”

CareerSource South Florida and CareerSource Central Florida are continuing to provide employment services at Multi-Agency Resource Centers in the Orlando area and Miami International Airport to Puerto Rican families displaced by Hurricane Maria. Several local workforce development boards have held recruiting fairs and workshops to assist Floridians and others impacted by last year’s hurricanes. For additional information about employment opportunities, please visit employflorida.com, available in English and Spanish.

Sen. Bill Nelson on disaster aid in Senate budget deal

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The just-announced Senate budget deal includes roughly $90 billion in disaster assistance to help places like Florida and Puerto Rico recover from last year’s storms. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) has been calling on Senate leaders to pass a disaster assistance package for months now. Below is a list of the projects that Nelson had urged Senate leaders to include in the bill.

Here’s a comment from Nelson:

“The people of Florida and Puerto Rico are still struggling to recover from last year’s devastating storms and the disaster funding in this bill will help provide them some much-needed relief.” Nelson said. “The disaster funding in this bill will not only help provide Florida’s schools and citrus growers the help they need, it will also help Puerto Rico rebuild its power grid and avoid an even greater healthcare crisis. ”

And here’s a list of projects Nelson pushed to have included in the bill:

  • $2.36 billion to provide disaster assistance for Florida citrus growers and other farmers. Florida’s citrus industry sustained more than $760 million in losses due to the storm. USDA estimates Florida’s citrus industry will harvest only 46 million boxes of citrus this year, less than 25 percent of the nearly 204 million boxes harvested in Florida ten years ago.
  • $2.7 billion for schools impacted by recent disasters, including schools in Florida.More than 12,000 students, who evacuated from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of the storms, have now enrolled in schools around Florida. The sudden influx of new students is putting a strain on some Florida schools as they struggle to accommodate the additional students with limited budgets and resources.
  • $15 billion for Army Corps mitigation and resiliency projects, including the Herbert Hoover Dike. Herbert Hoover Dike protects thousands of Floridians who live around Lake Okeechobee from the threat of catastrophic flooding. The Army Corps of Engineers says it needs approximately $200 million per year, for the next four years, to finish work on the dike by 2022.
  • Closing the Medicare Part D “donut hole” for seniors in 2019. Under the ACA, the Medicare “donut hole” is expected to close by 2020. Closing this gap in coverage by 2019, instead of 2020, and shifting more of the cost to drug makers, instead of Medicare, will lower the cost of prescription drugs for Florida seniors and save taxpayers approximately $9 billion over ten years and help offset some of the additional spending being proposed in a budget deal the Senate is expected to take up later this week.
  • $2 billion directed to help Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands rebuild and improve their electric grids. Four months after Hurricane Maria, nearly 1/3 of the island remains without power.
  • $4.9 billion in Medicaid funds for Puerto Rico and USVI. According to the government of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program costs approximately $1.6 billion per year to operate. $4.9 billion would fully fund Puerto Rico Medicaid’s program for at least two years.
  • Decreasing Puerto Rico’s Medicaid cost-share requirement for 2 years. The federal government matches only 55% of the cost for Puerto Rico to operate its Medicaid program. By temporarily decreasing this cost-share requirement, the federal government would be allowed to pay a greater share of the cost of Puerto Rico’s Medicaid program while it works to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

FWC extends the permit spawning season closure inside Special Permit Zone

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At its February meeting in Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a measure to extend the spawning season closure for permit inside the Special Permit Zone in south Florida.

The change, effective April 1, 2018, will add April to the existing May-through-July season closure for the harvest of permit inside the Special Permit Zone, which includes all state and federal waters south of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast, and south of Cape Florida on the Atlantic coast including all of the Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay.

Recent research confirms spawning-size permit are visiting known south Florida multi-species aggregation sites from April through July.

For more information or to view the presentations given at the Commission meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings” then click on the link below “Next Meeting.”

For information on permit, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Permit, Florida pompano, African pompano.”