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Gov. Scott: $85 Million Florida Job Growth Fund Will Invest in New Jobs and Competitive Communities

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EFI and DEO Now Accepting Economic Development Project Proposals

Governor Rick Scott today announced Enterprise Florida and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) are accepting economic development project proposals for the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. Economic development projects that enhance community infrastructure or develop workforce training programs are eligible to receive funding. To find out more information about the grant fund, or download project proposal templates, click HERE.
Governor Scott said, “With more than 1.37 million jobs created across our state since December 2010 and the lowest unemployment rate in nearly 10 years, it is clear that Florida’s economy has experienced incredible growth. However, we are competing against other states and countries for new jobs, and we must aggressively fight to make Florida the best destination for business. That is why I worked with the Legislature to establish the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Fund, which will invest in infrastructure and workforce training needs across the state- two major factors that job creators consider when choosing an ideal location. I am proud to announce that DEO and EFI are now accepting proposals for the fund and I encourage Florida communities to apply today.”
Governor Scott worked with the Legislature to establish the new $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund during the recent special session. This flexible, transparent economic development program is the first of its kind and will be used to promote public infrastructure and individual job training, which will encourage more businesses to choose Florida as a destination for business. DEO will work with Enterprise Florida, the state’s premier economic development agency, and other state and local partners to identify projects that may be considered for funding.
Senate President Joe Negron said, “I am pleased to see the application process launch so quickly. Key investments in infrastructure and job training provided through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will help keep Florida businesses and employees on the cutting edge of their industries. With new transparency measures, the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund strikes the right balance between accountability to the taxpayers who fund our government and the flexibility needed to remain nationally competitive in our economic development efforts. My colleagues and I appreciate Governor Scott’s leadership in this important endeavor.”
House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “This fund will free up the Governor to cut through unnecessary bureaucracy, regulation, and red tape to improve infrastructure and education leading to greater job growth and opportunity for all Floridians.”
Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of DEO, said, “Communities across Florida have so many opportunities for economic development and job growth. The Florida Job Growth Fund allows DEO to provide needed flexible funding to enhance infrastructure and develop a strong workforce across the state.”
Mike Grissom, interim President & CEO of Enterprise Florida, said, “Florida is already a top business destination. The new Florida Job Growth Grant Fund provides another valuable tool to Florida communities as they compete on a global stage for economic development projects that transform communities and invest into our state.”

Gag grouper fall season approved in Gulf 4-county region

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At its July meeting in Orlando, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved lengthening the Gulf of Mexico gag grouper recreational season in state waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties by opening the season Sept. 1 through Dec. 31. The Commission also approved changing the gag grouper commercial minimum size limit in Gulf state waters from 22 to 24 inches. This size limit change is consistent with pending federal regulations.
For the gag grouper recreational season, state waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties are currently open from April 1 through June 30. The FWC received stakeholder requests for a longer season that would make fishing opportunities in the four-county area more comparable with the rest of the Gulf, where there is a seven-month season that runs June 1 through Dec. 31.
“The regional management of this species has been a success story. Anglers have been able to fish for this species during more desired times of the year while still promoting conservation,” said Chairman Brian Yablonski. “We are excited that we can offer these additional fishing opportunities to Florida’s anglers.”
The current April 1 through June 30 season will remain in place and the fall season from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 will be in place in time for anglers to participate this year.
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.”

Avis Budget Agrees to Change Billing Practices for Cashless Tolls

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The Florida Attorney General’s Office obtained a court enforceable settlement agreement with Avis Budget Car Rental System, LLC which owns the Avis, Budget and Payless car rental companies. The settlement agreement resolves an investigation by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office regarding Avis, Budget and Payless’ practices involving add-on fees for cashless tolls in Florida and other related add-on charges.
Attorney General Bondi’s Office investigated allegations that Avis, Budget and Payless did not sufficiently disclose to consumers that they would be charged a daily fee for the companies’ e-Toll service, in addition to the cost the customer incurs for a toll on a cashless toll road. The rental companies imposed this charge for each day of the rental, even on days the customer did not use a cashless toll road. Unaware of the e-Toll fee or how to avoid it, many consumers received bills from Avis, Budget or Payless four to six weeks after concluding their rental, advising of the additional charges owed.  
The settlement agreement requires Avis, Budget and Payless to clearly and conspicuously disclose its $3.95 per day charge to consumers who rent an Avis, Budget or Payless car.  The companies must clearly disclose on their websites, in their online reservation paths, in their confirmation emails and at the rental counter the existence of the $3.95 per day charge as well as how consumers can avoid this charge.  
The companies must also train employees to ensure they are not telling consumers that the only way to pay for tolls in Florida is through their e-Toll system, or telling consumers that all toll roads in Florida are cashless. Additionally, the companies are required to provide consumers with truthful information about damage waiver products.  The rental car companies must clearly and conspicuously disclose the cost of any damage waiver product and cannot impose a damage waiver fee when the consumer has declined coverage. The companies also may not charge consumers for a higher car class when the car class reserved by a consumer is unavailable, and the per day cost of any car class upgrade must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed.
Since the Attorney General’s Office commenced its investigation, Avis, Budget and Payless have provided more than $1 million in refunds to consumers. The settlement further requires the three companies to provide refunds to any consumers charged for e-Toll without sufficient disclosures who have not already been reimbursed and who file a claim for a refund. The consumers must have been wrongfully charged for e-Toll by Avis, Budget or Payless during the period Jan. 1, 2010 through July 10, 2017, and all claims must be filed by Jan. 7, 2018. To file a claim, please click here.  
To view the settlement agreement, click here.

FWRI director receives Capt. Phil Chapman Conservation Award

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The Florida Guides Association honored Gil McRae, the director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, with the Capt. Phil Chapman Conservation Award at the Commission meeting in Orlando on July 11.
The award is presented to those who display a passionate commitment to the conservation of Florida’s marine fisheries.
For 15 years McRae has lead FWRI, which provides the scientific foundation for the management of Florida’s fish and wildlife resources. He oversees more than 30 FWRI offices across the state, which encompass programs such as the impacts of red tides, freshwater flows and levels, the research that guides the conservation and management actions for many of Florida’s important and unique species, as well as data collection for all of Florida’s saltwater commercial and recreational fisheries.
“We truly appreciate Gil’s expertise and leadership. Our scientists and researchers are the guiding force behind what we do,” said FWC Chairman Brian Yablonski.
McRae received a Bachelor of Science degree in aquatic ecology from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science degree in fisheries science with a minor in statistics from the University of Minnesota. He has worked for the FWC since 1995 and has been the director of FWRI since 2002. 
“I know I speak for many when I say it has been a privilege to have Gil at the top tier of FWC’s leadership. Gil’s dedication to his profession, his work ethic and his stellar career with FWRI make him an example to be followed, and personifies the essence of the Capt. Phil Chapman Award,” said Capt. Pat Kelley, Florida Guides Association president.

Governor Scott Signs Legislation to Combat Opioid Abuse

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Governor Rick Scott today hosted a ceremonial bill signing at the Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center for HB 477, which creates new penalties and enhances existing penalties relating to synthetic opioid drugs, including fentanyl. This bill, along with the Public Health Emergency Governor Scott directed in May, will help communities fight the national opioid epidemic and keep Florida families and visitors safe. Governor Scott was joined by Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight, Congressman Vern Buchanan, and local law enforcement officers.
Governor Scott said, “I was proud to stand beside some of our hardworking Florida law enforcement officers to ceremonially sign this important legislation today. Our law enforcement officers are at the frontline of our fight against the national opioid epidemic and are often the first to respond to vulnerable families impacted by substance abuse. We will continue to do all we can to ensure our law enforcement officers have the tools they need to keep our state safe for Floridians and visitors.”
Congressman Vern Buchanan said, “I was pleased to join Governor Scott today for the ceremonial signing of this important legislation. Our communities are coming together to combat the opioid crisis and it is important that our federal and state partners continue to work side by side on this issue. I look forward to continuing to work with the Governor to keep families in Manatee County, Sarasota County and all across Florida safe.”
Governor Scott also highlighted the more than $27 million in federal grant funding that was made immediately available through the Public Health Emergency declaration. As part of this federal funding, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) allocated $375,000 to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for Naloxone so first responders have immediate access to this lifesaving drug to respond to opioid overdoses. DCF and FDLE are working together to ensure local law enforcement agencies have access to this opportunity to obtain Naloxone for Florida’s law enforcement officers. DCF is also working to ensure recently purchased Naloxone is distributed to drug treatment providers, health centers, and other community agencies.
Sheriff Tom Knight said, “This bill gives our agency more resources to combat opioid abuse and keep vulnerable Floridians safe from harm. We appreciate the support of Governor Scott and our state leaders as we continue to work together fight the national opioid epidemic.”
FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “We are happy to work with DCF to ensure our local law enforcement partners receive additional resources to help combat the opioid epidemic.”
DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said, “We appreciate the support of Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature to help fight the national opioid epidemic in Florida. DCF remains steadfastly committed to making sure quality treatment is available to all those struggling with addiction.”

FWC Officer Philip Stone Receives Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Award

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Lake Worth resident Philip Stone, a law enforcement officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has received the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Award for Marine Conservation.
Officer Stone was honored for his dedication, particularly to the protection of sea turtles, at the FWC Commission meeting in Orlando. Fish & Wildlife Foundation CEO Andrew Walker made the presentation on behalf of the Guy Harvey organization.
“Well before joining FWC as a marine law enforcement officer in 2009, Officer Stone was active as a volunteer in sea turtle conservation in the Palm Beach area,” Walker said. “His desire to do even more to conserve Florida’s marine life and fisheries was a chief motivation in joining the FWC.”
As an FWC officer, Stone has worked with local law enforcement agencies to minimize impact to nesting and hatchling turtles while they conduct essential nighttime beach patrolling. He’s also helped Palm Beach and Martin county businesses and homeowners reduce coastal lighting that can disorient turtle hatchlings, luring them away from the ocean.
Widely covered in the media in 2016 was the FWC’s apprehension of an individual poaching threatened loggerhead turtle eggs from Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County, an investigation led by Officer Stone. By apprehending the person in the act of digging up eggs, 92 eggs could be reburied and led to the hatching of 32 loggerhead turtles.
When off duty, Officer Stone continues to serve as a sea turtle volunteer, conducting nesting surveys, responding to sea turtle strandings, and ­­­­­– as a volunteer and officer – helping recover sick or injured turtles.
“We think Officer Philip Stone is a fitting choice for this award,” said Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation executive director Greg Jacoski. “He exemplifies all that Guy Harvey and our Foundation stand for – an unwavering lifetime commitment to understanding, conserving and appreciating the irreplaceable creatures that inhabit our oceans. We congratulate him and the FWC for all they do.”
Founded by marine biologist and artist Guy Harvey, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is an organization of philanthropists, conservationists, scientists and educators focused on developing sensible strategies for promoting the conservation of our oceans and nurturing the next generation of marine scientists and guardians of our seas.
Through the generous philanthropy inspired by Guy Harvey’s art, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation will fund exceptional research and innovative educational programs developed by universities, colleges, institutes, and nonprofit organizations.

Nelson, others urge Trump to continue search for Bob Levinson

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A bipartisan group of nearly twenty U.S. lawmakers today urged President Trump to continue the previous administration’s efforts to locate Bob Levinson, a Florida resident and retired FBI agent who went missing off the coast of Iran over 10 years ago.
In a letter led by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), the lawmakers urged the president to “maintain pressure on Iran to see that [Bob] is returned as soon as possible.”
“Bob is still not home, and despite repeated promises, Iran has yet to cooperate in any meaningful way,” the lawmakers wrote. “Iran is responsible – if Iranian officials don’t have Bob, they know where to find him.”
The lawmakers requested that the president “re-engage with Iran and make clear that continued delay in returning Bob … is another obstacle Iran must overcome if it wants to improve relations with the United States.”
They also urged the president to meet with the Levinson family and designate a senior White House official to provide them regular updates on the administration’s efforts to bring Levinson home.
In addition to Nelson, the letter was signed by Sens. Corey Booker (D-NJ), Richard Burr (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bob Corker (R-TN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Mark Warner (D-VA) and Reps. Ted Deutch (FL-22), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), Ed Royce (CA-39) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23).
Below is the full text of the lawmakers’ letter and a PDF can be found here.

July 11, 2017

President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
We write regarding former FBI agent Robert Levinson. Bob, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, was detained in Iran more than ten years ago, making him the longest held civilian in our Nation’s history. He deserves to be reunited with his family immediately.
We appreciate your commitment to Bob and his family. We urge you to meet with Bob’s wife, Christine, and their seven children to hear first-hand their struggle and tireless efforts on Bob’s behalf.
As you know, our Government has long pressed Iran to return Bob. After ten years, Bob is still not home, and despite repeated promises, Iran has yet to cooperate in any meaningful way. Iran is responsible—if Iranian officials don’t have Bob, they know where to find him.
Bob’s return is an urgent humanitarian issue. It is critical that the United States maintain pressure on Iran to see that he is returned as soon as possible. To that end, we request that you re-engage with Iran and make clear that continued delay in returning Bob—in addition to the very serious disagreements the United States has with Iran about its missile program, sponsorship of terrorism, and human rights abuses—is another obstacle Iran must overcome if it wants to improve relations with the United States. We also request that you designate a senior White House official to regularly inform Bob’s family of your Administration’s efforts.
Bob has suffered long enough. We must never rest until he is returned to his family. We owe them nothing less.

Sincerely,

Fishing association honors 2 FWC officers

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The Florida Guides Association on July 11 in Orlando honored two officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for their conservation efforts.
Capt. Pat Kelly, Florida Guides Association president, presented FWC officers Peter “Sean” Gaudion and Michael Bibeau of Hillsborough County with the “Trained Eyes Coastwatchers” Officer of the Year award.
Officer Bibeau has been an FWC officer for seven years. His patience and dedication set him apart and help him stop those that want to take advantage of Florida’s valuable natural resources and those boating dangerously.
“He is a true ambassador for the FWC and represents all law enforcement officers positively,” said Lt. Thomas Van Trees, Bibeau’s supervisor. “He continues his excellence in resource protection and public safety by sharing his knowledge with other officers.”
Additionally, Bibeau participated in multiple search-and-rescues this year and was nominated for a lifesaving award.
Officer Gaudion joined the FWC in 2013 and stands out for his teamwork and drive to succeed in resource protection and public safety. He frequently networks with other officers and community members to organize efforts to stop major violations. 
“Officer Gaudion truly cares about making a positive impact on the citizens and resources of Florida,” said Lt. William Holcomb, his supervisor. “He maintains a positive attitude that inspires and motivates others.”
His extra work on the FWC’s Special Operations Group led him to respond to two hurricanes last season for multiple days at a time.

Chief Justice Labarga Presents Award for Excellence to Miami-Dade Judge

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Miami-Dade County Judge Carroll J. Kelly, a leader in domestic violence judicial education, is the 2017 recipient of the Chief Justice Award for Judicial Excellence. Chief Justice Jorge Labarga presented the award to Judge Kelly at the Conference of County Court Judges of Florida.
Judge Kelly was appointed to the Miami-Dade bench in 1999. She serves as the administrative judge in the Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Division. She is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law.
“Her ability to truly care for and about the people we come in contact with each day adds to her extensive list of training, knowledge and attributes and sets her apart from many others,” according to the nomination letter for Judge Kelly. “Her knowledge, leadership insight, dedication and empathy have significantly improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of families.”
Judge Kelly has written grants to bring thousands of dollars into the community for domestic violence projects, helped coordinate and train attorneys to participate in a pro bono program that represents children in families unsettled by domestic violence, and created education programs and resources to help domestic violence litigants better understand the cycle of violence.
In 2014, under the auspices of the Florida Institute on Interpersonal Violence, she co-created a two-phase regional training for Florida judges with the goal of enhancing statewide consistency and uniformity in the handling of domestic violence cases. She is a faculty member of the Florida Judicial College, co-created the Florida Institute on Interpersonal Violence, and is chair of Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, among many other professional and civic activities.
“Her experience and qualifications are only perhaps outmatched by her judicial courage and integrity, as well as her character,” according to a letter in support of her nomination from County Judge Gina Beovides. “Judge Kelly is a source of pride for Miami-Dade County judges and possesses all the tangible and intangible qualities that personify judicial excellence.”
The Chief Justice Awards for Judicial Excellence, established in 2014 and bestowed annually, recognize one county court judge and one circuit judge who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the judicial branch and who personify judicial excellence.