Florida News Straight From the Source
Tomorrow, April 6, Governor Rick Scott will host a Fighting for Florida Jobs Roundtable with business owners, economic development leaders, tourism leaders, and community members to discuss the local economic impact of VISIT FLORIDA and Enterprise Florida.
WHAT: Fighting for Florida Jobs Roundtable
WHEN: 3:30 PM
WHERE: Optym
7600 NW 5 Pl
Gainesville, FL 32607
The Florida Lottery announces that Sandy Pedigo, 61, of Punta Gorda, claimed a $1 million prize in the $10,000,000 FORTUNE Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. She chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $792,000.00.
Pedigo purchased her winning ticket from 7-Eleven, located at 5800 Duncan Road in Punta Gorda. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $25 Scratch-Off game, $10,000,000 FORTUNE, launched in February 2016, and features more than $623 million in total cash prizes, including 46 prizes of $1 million and four prizes of $10 million. The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-2.88.
Scratch-Off games are an important part of the Lottery’s portfolio of games, comprising approximately 65 percent of ticket sales and generating more than $734 million for the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in fiscal year 2015-16.
In addition to being known for a delectable menu loaded with fresh and locally-sourced food items, Guanabanas Island Restaurant & Bar also hosts monthly “Give Back Thursday” events that help fund local families and charities in need. Now, in partnership with Jupiter’s El Sol Community Center, Guanabanas’ top chef Vinny Trupia has taken on another green venture to assist those from the area who need it most: he’s managing one of the community garden plots in Guanabanas’ name that grows and donates its entire yield to feed hungry locals at the center.
“El Sol provides a great community service to our town, and any opportunity to help is an honor not only for us as a local business, but for me as an individual,” says Vice President / General Manager Jon Sullivan. “Jupiter did not have a community garden prior to El Sol’s efforts, and we are proud to lend a hand to make it bigger and better.”
A graduate of the Florida Culinary Institute, cooking is in Trupia’s blood. His father worked as a restaurant chef in Florida, New York and California, and as a child, the young Vinny would watch his grandmother prep and cook Sunday family meals, old-school Italian style. His career has seen him man many of the positions he now oversees, from dishwasher to sous chef to executive chef.
Now in his current position, he inspires the same work ethic in his crew that was required of him to in order to climb the kitchen ranks. A Lawton, OK native, Trupia’s specialties are American and Italian cuisines, and since joining the Guanabanas team in 2008, he has honed his skills in traditional Caribbean and Latin cuisines, with an emphasis on fresh Florida seafood.
El Sol is a safe, organized, indoor space that facilitates the hiring of day laborers. Workers registered in their labor program fulfilled more than 14,000 job requests for local employers in 2016. Adults are provided English classes, and vocational, financial literacy, and computer training, as well as Spanish literacy instruction. El Sol also provides referrals for medical care, legal advice from volunteer attorneys, in addition to the fruits and vegetables grown on its grounds.
Guanabanas is located at 960 North Highway A1A Jupiter, FL 33477. For more information, please visit www.Guanabanas.com or call 561.747.8878.
ABOUT GUANABANAS
Guanabanas is an open air restaurant and bar with woven tiki huts and banyan trees towering overhead and hand-chiseled coquina stone pathways underfoot. The team maintains a laid-back, island atmosphere where everyone is welcome. The award-winning menu features a fusion of Mexican, fresh Florida seafood and traditional fare; a breakfast menu is available Saturdays and Sundays. Guanabanas offers a custom catering menu and signature cocktails. Executive Chef Vinny Trupia oversees the culinary operations and also manages a community garden at the neighborhood resource center El Sol.
The establishment hosts recurring “Give Back Thursdays” to help the needs of the local community organizations, partnering with willing companies to help drive donations and money where needed, as well as giving away stage space to allow charities to showcase their cause. Past beneficiaries include the Surfrider Foundation, Martin Memorial Hospital, Haiti Relief Effort, the Brave Maeve Foundation, Freedom Flight for WWII Vets by the Martin County Firefighters, Furry Friends, and many others.
For more information, visit www.Guanabanas.com or call 561.747.8513.
Governor Rick Scott today announced that Florida’s consumer sentiment index rocketed to a 15-year high of 99 in March. Governor Scott also announced that personal income rose 4.9 percent for Floridians last year, the highest of the 10 largest states. Home values also increased 12.5 percent from the previous year.
Governor Scott said, “We have worked hard to turn Florida’s economy around and create opportunities for our future generations. Today’s announcement shows that when companies choose Florida to expand and grow, other parts of our economy, like personal income and home values, improve. While today’s news is great, we must keep fighting to continue this growth by investing in our state’s proven economic development tools like Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA.”
All five components measured in Florida’s Consumer Sentiment Index rose in December, including personal finance indicators and expectations of future economic growth. In 2016, Florida’s personal income growth was third highest in the nation with per capital personal income at $45,819. Additionally, the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in February was $225,000, up 12.5 percent from the previous year’s median price of $200,000.
Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “Floridians are confident in their ability to find a good job and provide for their families, which is helping to fuel our state’s growing labor force and boosting our consumer confidence levels to new highs. We must build on the strong momentum Florida has already established by continuing to invest in job creation and economic diversification.”
The Florida Consumer Sentiment Index is calculated by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida and measures five key indicators of consumers’ feelings about the economy. Indicators include one’s personal financial situation compared to a year ago, personal financial situation expected one year from now, expected national economic conditions over the next year, expected national economic conditions over the next five years and whether it is a good time to buy major household items.
CEO Magazine has ranked The University of Tampa Sykes College of Business’ MBA as a top tier program in North America, and named UT’s Executive MBA program as the No. 32 global executive MBA program.
For the ranking, CEO Magazine used numerous data points, including quality of faculty, international diversity, class size, accreditation, faculty to student ratio, price, international exposure, gender parity and delivery methods.
Joining UT in the top tier of MBA programs are Texas A&M University, Virginia Tech, Pepperdine University and Boston University.
At No. 32, the Sykes College of Business’ EMBA program ranked in between the Bradford University School of Management in the UK, and the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management in Belgium.
Frank Ghannadian, dean of the Sykes College of Business, said this ranking shows that UT students — many of whom come from around the world — are getting one of the highest quality educations in the world.
“Our students are fortunate in being able to be engaged with both the local and global business communities,” Ghannadian said.
CEO Magazine has been showcasing top business schools from around the globe since it first launched in 2008. In 2012 the publication launched its annual Global MBA Rankings, profiling MBA, Executive MBA and Online MBA programs.
UT’s MBA program helps students develop the sophisticated strategic mind-set demonstrated by successful executives. The Executive MBA program is designed for experienced professionals seeking a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach to mastering the art of leadership in the new economy.
Both programs are housed within the Sykes College of Business and are accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
The complete CEO Magazine Global MBA Rankings 2017 can be viewed in the latest edition of CEO Magazine or online on the magazine’s website.
CEO Magazine is a Sydney, Australia-based monthly business magazine for CEOs and executives around the world.
The Florida Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Senator Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater), today passed SB 2500, the 2017-18 General Appropriations Act. The bill prioritizes funding for Florida’s Pre-K–20 public education system, while setting aside more than $3 billion in total reserves and making critical investments in Florida’s state workforce with salary increases for state employees.
“I am pleased to see our budget advance to the Senate floor with key priorities advocated by each Senator,” said Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart). “Living within our means and setting aside ample reserves, while making key investments in the future of our state is always a delicate balance between competing priorities. I am particularly pleased the Senate budget includes all key components of the Senate’s Excellence in Higher Education Agenda. Historic increases in need and merit-based student financial aid demonstrate the Senate’s commitment to investing in Florida’s students and a competitive workforce with long-term benefits to our economy.”
“This budget contains nearly $220 million in long-overdue pay raises for our state employees. These are not bonuses, but salary increases for hard working public servants across the state,” said Chair Latvala. “The most significant investment is in occupations where the state is seeing a high amount of turnover. We want to make sure that we keep the most talented and dedicated professional staffers in our state workforce. These employees guard our prisons, protect our highways, care for abused and neglected children, and perform hundreds of other tasks that are in many cases thankless or unnoticed by many Floridians. This budget tells our state employees that we see you, and we appreciate your hard work and contributions to our state.”
Summary of SB 2500, The 2017-2018 General Appropriations Act (as introduced)
Total Budget: $83.2 billion [$31.6 billion GR; $51.6 billion TF]
Major Statewide Issues
Education Capital Outlay
Total: $616.6 million [$599.8 million PECO TF; $16.8 million GR]
In addition: $45 million in authorization for SUS Capital Improvement Student Fee Projects
Compensation and Benefits:
Florida Retirement System – Total $96.9 million [$85.5 million GR; $11.4 million TF] (Normal Costs and Unfunded Actuarial Liability)
State Group Health Insurance – Total $36.5 million [$23.3 million GR; $13.2 million TF]
Pay Issues – Total $219.7 million [$147 million GR; $72.7 million TF]
State Employee Pay Increase – $103.9 million [$43.3 million GR; $60.7 million TF]
All Pay Issues below are in lieu of the overall State Employee Pay Increase (Except for the Veterans’ Affairs certified nurse assistant, pay issue)
PreK-12 Education
Summary
Total Appropriations: $14.8 billion [$11.6 billion GR; $3.2 billion TF]
Total Funding – Including Local Revenues: $24.3 billion [$14.8 billion state funds; $9.5 billion local funds]
Major Issues
Early Learning Services
Total: $1.1 billion [$571.8 million GR; $525.3 million TF]
Public Schools/K12 FEFP
Total Funding: $21 billion [$11.5 billion state funds; $9.5 billion local funds]
Public Schools/K12 Non-FEFP
State Board of Education
Total: $238.5 million [$85.7 million GR; $152.7 million TF]
Higher Education
Summary
Total Appropriations: $5.9 billion [$4.6 billion GR; $1.3 billion TF]
Total Funding – Including Local Revenues: $8.9 billion [$5.9 billion state funds; $3.0 billion local]
Major Issues
District Workforce
Total: $525.4 million [$293.5 million GR; $188.6 million TF; $43.3 million tuition/fees]
Florida College System
Total: $2.2 billion [$914.1 million GR; $231.8 million TF; $1 billion tuition/fees]
State University System
Total: $5.1 billion [$2.9 billion GR; $262.8 million TF; $2.0 billion tuition/fees]
Private Colleges
Total: $168.1 million GR
Student Financial Aid
Total: $716 million [$257.7 million GR, $458.3 million TF]
Vocational Rehabilitation
Total: $218.6 million [$50.2 million GR, $168.4 million TF]
Health and Human Services
Summary
Total Budget: $35,517.0 million [$9,555.9 million GR; $25,961.1 million TF]; 31,824.07 positions
Major Issues
Agency for Health Care Administration
Total: $27,679.4 million [$6,598.1 million GR; $21,081.3 million TF]; 1,546.5 positions
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
Total: $1,333.5 million [$548.0 million GR; $785.5 million TF]; 2,711.50 positions
Department of Children and Families
Total: $3,164.3 million [$1,726.5 million GR; $1,437.8 million TF]; 11,944.5 positions
Department of Elder Affairs
Total: $313.5 million [$141.9 million GR; $173.6 million TF]; 439.5 positions
Department of Health
Total: $ 2,884.5 million [$531.1 million GR; $2,353.4 million TF]; 14,064.57 positions
Department of Veterans Affairs
Total: $139.7 million [$10.3 million GR; $129.4 million TF]; 1,117.5 FTE
Civil and Criminal Justice
Summary
Total Budget: $5.069.1 billion [$4.133.5 billion GR; $935.6 million TF]; 45,809.50 FTE
Major Issues
Attorney General/ Legal Affairs
Total: $328.1 million [$55.2 million GR; $272.9 million TF]; 1,411.50 FTE
Department of Corrections
Total: $2.43 billion [$2.36 billion GR; $74.1 million TF]; 24,238.00 FTE
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)
Total: $291.8 million [$107.5 million GR; $184.3 million TF]; 1,844.00 FTE
Department of Juvenile Justice
Total: $576.3 million [$417.5 million GR; $158.8 million TF]; 3,269.50 FTE
State Court System
Total: $528.0 million [$436.6 million GR; $91.4 million TF]; 4,408.50 FTE
Justice Administration
Total: $902.8 million [$748.6 million GR; $154.3 million TF]; 10,506.00 FTE
Clerks of the Court
Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development
Summary
Total Budget: $13.4 billion [$434.8 million GR; $13.0 billion TF]; 13,275.5 positions
Major Issues
Department of Economic Opportunity
Total: $1.4 billion [$300.8 million GR; $1.1 billion TF]; 1,538.5 positions
Department of State
Total: $141.0 million [$104.5 million GR; $36.5 TF]; 412 positions
Department of Transportation
Total: $10.9 billion TF; 6,299 positions
Transportation Work Program – $9.9 billion TF:
Department of Military Affairs
Total: $86.3 million [$29.5 million GR; $56.9 million TF; 453 positions]
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Total: $476.8 million TF; 4,414 positions
Division of Emergency Management
Total: $395.3 million TF; 157 positions
The Environment and Natural Resources
Summary
Total Budget: $3.8 billion ($506.3 million GR; $693.5 million LATF; $2.6 billion Other TF); 8,671 positions
Major Issues
Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Total: $1.7 billion ($208.6 million GR; $23.1 million LATF; $1.5 billion TF); 3,614 positions
Department of Citrus
Total: $33.1 million ($33.1 million TF); 39 positions
Department of Environmental Protection
Total: $1.7 billion ($213.1 million GR; $609.2 million LATF; $862.4 million TF); 2,899.5 positions
Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Total: $372.7 million ($81.2 million GR; $61.2 million LATF; $230.2 million TF); 2,118.5 positions
General Government
Summary
Total Budget: $2 billion [$299.3 million GR; $1.7 billion Other TFs]; 11,350 positions
Major Issues
Department of Business & Professional Regulation
Total: $152.3 million [$1.9 million GR; $150.3 million TF]; 1,618 positions
Department of Financial Services
Total: $386.7 million [$28.2 million GR; $358.5 million TF]; 2,617.50 positions
Department of the Lottery
Total: $167.9 million TF; 420 positions
Department of Management Services
Total Budget: $619.8 million [$56.5 million GR; $563.3 million TF]; 833 positions
Division of Administrative Hearings
Total Budget: $26.1 million TF; 241 positions
Agency for State Technology
Total: $67.8 million TF; 227 positions
Public Service Commission
Total: $25 million TF; 273 positions
Department of Revenue
Total: $577.6 million [$212.7 million GR; $365 million TF]; 5,121 positions
SARASOTA/MANATEE
I-75 (SR 93) / University Parkway Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) Sarasota/Bradenton: Construction Project:
Detour – I-75 Southbound On-Ramp Closed at the I-75/University Parkway Interchange:
Wednesday, April 5. Details below:
The contractor anticipates implementing a temporary detour route at the I-75/University Parkway interchange at night/overnight Wednesday, April 5 between 11 p.m. and 12 midnight to prepare for a traffic shift.
Motorists traveling on University Parkway wishing to travel south on I-75 are directed to enter northbound I-75, exit at westbound SR 70/Exit 217 B, enter southbound I-75 and continue south on I-75. Motorists may also use local roads and enter I-75 from Fruitville Road.
Detour – I-75 Northbound Off-Ramp CLOSED at the I-75/University Parkway Interchange:
Wednesday, April 5. Details below:
The contractor anticipates implementing a temporary detour route at the I-75/University Parkway interchange at night/overnight Wednesday, April 5 between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. to replace the attenuator.
Motorists traveling north on I-75 wishing to exit at University Parkway, Exit 213 are directed to continue north on I-75, exit at westbound SR 70/Exit 217 B, enter southbound I-75, and exit at University Parkway/Exit 213.
Improvements being made as part of this project consist of constructing a diverging diamond interchange, adding an auxiliary lane on northbound and southbound I-75, constructing new bridges on I-75 over University Parkway, widening of University Parkway, widening of I-75 bridges over Errie Creek and Foley Creek, realignment of on-ramps and off-ramps at I-75/University Parkway, addition of ponds, drainage improvements, new lighting and signalization, construction of a noise wall on the west side of I-75, sidewalks, bike lanes, and pedestrian walkways. Expected completion is fall 2017. The contractor is Prince Contracting, LLC. For additional information, please visit the project website at http://www.swflroads.com/i75/university/.
The Jose Mallea Campaign announced today that it raised more than $50,000 in just 21 days since filing to run on March 9. Mallea is seeking the District 116 seat in the Florida House, which is currently represented by Jose Felix Diaz, who faces term limits in 2018. The district includes the communities of Doral, Sweetwater, Westchester, Sunset, and Kendall.
“We are off to a strong start,” said Mallea. “I’m so grateful for the friends and community members who are excited about partnering with us in this campaign. I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard to get our conservative message of fiscal responsibility and job creation out to the hardworking families of District 116.”
Tomorrow, April 6, Governor Rick Scott will attend the 2nd Annual Build Tampa Bay, a technical career fair for high school students.
WHAT: 2nd Annual Build Tampa Bay
WHEN: 9:15 AM
WHERE: Port Tampa Bay – Cruise Terminal 2
651 Channelside Drive
Tampa, Florida 33602
Chelsea Harrison, Senior Policy Communications Manager for Lyft, issued the following statement after approval of ridesharing legislation, HB 221, by the Florida House of Representatives:
“Today the Florida House overwhelmingly recognized that Florida needs a single, comprehensive set of rules for ridesharing. Lyft is grateful to Speaker Corcoran and his leadership team for their work on this issue. This framework will ensure that Floridians continue to enjoy the convenient, affordable rides Lyft provides across the state. We look forward to working with the Florida Senate to advance this legislation to the Governor’s desk for his signature.”
