Tomorrow, March 28th, Governor Rick Scott will host a roundtable with community leaders in Jacksonville to discuss economic development and jobs programs that the Florida House voted to eliminate. Governor Scott will specifically speak to those programs under Enterprise Florida that invest in Florida’s military and defense communities.
WHAT: Military Roundtable
WHEN: 2:15 PM
WHERE: Florida Army National Guard Building
13433 Crossover Street (Bldg. 1822)
Jacksonville, FL 32221
ICYMI: WTVJ: Gov. Scott in Miami Discussing the Fight Against Zika
“Gov. Scott in Miami Discussing the Fight Against Zika”
WTVJ-MIA (NBC) – Miami, FL
March 27, 2017
To view the clip, click HERE.
TruCrowd Florida, Inc., First Company Approved Under Florida Equity Crowdfunding Regulations
Under Florida Statute 517.0611, “Intrastate Crowdfunding ”, enacted on 1st October 2015, the sale of the securities to non-accredited Florida resident investors must occur via a licensed “intermediary” (funding portal web site) or a licensed broker-dealer. TruCrowd Florida Inc. is the first and only company to obtain a license as Intermediary under this law.
TruCrowd Florida, an equity crowdfunding portal, allowing any Florida company to raise funds from non-accredited investors in Florida, announced today that it has been approved by the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation to be an “Intermediary” or Funding Portal under Florida Statute 517.0611, as of Friday 24th March 2017.
This law allows Florida startups to raise up to $1 million over a 12-month period via the licensed intermediary funding portal TruCrowd Florida, Inc. The companies must file with the FOFR and disclose information to investors and the intermediary facilitating the offering, including: description of the business and the use of proceeds, information about officers and directors, the price of the offered securities, the target offering amount, the deadline to reach the target amount and, depending on the amount to be raised, reviewed or audited financial reports. Any Florida resident is allowed to invest over a 12-month period up to the greater of $2,000 or 5% of income if less than $100,000 and 10% otherwise (up to $100,000). Securities offerings which comply with Florida Statute 517.0611 are exempt from Federal SEC crowdfunding regulations.
“Under Florida Intrastate rules, Funding Portals will play a major role for Main Street start-up entrepreneurs who seek seed funds from their immediate community and don’t want or need all the ancillary services (or added costs) of a broker-dealer” says Vincent Petrescu, President of TruCrowd Florida, Inc and TruCrowd Inc., (US HQ in Chicago). “TruCrowd Florida represents a viable alternative from Broker-Dealers for these small businesses particularly with their back-end deal room technology and controls over protecting sensitive data” says Charles Radley, Florida Territory Manager for TruCrowd Florida, Inc.
TruCrowd Florida has several features built to protect the intellectual property of startups (ID-verified Investors, Data Room) while decreasing both the risk of fraud (Twitter-like Q&A, Regulatory Checks) and the risk associated with startup investing (The Bonus feature, IRA).
In addition to the new Florida program, partner company TruCrowd Inc, in Chicago, continues to offer their Federal Crowdfunding program for companies and investors anywhere in the USA, on terms very similar to the Florida Intrastate program. Florida companies and investors can enjoy the best of both worlds by participating in both the Intrastate and Federal equity crowdfunding programs.
About TruCrowd Florida, Inc.
TruCrowd Florida, Inc. is a leading funding portal that allows most Florida-based companies to raise up to $1 million per year from non-accredited investors (any Florida resident). Launched in 2017 to operate under the regulations resulting from Florida Statute 517.0611, TruCrowd Florida makes use of advanced technology developed by TruCrowd, Inc., of Chicago, who built its crowdfunding engine to permit scalability and flexibility.
University of Florida to host National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities
Third National Summit focuses on comprehensive, evidence-based approaches to wellness
On April 6 and 7, the University of Florida will host the National Consortium for Building Healthy Academic Communities’ (BHAC) third summit on best practices in promoting and sustaining wellness in academic settings. The biannual conference, launched in 2013 at The Ohio State University, brings together transdisciplinary leaders, faculty, students and staff from academic institutions of all sizes, as well as policy makers from professional organizations and academia who are committed to improving health and wellness outcomes in institutions of higher learning and their surrounding communities.
BHAC is a rapidly growing organization for academic institutions that facilitates and supports optimal health and wellness in faculty, staff and students through innovation, collaboration and evidence-based programming. Multiple studies show that strong wellness cultures and programs in organizations lead to reductions in healthcare costs and health insurance premiums and, most importantly, healthier and more engaged faculty, staff and students.
“UF is excited to partner with BHAC and to serve as the host for this conference,” said Jodi Gentry, Vice President for UF Human Resources. “We all benefit from a healthy environment, and exploring evidence-based practices helps us better understand the impact of programs and approaches on our university community, culture and climate. As a preeminent university, we are proud to take a leadership role in furthering these efforts.”
Among the program will be a presentation on UF’s Field and Fork Program, which creates awareness about food insecurity and sustainable food practices and educates the UF community on how to make balanced food choices. The Field and Fork Campus Food Program Pantry supports students, faculty and staff who need help finding healthy food for themselves and their families.
Other presentations by academics from about a dozen universities will cover topics such as implementing a cost-effective, comprehensive wellness programs in a university setting; combining mental health treatment and exercise is medicine; healing with arts; managing stress in the classroom to improve learning; collecting mental health data on campus; and using data to build a healthier academic community.
Keynote speakers include:
Behavior change expert Kathy Dempsey, RN, MED CSP, President, Keep Shedding! Inc.
Global physician executive Ray Fabius, M.D., Co-Founder of HealthNEXT, Harvard Shool of Public Health
Neuroscientist Amishi Jha, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Director, Contemplative Neuroscience, UMindfulness Initiative, University of Miami
Raj Patel, Ph.D., Professor, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, author of “Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System”
Bernadette Melnyk, Ph.D., RN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, Associate Vice President for Health Promotion, University Chief Wellness Officer and Dean, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University
Additionally, “Dancing With the Stars” pro Louis van Amstel will lead the group in a LaBlast wellness activity.
For registration and more information, visit https://healthyacademics.org/national-bhac-summit-2017.
US 17 (SR 35) Construction Public Meeting in Hardee County
US 17 (SR 35) from south of West 9th Street to north of West 3rd Street
Construction Public Meeting
HARDEE COUNTY
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, will hold a public information meeting regarding improvements to US 17 from south of West 9th Street to north of West 3rd Street in Hardee County, Florida. The public meeting is from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, 2017, at the Zolfo Springs Civic Center, 3210 US Highway 17 South in Zolfo Springs.
The public meeting will give interested parties the opportunity to talk one-on-one with staff and ask questions about the project in an open-house format. Improvements include constructing a new four-lane concrete roadway using the old railroad corridor along Oak Street to realign this 1-mile segment. The existing section of US 17 will be turned over to the Town of Zolfo Springs at the conclusion of the project and renamed Main Street. The contractor, AJAX Paving Industries of Florida, is also installing curb and gutter, 7-footbike lanes, sidewalks, and a 52-foot raised median to separate the northbound and southbound lanes of traffic. The project also includes installing a new underground drainage system and two storm water ponds to manage water running off of the roadway. The $16.7 million project begins in spring 2017 and should be complete in fall 2018.
FDOT developed this meeting in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes. FDOT solicits public participation without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status. People requiring special accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 or people that require translation services (free of charge) at the meeting should contact Kristie Vazquez at (863) 225-0422 or by e-mail to [email protected] at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
Miami's Electric Piquete Return to Dunedin Brewery Friday, April 7
Award-winning Miami band Electric Piquete deftly fuse rock, jazz, funk, Afro-Caribbean, progressive and R&B influences with incendiary results. The two-time Miami New Times “Best Latin Band” will return to Dunedin Brewery (937 Douglas Ave, Dunedin, FL 34698) on Friday, April 7, beginning at 9 p.m. There is no cover charge, and 21 and over are welcome.
Electric Piquete delivered a well-received performance debut at the venue in November 2016. They recently issued their Singles Collection digitally and on CD, and released a video for their brand new single “Cut Me Loose”. Also in 2016, they played the main stage at the Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance in North Carolina. Regular performers in and around South Florida, this represents the band’s second trip to the West Coast of their home state in six months.
As the oldest microbrewery in Florida, Dunedin Brewery and their dedicated staff of beer enthusiasts strive to meet the challenge of creating amazing craft brews. Their brews are hand-crafted in small batches, 15 barrels at a time. Much of their production supplies the pub’s on premise taps, while they also ship kegs out to bars and restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. Dunedin Brewery also feature a full culinary menu and tours of their facility.
Electric Piquete features co-founder Ed Rosado on drums / vocals, co-founder Michael Mut on bass / vocals, Chris Correoso (guitar), Rich Dixon (trumpet / flugelhorn), Raymond Ayala on congas / cajon / vocals, Charles “Chip” Gardner on keyboards and Robert Smiley (tenor sax). For more information, please visit www.ElectricPiquete.com.
Sarasota’s Mizell Wins T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League Gator Division Event on Lake Okeechobee
Fort Lauderdale’s Bartlett tops Co-angler field
Jessie Mizell of Sarasota, Florida, won the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Gator Division event on Lake Okeechobee Saturday with a five-bass limit totaling 23-pounds even. For his victory, Mizell pocketed $4,915.
“I began the day fishing near Bird Island, but the wind picked up and muddied the water,” said Mizell, who earned his second career-win on Lake Okeechobee in BFL competition. “I stayed there for a while and caught a couple of small ones. By 1 p.m., I knew I needed to change things up.
“I went to a little cove by the North Shore that was out of the wind and fished really slow in the calm water,” continued Mizell. “I focused on some small lilypads. I went back and forth along a 100-yard stretch and caught my limit by 3:30 p.m.”
Mizell said he used a Red Ear-colored Spro Dean Rojas Bronzeye Poppin’ Frog 60 on a 7-foot, 11-inch medium-heavy 13 Fishing rod to craft his limit.
“I could see a slight wake under the frog that most people wouldn’t notice,” said Mizell. “I paused and let the bait sit for about 10 or 15 seconds. When I moved it, they’d eat it.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Jessie Mizell, Sarasota, Fla., five bass, 23-0, $4,915
2nd: Brianne McMillan, Belle Glade, Fla., five bass, 22-4, $2,658
3rd: Jim Hurlock Jr., West Palm Beach, Fla., five bass, 19-9, $1,640
4th: Cody Davis, Deerfield Beach, Fla., five bass, 18-9, $1,147
5th: Nicholas Hoinig, Delray Beach, Fla., five bass, 18-8, $1,083
6th: Mike Surman, Boca Raton, Fla., five bass, 18-6, $1,201
7th: Dustin Royer, Davie, Fla., five bass, 18-5, $819
8th: Jesus Villegas, Virginia Gardens, Fla., five bass, 16-12, $737
9th: Frank Mackin, New Port Richey, Fla., five bass, 16-9, $1,405
10th: Kyle Monti, Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 16-4, $573
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Mackin caught the heaviest bass of the tournament, a fish weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces, which earned him the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $750.
Brandon Bartlett of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, weighed in five bass totaling 19 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the Co-angler Division and the top prize of $2,833.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Brandon Bartlett, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., five bass, 19-9, $2,833
2nd: Matthew Wolfe Jr., Orlando, Fla., five bass, 15-7, $1,429
3rd: Fernando Rosa, Plantation, Fla., five bass, 13-9, $817
4th: Richard Mongiovi, Indian Lake Estates, Fla., five bass, 12-10, $573
5th: Garrett Carter, Middleburg, Fla., five bass, 12-8, $471
5th: John Hendry, Crystal River, Fla., five bass, 12-8, $471
7th: Michael Carter, Bokeelia, Fla., five bass, 12-2, $460
8th: Andrew Pulliam, Spring Hill, Fla., five bass, 11-13, $369
9th: Robert Alton, Fort Pierce, Fla., five bass, 11-11, $328
10th: Hayden Scharf, De Leon Springs, Fla., five bass, 11-10, $287
Bartlett also caught the biggest bass among Co-angler Division anglers, a fish weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $375.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude outboard.
The 2017 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Pembroke Pines man wins top prize playing MONOPOLY $2,000,000 FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game
The Florida Lottery announces that Walner Telfort, 54, of Pembroke Pines, claimed a top prizes in the MONOPOLYTM $2,000,000 FLORIDA EDITION Scratch-Off game at Florida Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $1,540,000.00.
Telfort purchased his winning ticket from Faster 7 Food Store, located at 1801 North 66th Avenue in Hollywood. The retailer will receive a $4,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.
The $10 Scratch-Off game, MONOPOLY $2,000,000 FLORIDA EDITION, launched on July 5, and features more than $151 million in prizes, including eight top prizes of $2,000,000! The game’s overall odds of winning are one-in-3.45.
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.
Statement by Deputy State Director, Americans for Prosperity re: HB 81
Statement by Skylar Zander, Deputy State Director, Americans for Prosperity
“Americans for Prosperity values limited government and free market principles, and part of our philosophy includes speaking out against unfair regulations and business practices. When it comes to removing the outdated Alcohol Separation Law, we simply cannot overlook one argument that is being made by opponents of this legislation.
For nearly four years, opponents have stood in front of the legislature in various committees to oppose the sale of distilled spirits alongside beer, wine and other goods – arguing against making alcohol access more convenient to consumers of legal age. At the same time, some of the opponents are using 1-hour delivery of alcohol through mobile devices. Their partnership with a mobile app, allows consumers in Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando and Tampa to purchase beer, wine and liquor through the smartphone app with just the click of a button. In one hour or less, the alcohol will be delivered straight to their doorstep.
Innovation is paving the way for a new marketplace where traditional brick and mortar stores are routinely competing with online retailers. These regulations are from a bygone era and have outlived their usefulness.
We applaud Representative Avila who has shepherded this legislation through the committee process. Now, the Florida House of Representatives has the ability to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses and create an environment where free enterprise can thrive.
It’s time we stop letting this outdated law stand in the way of innovation and growth. We need legislation that embraces free market principles without unnecessary and costly regulations. The Florida Senate already indicated their support by passing SB 106, and we urge the House to follow suit with HB 81.”
Floridians for Fair Business Practices is a coalition of retailers and business groups whose purpose is to identify rules and regulations, which prohibit the growth and expansion of Florida businesses. For additional information, please visit www.FairBizinFlorida.com.
Legislation to Keep BP Oil Funds in Northwest Florida Advances
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development today passed Senate Bill 364, The Recovery Fund for the Deepwater Horizon Incident. The legislation, sponsored by Senator George Gainer (R-Panama City), Senator Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola), and Senator Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee), will ensure funds received in the settlement of the state’s economic damage claims caused by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill remain in Northwest Florida’s eight disproportionately affected counties. The initial settlement payment was received by the state in July of 2016, and future payments are scheduled to be paid annually from 2019 through 2033.
“Settlement funds represent a historic opportunity for our communities,” said Senator Gainer. “We need to make certain that not only the currently-held settlement payments, but also all future settlement payments are transferred directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., where we know they will be used to ensure the ongoing economy recovery of Northwest Florida.”
Under current law, the eight disproportionately affected counties are to receive 75 percent of all economic damage settlement funds received by the state. Senate Bill 364 appropriates the initial settlement payment directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., and appropriates future settlement payments directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., no later than 30 days after they are received by the state.
“Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. will develop a comprehensive economic improvement plan for Northwest Florida to ensure that our communities benefit from these funds now and in the future. The bill makes it clear that settlement funds should be transferred directly to Triumph Gulf Coast and provides the checks and balances needed to ensure the funds are properly accounted for,” said Senator Broxson.
“This legislation is very important to our constituents. They expect current and future settlement funds to benefit our disproportionately affected counties, and they want to see progress as soon as possible,” said Senator Montford. “For far too long, families and businesses in our communities have been feeling the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. This legislation affirms our longstanding commitment to keep these critical funds in Northwest Florida.”
The eight Florida counties disproportionately affected by the Deepwater Horizon Spill include: Bay County, Escambia County, Franklin County, Gulf County, Okaloosa County, Santa Rosa County, Walton County and Wakulla County.
In 2013, under the leadership of former Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville), the Florida Senate developed legislation (Senate Bill 1024), sponsored by current Senate President Joe Negron (R-Stuart), which created Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., to ensure that economic damage settlement funds coming to the state would both benefit the eight disproportionately affected counties and be properly accounted for. Under this legislation, the Triumph Gulf Coast Board, chaired by former Florida House Speaker Allen Bense, is responsible for utilizing the settlement proceeds to promote job creation through lasting economic development.
Currently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Governor, the Attorney General, and the Chief Financial Officer, each appoint one board member. Senate Bill 364 expands the number of board members from five to seven. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives will each appoint an additional private sector member from one of the four least populous disproportionately affected counties, so that two such counties are represented on the board.
Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., is tasked to make awards to programs and projects that meet the priorities for economic recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the disproportionately affected counties. This includes economic development projects, grants to support programs of excellence that prepare students for future occupations, as well as infrastructure projects. The corporation is required to abide by the state’s public record laws and public meeting notice requirements.
