Governor Rick Scott today activated a $25 million Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program to support citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Irma. The bridge loan program, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will provide interest-free loans to citrus growers that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm. The application period will begin next week and be open through November 30, 2017.
Governor Scott said, “Hurricane Irma was a massive storm that impacted communities across our state,causing hundreds of millions of dollars of losses for the Florida citrus industry. I am committed to working with our state and federal partners to help Florida’s citrus industry and the nearly 76,000 jobs it supports. The Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program will be a valuable resource for affected business owners. I’ve also spoken to Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and we’ll continue to partner to find more ways to help this vital industry recover.”
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam said, “The path Hurricane Irma took through Florida could not have been more lethal to Florida agriculture – especially our citrus industry. We’re all committed to getting growers the help they need, as quickly as possible, to be able to rebuild. I thank Governor Scott for his leadership and for making financial assistance available for Florida’s growers devastated by Hurricane Irma.”
DEO will administer the Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program in partnership with the Florida SBDC Network to provide cash flow to businesses damaged by a disaster. The interest-free loans will help bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and when a business secures other financial resources, including payment of crop insurance claims or federal disaster recovery appropriations. Up to $25 million has been allocated for the program.
DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “Florida’s iconic citrus industry needs our support to recover. The $25 Million Citrus Emergency Loan Program will help ensure the industry can rebound so businesses and their employees can get back to work quickly.”
Mike Myhre, CEO of the Florida SBDC Network, said, “Florida’s businesses, including citrus producers, are important to Florida’s economy. This program provides much-needed capital that our citrus growers need to recover from Hurricane Irma.”
Shannon Shepp, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Citrus, said, “Governor Scott has shown great interest in this hallmark and iconic industry in the State of Florida. There is no question of its economic impact on our state and its history and legacy. The Florida Citrus Industry is absolutely appreciative of this effort to help get growers back in the growing cycle.”
Citrus growers who maintain a citrus grove in production in any of Florida’s 67 counties affected by Hurricane Irma can apply for loans up to $150,000. These interest-free loans are granted in terms of up to one year. To be eligible, a grower must have been established prior to September 4, 2017, and demonstrate economic injury or physical damage as a result of Hurricane Irma.
To complete an application by the Nov. 30, 2017, deadline, or for more information on the program, visit www.floridadisasterloan.org. For questions regarding the $25 Million Citrus Emergency Loan Program, contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at 850-898-3489 or email [email protected]. The phone line will be answered during regular business hours; all voice mails and emails will be responded to within 24 hours.
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Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Recognizes Outstanding Farm to School Programs
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services awarded 11 school food authorities for their outstanding Farm to School programs with the 2017 Florida Farm to School Award, which provides resources to further expand Farm to School programs. As part of the Farm to School initiative, the department recognizes school food authorities that purchase at least 10 percent of the food they serve from local Florida farms.
Eligible school food authorities that participate in the National School Lunch Program and implement a successful Farm to School initiative can apply for three award levels depending on their school meals consisting of either a minimum of 10, 15 or 20 percent of Florida commodities. Once awarded, the department works one-on-one with the school food authorities to assess the progress of their programs and implement Farm to School Best Practices.
Below are the 2017 Florida Farm to School Award recipients:
- School Board of Alachua County- $20,000
- Basilica School of St. Paul- $5,000
- Collier County Public Schools- $60,000
- FAMU-DRS- $7,500
- School District of Lee County- $40,000
- Liberty County School Board- $15,000
- Sarasota County School Board- $30,000
- St. Lucie County School Board- $40,000
- The School District of Palm Beach County- $75,000
- Pinellas County School Board- $50,000
- St. Peter Claver Catholic School- $5,000
For more information on the Farm to School program, visit the department’s Farm to School program webpage.
Governor Scott Issues Updates on Tropical Storm Nate Preparedness Efforts
Governor Rick Scott joined Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center to be briefed by local emergency management officials and give an update on Tropical Storm Nate and the storm’s potential impact on Florida. Yesterday, Governor Scott declared a state of emergency in 29 counties within the State of Florida in response to Tropical Storm Nate. Read more HERE.
See below for more information on what the State of Florida is doing to support Tropical Storm Nate preparedness efforts:
EMERGENCY SUPPORT FUNCTIONS BY STATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
WATCHES AND WARNINGS
- Hurricane Watch is in effect for:
- East of the Alabama/Florida border to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line
- Storm Surge Watch is in effect for:
- East of the Alabama/Florida border to Indian Pass Florida
- Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for:
- East of the Okaloosa/Walton County Line to Indian Pass Florida
MILITARY SUPPORT
- Right now, 100 National Guard members are actively preparing for disaster operations and support of local Emergency Operations Centers.
- The Florida National Guard has 7,000 guard members available for deployment if needed.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
- The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) continues to monitor traffic and is coordinating with FDOT and local emergency operations centers regarding any potential evacuations.
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is monitoring the storm and ready to respond as needed with a variety of specialized equipment including shallow draft boats, ATVs, airboats and four wheel drive vehicles.
TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS
- The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is monitoring the storm and holding teleconferences with the regional FDOT district offices to ensure local communities are prepared.
- FDOT has suspended interstate and highway construction in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties until Monday, Oct. 9 to allow for the possible increase in traffic as motorists evacuate from the Florida panhandle coastline area. All rail, transit and seaport facilities are functioning as normal.
- FDOT will assist first responders with traffic control, detours or road closures, as long as weather permits.
- For the latest closures and updates, travelers can access Florida’s 511 service from cell phones, landlines and online at www.FL511.com.
- FDOT district offices are placing emergency crews on standby and reaching out to construction vendors to have them remove any materials that block roads to facilitate potential evacuations and checking on fuel supplies. FDOT is also actively monitoring for roadway flooding in areas already impacted by Hurricane Irma and stands ready to respond as needed.
- FDOT asset maintenance contractors have been contacted to support potential activities.
- FDOT will continue to reach out to county emergency operations centers directly to coordinate any necessary response actions including activating traffic counters, providing local evacuation support and providing maintenance of traffic and other assistance.
- Florida’s seaports are monitoring conditions.
POWER AND UTILITIES
- The state has contacted utilities to put them on notice to start reporting outage and restoration information if needed.
- Utilities are contacting their mutual aid partners to determine availability if external resources are needed to restore services.
- The state is monitoring the power grid for sufficient power in the state.
- The state is monitoring the natural gas infrastructure for any damages that can cause a loss of service to power plants.
FUEL
- The state is contacting fuel industry partners, such as the Florida Petroleum Council, Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, to prepare for potential storm impacts.
- The state is currently monitoring for fuel assistance requests. At this time, there are no reported supply, distribution or retail fuel shortages or issues.
- The state has also contacted emergency fuel and equipment provider for status of emergency fuel supply and equipment.
SHELTERS
- The state is preparing to support potential sheltering operations in the Florida Panhandle.
- More information on shelters will be made available as decisions on potential evacuations are made.
- The American Red Cross is positioning shelter equipment and staff to support local communities in the North Florida area if needed.
- The state is working to inventory food and water resources in state contracted warehouses (SCWs) and is prepared to coordinate with the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army on potential feeding needs.
PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL
- The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Florida Department of Health (DOH) will join Governor Scott on tropical storm preparedness calls with Florida hospitals, assisted living facilities and nursing homes later today.
- DOH is standing by to assist with potential needs of healthcare facilities and special needs shelters.
- DOH and AHCA have requested hospitals, nursing homes and ALFs in regions 1 and 2 to report their facility status daily at 10AM and upon any status change through the FLHealthSTAT database.
- The Public Service Commission (PSC) is working with Health and Medical Services to identify all nursing homes and assisted living facilities that could be affected by possible electric outages.
- APD regional office serving the west coast and Panhandle counties of Florida are reaching out to waiver support coordinators, individuals in independent living, and providers to ensure they are prepared.
- APD is holding daily meetings to review storm preparations.
EDUCATION
- The University of West Florida will be closed from Saturday, October 7th through Monday, October 9th.
WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS
- Water Management Districts are monitoring waterways and water levels, preparing staff and vehicles, and are prepared to adjust flows as necessary.
- Lake Okeechobee is currently at 16.83 feet and is being continuously monitored by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Lake Okeechobee water levels. The Army Corps will continue releases from Lake Okeechobee until further notice.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
- The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) are working to provide updates to private sector partners. Information is available at www.flvbeoc.org.
- The state has activated the Private Sector Hotline at 850-410-1403, which is available for business inquiries about storm preparedness and response.
CONTACTS
- The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) contact number is 1-800-342-3557.
- The State Emergency Operations Center Media Line: 850-921-0217.
- Follow @FLSERT or @FLGovScott on Twitter for live updates on Tropical Storm Nate.
- Visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to find information on shelters, road closures, and evacuation routes.
National Policy Institute’s Richard Spencer speaking engagement confirmed for Oct. 19 at UF
Despite not being invited by the University of Florida, National Policy Institute’s President Richard Spencer is scheduled to speak on October 19 on campus.
Although UF leadership has denounced Spencer’s white supremacist rhetoric, the University, as a state entity, must allow the free expression of all viewpoints.
The NPI has rented space for an event, now scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 3201 Hull Road, on the UF campus in Gainesville.
The NPI had previously requested a date of Sept. 12 to speak on campus, which UF denied based on specific security threats. Rescheduling the event has provided additional time to make security arrangements.
The University is charging the allowable costs of $10,564 to rent the facility and for security within the venue. Additional security costs cannot be passed on to NPI.
Since safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus is the University’s top priority, UF will end up paying at least $500,000 to enhance security on campus and in the city of Gainesville. This includes costs from the University of Florida Police Department, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol and other agencies who are providing first responders.
In an effort to keep the campus apprised of important information, UF has launched an informative web page, freespeech.ufl.edu.
Gov. Scott Directs Florida Department of Education to Take Additional Action to Help Puerto Rican Students and Educators
Governor Rick Scott today directed the Florida Department of Education (DOE) to waive rules and regulations to ensure Puerto Rican students impacted by Hurricane Maria are able to continue their education in Florida. The Governor has also directed DOE to waive the educator certificate application fee and other requirements to help Puerto Rican educators displaced by the storm more easily continue their teaching careers in Florida.
Governor Scott said, “As Puerto Rican families work to rebuild their lives following the unbelievable devastation caused by Hurricane Maria, we are doing everything we can to help them throughout this process. I have directed the Department of Education to take additional action today to ensure students from Puerto Rico can more easily continue their education here in Florida and that teachers from Puerto Rico have every opportunity to continue to succeed in their careers. We will continue to work together to make sure Puerto Rican families have all the support they need.”
Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said, “As a result of the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria, families from Puerto Rico and elsewhere have relocated to Florida. Entire communities were destroyed and we do not know how long it will take to restore schools and other essential infrastructure. Therefore, it is critical that these students and teachers have the opportunity to participate in our state’s outstanding public education system. We are pleased to remove barriers to enrollment and help these students and teachers return to the classroom.”
K-12 Public Schools
Due to the devastation left in the wake of this record-setting storm, some displaced families may not have immediate access to the records that are typically required to enroll in school. Therefore, at the direction of Governor Scott, DOE has temporarily waived statues and rules that will allow Florida public school districts to enroll Puerto Rican students whose education records are unavailable due to the storm. Upon receiving a request from a school superintendent, DOE will waive the application fee for an initial educator certificate and will allow the acceptance of an unofficial transcript of teaching degrees or copies of a valid teaching certificate issued by another state or U.S. territory.
The supplemental order relating to K-12 public schools is posted HERE.
Florida College System
At the direction of Governor Scott, Commissioner Stewart also signed a supplemental order authorizing state colleges to waive existing rules and requirements to help Puerto Rican students more quickly enroll in college. At the request of Governor Scott, all 28 Florida College System institutions have agreed to offer in-state tuition to Puerto Rican students who were impacted by Hurricane Maria.
The supplemental order relating to Florida College System institutions is posted HERE.
St. Petersburg says no to money in politics
The City of St. Petersburg City Council made history today becoming the first municipality post-Citizens United to abolish Super PACs and limit foreign corporate spending in local elections by passing two campaign finance reform ordinances. The first ordinance abolishes Super PACs by limiting individual and/or corporate contributions to the pre-Citizens United limit of $5,000. The second ordinance limits foreign owned corporations from spending money in local elections. A third ordinance also passed that increases transparency and creates a disclosure reporting requirement for all contributions. The first two ordinances passed by a 6-2 vote and the transparency ordinance passed by a 7-1 vote.
The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, American Promise and Free Speech for People teamed up with Ordinance Sponsor St. Petersburg City Council Chair Darden Rice, to introduce the Defend Our Democracy Ordinance in St. Petersburg in July of 2016. The Ordinance was later co-sponsored by City Council Member Karl Nurse. Nearly 30 local, state and national organizations with St. Petersburg roots, representing thousands of local residents, later joined to form a coalition that worked to get the ordinances passed over the last 15 months.
Dr. Julie Kessel, President of the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area, explained the goal of the coalition formed more than two years ago. “The League believes in the beauty of our representative democracy and we are strongest when everyone participates and has a voice. She went on to say, “We believe that “big money” in politics is a root cause of a compromised democracy, every bit as corrosive as gerrymandering, governmental abuse of power and voter suppression. When money is as important to a candidate or an elected official as a citizen’s vote, the sovereign power of the people to elect officials to represent their interests has been corrupted.” Karen Lieberman, of American Promise, said “What we did in St. Pete is historic. It is a great first step in taking back our democracy for our city, our state and our country”.
“Today, St. Pete took a historic and critical step forward to challenge the scourge of Super PAC money in elections. The fight begins here for common sense campaign reform to take back our democracy”, said Darden Rice, Chair of St Petersburg City Council. City Council Member, Karl Nurse, said of the vote, “The citizens of St. Pete made it clear that defending our democracy is a value that we are prepared to defend”.
According to Free Speech for People, Super PACs were the progeny of the 2010 DC Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals SpeechNow.org v. FEC holding the federal law limiting contributions to political committees to $5,000 per person each year and did not apply to a political committee that promised to make only “independent expenditures.” Free Speech for People indicated that while some appellate courts have applied the ruling to cases within their jurisdiction, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction for the state of Florida, has not ruled to date on the merits of this type of case. The Florida Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court have not yet ruled on the issue.
John Bonafiz, Esquire, Co-Founder and President of Free Speech for People said today, after the historic St. Petersburg City Council vote, “The City of St. Petersburg is leading the way in the fight to reclaim our democracy. Today’s vote by the St. Petersburg City Council marks a huge victory for the people all across the city who have stood up to demand an end to super PACs and foreign-influenced corporations threatening the integrity of their local elections. This ordinance will be a model for communities throughout the nation on how to fight big money in politics and defend the promise of American self-government. Free Speech for People congratulates the St. Petersburg City Council on this historic vote, and we thank the many grassroots activists and citizens of St. Petersburg who have worked tirelessly to achieve this victory.”
Florida PSC Urges Panhandle Residents to Be Prepared
As Tropical Storm Nate heads into the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) urges panhandle residents to prepare now.
According to the Weather Channel, the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season is now among the top 10 all-time most active seasons on record. The PSC wants Floridians to continue to be prepared for active weather through the end of hurricane season on November 30.
“As the PSC and Florida’s utilities continue to monitor Tropical Storm Nate, we advise residents to be prepared,” said PSC Chairman Julie Brown. “This active storm season has reminded us that we cannot be complacent; it’s never too early to implement your storm plan.”
Visit the PSC’s website to see the latest storm information and other helpful materials, including a storm preparation consumer tip.
For more information on storm safety and storm-hardening tips, visit the Division of Emergency Management’s website.
For additional information, visit www.floridapsc.com.
Lindsay Harrington Endorses Albritton
The former Speaker Pro Tempore of the Florida House says Albritton
is well positioned to be an effective member of the Florida Senate.
The Ben Albritton Campaign today announced the endorsement by former State Representative and Punta Gorda Mayor Lindsay Harrington. Harrington served in the Florida House from 1996 to 2004, including as Speaker Pro Tempore. Albritton is seeking the District 26 seat in the Florida Senate, currently held by Denise Grimsley, who is running for Commissioner of Agriculture.
“Ben Albritton has proven himself in the Florida House, and he is ready to be an effective Senator for District 26,” said Harrington. “He is well respected by his colleagues, and he has a thorough understanding of the district’s most pressing issues. That combination makes for strong leadership in the legislature, and I’m proud to endorse him.”
Harrington has been an active leader in the Charlotte County community for nearly 40 years. He is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate. He has been part of the Charlotte County Republican Executive Committee and served as a State Committeeman. Harrington served in the United States Air Force, both on active duty and in the Reserve, for 14 years.
“I’m honored to have Lindsay Harrington’s support,” said Albritton. “He has served Charlotte County with distinction for many years, and I look forward to working with him to make sure its residents continue to be well represented in Tallahassee.”
In 2010, Albritton was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he has been a staunch advocate for entrepreneurs and children in Florida’s foster care system. He is also known for his strong conservative record on Second Amendment rights and protection for the unborn.
Albritton is the Chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee and also serves on the Appropriations Committee and the Government Accountability Committee. House Speaker Richard Corcoran recently appointed him to the Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness. He also currently serves as the Chair of the Polk County Legislative Delegation.
A full list of those endorsing Albritton may be found at www.BenAlbritton.com.
Paid by Ben Albritton, Republican, for State Senator
pureALTA Wins National Award for Water Treatment Project
Groundbreaking technology wins acclaimed award
The City of Altamonte Springs’ pureALTA project was named the 2017 WateReuse Innovative Project of the Year at the 32nd Annual WateReuse Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona. This event is the nation’s preeminent conference on water reuse. The award itself recognizes new, innovative solutions for expanding the use of recycled water and the creation of future models that advocate the implementation of water reclamation nationwide.
“Diversifying our community’s water portfolio was one of the City’s main motivations in creating pureALTA,” said Ed Torres, Director of Public Works and Utilities. “This project could help the City meet the future water needs of our residents, while also becoming a model for other utilities around the country and the world.”
The pureALTA pilot project takes reclaimed water and treats it to meet or exceed all drinking water quality standards without using expensive, energy-consuming reverse osmosis. The City built a unique network of four advanced water treatment processes:
- Ozonation and biological activated carbon filtration (O3/BAF)
- Ultrafiltration (UF)
- Granular activated carbon filtration (GAC)
- Ultraviolet light with advanced oxidation process (UV AOP)
This system of water purification has produced outstanding results during the testing phase, as it treats approximately 28,000 gallons of water each day. The purified water is returned to the City’s reclaimed water system where it is used for irrigation. Based on the final results of the pilot project, the City could build a full-scale system with the potential to create 300,000 to 500,000 gallons of purified water daily; that’s about 5 percent of the City’s future daily water demand – without drawing it from the aquifer.
Thanks to the grant provided by the St. Johns River Water Management District, the pureALTA project was launched and exceeded all expectations.
“We may be a smaller city, but our philosophy has always been to think outside the box when it comes to meeting the needs of our residents and to conserve our natural resources,” said Frank Martz, Altamonte Springs City Manager. “We are extremely proud of the hard work and committed efforts from our city staff and honored to accept this prestigious award.”
Martz added the City has hosted several visits from other cities and water agencies looking for ways to adapt similar systems for their own communities. The testing phase will continue through October 2018.
pureALTA is just the latest in the City’s efforts to develop innovative projects to expand its water portfolio. The City’s A-FIRST project is a stormwater management initiative that generates as much as 4.5 million gallons of reclaimed water daily, which is approximately 1.6 billion gallons of alternative water supply annually. The project utilizes runoff as a water resource instead of just filling up retention ponds without using its water. The City also developed Project APRICOT, which delivers reclaimed water to almost every property in the city for lawn, landscape and other non-drinking purposes, rather than using drinking water. Project APRICOT, which began in the 1980s, was one of the first projects of its kind and is still in use today.
For more information, CLICK HERE.
Florida League of Cities Resolution Praises Governor for Leadership, Assistance Throughout Irma
Resolution also commends Florida Division of
Emergency Management for ongoing efforts
The Florida League of Cities Board of Directors today announced a resolution thanking Gov. Rick Scott, his executive team, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management for their tireless efforts and dedication leading Florida through preparations, response, and recovery associated with Hurricane Irma.
The resolution recognizes Gov. Scott for his steady guidance throughout Irma, including constant updates to Florida residents and consistent communication with municipal leaders in order to keep their communities safe.
Governor Rick Scott said, “I appreciate the Florida League of Cities for this resolution. Our first responders, volunteers and emergency management professionals are the ones who deserve all of the credit for the preparations, response and ongoing recovery from Hurricane Irma.”
The League of Cities also commended the governor for the plans and actions he executed to assist Florida residents with evacuation and preparedness efforts throughout Irma. For example, Gov. Scott worked with the Florida Department of Transportation to suspend tolls across the state to make it easier for residents to evacuate and emergency responders to get to locations where they were needed.
The Florida League of Cities acknowledged how accessible both the governor and the Division of Emergency Management were for expediting discussions, solutions, and advice to help local government officials meet the needs for their cities. The League specifically praised recently departed DEM Director Bryan Koon, who left that position after Irma had passed, for his efforts.
