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Senator Keith Perry Announces Project Leo Expansion

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Senator Perry (R- Gainesville) today announced that Governor Scott signed into law a bill earlier this week that expands Project Leo, a state-funded program that provides locating technology to aid search-and-rescue efforts for persons on the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

In 2016, the Florida Legislature created a pilot program known as Project Leo, which was named after 9-Year-old Leo Walker of Live Oak, FL who wandered away from home in 2014. Project Leo works to provide devices to aid search and rescue efforts for persons with special needs in the case of elopement.

“All too often we hear of tragic stories coming from our communities about persons who have gone missing,” Senator Perry said. “This legislation will provide a vital resource and peace of mind for so many families dealing with this issue.”

Senate Bill 1156 expands this voluntary program statewide for autistic children and others with a history of elopement. The program is administered through a partnership between the state university Center for Autism Related Diseases (CARD) program and local law enforcement.

“The signing of this legislation is a giant step forward in protecting some of Florida’s vulnerable citizens,” Senator Perry concluded. “I commend my colleagues in the House and the Senate for passing this common sense legislation, and working together to improve public safety for all Floridians.”

U.S. Forecast: Continued Expansion Hinges on President’s Proposed Economic Policies

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The November presidential election pushed stock prices higher and boosted consumer and business confidence, but a good mood is not the same as a good economy, says University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith.
“Unless this mood translates into actual economic spending activity, the boost in confidence enjoyed thus far will prove to be fleeting,” says Snaith, the director for the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at the UCF College of Business in his latest U.S. forecast. “Ultimately this will depend on the Trump administration’s ability to follow through on economic policies that will provide the impetus for spending to grow.”
Snaith says the administration must get its proposed tax reforms and infrastructure spending plans, which are critical to boosting economic growth, off the drawing board and into action. Snaith’s forecast predicts this will occur in late 2017 or early 2018.
The U.S. economic forecast, which is published semi-monthly by the Institute for Economic Competitiveness, projects the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates another 25 basis points in June, the first such increase since March. Stronger economic growth and higher inflation from Trump administration policies are expected to quicken the pace of increases over the next three years with the federal funds rate hitting 3 percent by the end of 2019, according to the forecast.
Real GDP growth, which slowed to 1.6 percent in 2016, is forecasted to reach 2.7 percent in 2017 and 3.5 percent in 2018 before slipping to 3.4 percent in 2019 and then 3 percent in 2020 as the Federal Reserve tightens interest rates. Consumer spending is the largest component of GDP. In 2015, real consumer spending growth was 3.2 percent, and in 2016, spending grew at 2.7 percent.
“The U.S. consumer has been playing the biggest role in supporting the economic expansion, tepid as it has been, over the past three years,” Snaith says. “Continued gains in employment, more rapidly rising wages and improving household balance sheets should continue to provide a solid foundation for consumer spending growth. Tax cuts and spending programs proposed by the Trump administration should also boost consumer spending growth.”
The proposed tax cuts include reducing the current seven tax brackets, which range from 10 percent to 39.6 percent, into three brackets of 10 percent, 20 percent and 25 percent, increasing the standard deduction to $25,000 for single filers and $50,000 for joint filers and reducing the corporate tax rate to 15 percent.
The housing market will continue to improve slowly through 2020 even with rising interest rates, and housing starts are expected to rise from 1.29 million in 2017 to 1.66 million in 2020.
The unemployment rate is expected to decline to 3.6 percent in late 2020, and job growth should be enough to keep up with labor force growth through the end of 2020. Underemployment, which has been a persistent problem in this recovery, stands at 8.6 percent as of April 2017 but also will continue to decline through 2020.
Inflation is expected to accelerate in 2017 pushing the Fed to move more quickly to raise interest rates. Core Consumer Price Index inflation will average 2.7 percent during 2017-2020.
For the full forecast, click here.
Snaith is a national expert in economics, forecasting, market sizing and economic analysis who authors quarterly reports about the state of the economy. Bloomberg News has named Snaith as one of the country’s most accurate forecasters for his predictions about the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate, the Federal Funds rate.
The Institute for Economic Competitiveness strives to provide complete, accurate and timely national, state and regional forecasts and economic analyses. Through these analyses, the institute provides valuable resources to the public and private sectors for informed decision-making.

Gov. Scott Announces Cott Corporation Headquarters Expansion in Tampa

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Governor Scott announced today that Cott Corporation, one of the world’s largest beverage producers and distributors, will be expanding their headquarters in Hillsborough County. The expansion will create 60 new jobs and invest $800,000 in the local community.
Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce Cott Corporation is expanding their headquarters in Hillsborough County and creating 60 new jobs for Tampa families. Florida businesses have added more than 1.25 million private-sector jobs in the last six years and we will keep working every day to make our state the number one place to grow a business. I look forward to welcoming more job creators like Cott Corporation to Florida.”
Jerry Fowden, CEO, Cott Corporation said, “Cott has undergone a significant and positive transformation in recent years including acquisitions such as DS Services, Aquaterra, Eden Springs and most recently, S&D Coffee and Tea. As we grow, we continue to strive to be an employer of choice in the Florida and Tampa market. Tampa has been a very good location for our global headquarters, offering a workforce whose skills align with our business needs. That makes this region increasingly attractive to us.”
With over 12,000 employees, Cott maintains operations in 20 countries worldwide. Cott also develops and manufactures beverage concentrates, which it exports to approximately 50 countries around the world.
Brad Goist, President, North America, Cott Beverages said, “We had an opportunity to evaluate aspects of our North America support structure recently and have decided to relocate positions from other domestic and international locations and further invest those jobs in Tampa. We believe this is a good investment for our business unit and we look forward to continuing to grow with Tampa in the years to come.”
This project was made possible through strong partnerships between Enterprise Florida, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Hillsborough County and the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation.
Chris Hart IV, President and CEO, Enterprise Florida, Inc. said, “Cott beverages is following other businesses and is continuing to expand in Florida. They recognize that Florida is the best place to do business and 60 new jobs are being created for Florida families. The business-friendly climate and the talent pool in Florida lead the nation and continue to attract businesses like Cott Beverages.”
Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Cott Corporation is a thriving Florida business that has harnessed the Tampa area’s talented workforce and the state’s superior distribution networks. I am proud of the company’s growth and commitment to job creation and expansion in Florida. Cott’s newly announced high-wage jobs will provide great opportunities to local job seekers.”
Stacy White, Chairman, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners said, “Hillsborough County’s exceptional pool of diversely skilled talent and friendly business climate helped make Cott Corporation’s decision to add jobs here much easier. We thank Cott for providing more excellent career opportunities for local families and applaud their decision to bring jobs that had been located in other states and overseas to Tampa. We look forward to supporting them as they grow.”
Cott Corporation joins a growing list of companies that have recently made the decision to locate or expand their headquarters in Hillsborough County, including Bertram Yachts, BlueGrace Logistics, North American Roofing Services, Inc., and Velocity Resource Group.
Ken Atwater, Ph.D., Chairman of Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and President of Hillsborough Community College said, “We are pleased to see Cott Corporation continue to thrive in Hillsborough County. The competition for the quality jobs they provide is intense, and Cott had several other options to consider. We appreciate Cott’s decision to increase their investment in our community, and know it will pay great dividends for them.”
Individuals interested in open job opportunities may refer to the Cott Corporation web site at http://www.cott.com/careers.
About Cott Corporation
With the acquisitions of DS Services of America, Inc. and Eden Springs, Cott has combined leading providers in the direct-to-consumer beverage services industry with its traditional business, one of the world’s largest producers of beverages on behalf of retailers, brand owners and distributors. Cott now has the largest volume-based national presence in the North American and European home and office delivery industry for botled water and one of the five largest national market share positions in the U.S. and Europe office coffee services and filtration services industries. Cott reaches over 2.3 million customers through routes located across North America, Europe, Israel and Russia supported by national sales and distribution facilities, and fleet. Cott’s broad portfolio allows it to offer, on a direct-to consumer basis, a variety of bottled water, coffee, brewed tea, water dispensers, coffee and tea brewers and filtration equipment. Cott believes it has the broadest distribution network in the direct-to-consumer beverage services industry in North America and Europe, which enables it to efficiently service residences and small and medium size businesses, as well as national corporations, universities and government agencies.
Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.
Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation is the lead designated economic development agency for Hillsborough County and the cities of Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace. Established in 2009 as a partnership between the public sector and private corporate investors, the EDC works to develop and sustain a thriving local economy through the attraction, retention and expansion of high wage jobs and capital investment within targeted industry sectors.
Hillsborough County, Florida is the commercial and industrial heart of Tampa Bay. The fourth largest county in the state of Florida, Hillsborough is home to nearly 1.3 million residents, with thousands more arriving each year. Its strength is drawn from being one of the most advanced economies and having one of the most educated workforces in the state. Hillsborough County and its three municipalities –Tampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace – offer a competitive business environment and an abundance of regional assets including Port Tampa Bay, Tampa International Airport, and MacDill Air Force Base. County government is focused on creating economic prosperity for residents and businesses throughout the area. To learn more, visit HCFLGov.net.