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Gov. Scott: $3.5 Million in Florida Defense Grants Awarded for Military Community

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Governor Scott today announced nearly $3.5 million will be awarded to support community projects at military installations across the state. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) administers the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program and the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program, which protects Florida’s military bases by providing funding for local infrastructure and land acquisition needs, as well as assisting communities surrounding military instillations in diversifying their economies. Florida’s military installations contribute more than $84.9 billion in economic impact and the defense industry supports nearly 800,000 jobs in the state.

Governor Scott said, “Florida is the most military-friendly state in the nation, and as a Navy Veteran myself, I am proud to announce our state will be providing nearly $3.5 million in additional defense grants dedicated to supporting Florida’s military communities. Our military installations are the backbone of many great Florida communities.”

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Defense communities play a large role in Florida’s robust economy. We are proud to invest in our military installations and the local communities they support.”

Defense Infrastructure Grants are awarded to communities for improving areas surrounding military installations. This will positively impact an area’s military value and its community. The 2018-2019 Defense Infrastructure Grants were awarded to defense partners in Bay, Brevard, Clay, Duval, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Defense Reinvestment Grants are provided to communities to help support the needs of a military installation or to help expand the community’s non-defense economy. The 2018-2019 Defense Reinvestment Grants were awarded to defense partners in Bay, Brevard, Clay, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa, Orange, Santa Rosa and Walton counties.

Click here to learn more about the award winners.

Florida CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis Praises Gov. Rick Scott for Signing House Bill 29 for Florida’s Military Community

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Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis today praised Gov. Rick Scott for signing one of his 2018 Legislative Session priorities, House Bill 29, into law. The bill waives licensing and training fees for military personnel, their spouses, and veterans for the Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services, the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services, and the Division of State Fire Marshal.

“Thank you to Gov. Scott for signing this legislation that helps Florida’s military community take charge of their economic futures more easily. Florida is known as a top military-friendly state and I want to keep it that way. Waiving fees and duplicative requirements for our military personnel and veterans are important ways we can remove barriers and make it easier for them to prosper here in Florida.

“We could not have done this without the lift from the bill sponsors. Thank you to Reps. Mel Ponder and Paul Renner, and Sen. Doug Broxson for leading the charge on this measure that supports our military community.”

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis: Unanimous Support for First Responders, Consumers, and Florida’s Military Community

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Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis today praised the Florida legislature for the unanimous support of his 2018 legislative priorities including fighting for first responders, protecting consumers from fraud, making Florida a more military friendly state, and streamlining and modernizing government.

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis stated, “After hearing from our first responder community, we fought hard so that they can now have access to mental health benefits. When the Equifax data breach impacted millions, we made it easier for Floridians to protect themselves from fraud.  My mission is to make Florida an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. Laws on the books should work for our residents, not against them.”

Key reforms advocated by CFO Patronis included the following:

Fighting for Our First Responders
Senate Bill 376: CFO Patronis’ top priority was to increase access to mental health benefits for Florida’s first responders. This legislation allows first responders to file a workers’ compensation claim for a mental injury without an accompanying physical injury.

Protecting Florida Consumers from Fraud 
House Bill 953: CFO Patronis fought to make it easier for Floridians to protect themselves from fraud. This legislation eliminates the fee that credit reporting agencies were allowed to charge for Floridians to freeze their credit.

Making Florida More Military Friendly
House Bill 29: CFO Patronis worked to make it easier for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, their spouses and honorably discharged veterans to take charge of their economic futures by removing certain licensing and training fees for the Division of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services, the Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services, and the Division of State Fire Marshal.

Streamlining Government 
House Bill 1073: CFO Patronis worked to modernize the Department of Financial Services (DFS) and better protect Florida consumers. This legislation includes streamlining the appointment process for non-resident adjustors and providing a pathway for better communication between local governments and DFS. Additionally, the bill reduces regulatory costs for licensees.

Returning Every Cent of Unclaimed Property 
House Bill 1361: CFO Patronis’ mission is to return unclaimed property back to its rightful owners, but it can be difficult if account information submitted is incomplete. This legislation includes uniform standards for account information provided to CFO Patronis’ Division of Unclaimed Property from local Clerks of Court.