Governor Rick Scott today celebrated the kick off of construction for the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, the largest transportation infrastructure project in Northwest Florida history. The State of Florida is investing $398.5 million in the new bridge. The new bridge is expected to be completed in 2019 and will temporarily transition four lanes of traffic onto the structure. This will allow for demolition of the existing bridge and completion of the second and final bridge in 2020.
Governor Scott said, “I was proud to join Northwest Florida leaders and community members to celebrate the kick off of the new Pensacola Bay Bridge project today. This investment will help increase safety and efficiency for the many families and visitors that travel through this beautiful community each day and will also help support the creation of thousands of jobs. Thanks to our commitment to making record transportation investments, critical projects like the Pensacola Bay Bridge replacement will help ensure Florida’s transportation infrastructure remains a national leader for generations to come.”
The new bridge will consist of two parallel structures, each with three 12-foot travel lanes, two 10-foot shoulders, and a 10-foot multi-use path for pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists.
The project’s design-build contractor, Skanska USA Civil Southeast, Inc., estimates they will directly employ more than 500 workers to construct the new bridge. Additionally, estimates from the University of West Florida’s Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development indicate the project will help create and sustain approximately 4,200 jobs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, along with an additional 600 jobs throughout Florida.
Mike Dew, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary, said, “I thank Governor Scott, the Florida Legislature and local officials for making this vital investment for Northwest Florida families and businesses. Governor Scott’s policies have led an economic revival across the state. We are at a nearly 10-year-low in unemployment and we are seeing 1,000 people move to the state each day. That’s why our transportation improvements, like the new Pensacola Bay Bridge, are critical to meeting the challenges of growth.”
northwest Florida
Gov. Scott: Northwest Florida Families Should Stay Alert to Flooding, Heavy Rain
Governor Rick Scott urged families in Northwest Florida to stay alert to possible flooding caused by heavy rain across the Florida Panhandle and provided the following update.
Governor Scott said, “With heavy rain impacting much of the Florida Panhandle today, families in Northwest Florida should remain alert to local weather updates regarding possible flooding and heavy rainfall. I continue to receive briefings from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and monitor Tropical Storm Cindy as it moves toward the central Gulf Coast. Last night, I reached out to emergency management officials, law enforcement and elected officials in affected counties to make sure they have everything they need to be prepared. While Florida is not expected to see major impacts from this storm, flooding could occur and I urge all Floridians and visitors to be cautious and visit FloridaDisaster.org to get a plan and be prepared.”
Affected counties have not reported any unmet needs and every county emergency operations center (EOC) remains in monitoring status. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) and other partnering agencies are monitoring Tropical Storm Cindy and identifying resources if flooding were to occur. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) area district offices are working with local officials to assess the current situation and coordinate operations. FDOT District 3 Operations Centers have been mobilized and are deploying water pumps to assist with potential roadway flooding in western Panhandle counties. DEM remains in constant communication with all county emergency operations centers and will continue to monitor the tropical storm and any potential impacts to the state. Leon County has made sandbag operations available for residents and more information is available HERE. Families and visitors can follow @FLSert on Twitter for updates and visit http://www.floridadisaster.org to get an emergency preparedness plan.
Legislation to Keep BP Oil Funds in Northwest Florida Passes Unanimously
Legislation passed by Senate and House now heads to Governor Scott
The Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives have unanimously passed House Bill 7077, Gulf Coast Economic Corridor. 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.
“Settlement funds represent a historic opportunity for our communities. 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, where we know they will be used to ensure the ongoing economy recovery of Northwest Florida,” said Senator Gainer. “I am pleased to see this legislation advance to Governor Scott with provisions that ensure we take into account feedback from local governments in the eight disproportionately affected counties.”
The eight Florida counties disproportionately affected by the Deepwater Horizon Spill include: Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Wakulla 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. Under current law, the eight counties are to receive 75 percent of all economic damage settlement funds received by the state. House Bill 7077 immediately appropriates the initial settlement payment to Triumph Gulf Coast, and releases future settlement payments, received on or after July 1, 2017, directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, no later than 30 days after they are received by the state.
“Triumph Gulf Coast will develop a comprehensive economic improvement plan for Northwest Florida to ensure that our communities benefit from these funds now and in the future. In keeping with the initial Senate position on this critical legislation, the bill makes it clear that settlement funds should be transferred directly to Triumph Gulf Coast,” said Senator Broxson. “We have waited for far too long, and now is the time to transfer these funds back to Florida’s Panhandle.”
“This legislation is very important to our constituents. Families and businesses across Northwest Florida have been counting on us to get this right. 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 the better part of the last decade, 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, and I am pleased to see it unanimously pass the Senate today.”
The legislation requires each board of county commissioners in the eight counties to solicit proposed projects and programs from other elected local governing boards within the county and provide Triumph Gulf Coast with a list of proposed projects and programs located within its county. The submitted list must include projects and programs submitted by other elected local governing boards and recommendations by the board of county commissioners. Triumph Gulf Coast must allocate at least five percent of the initial $300 million to projects and programs in each county, and must allocate at least four percent of future settlement funds to projects and programs in each county. Remaining funds are unrestricted can be appropriated at the discretion of Triumph Gulf Coast, provided they meet other legal requirements.
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. House Bill 7077 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. All employees and board members appointed after July 1, 2017, are subject to a six-year lobbying ban.
Background
In 2013, the Legislature created Triumph Gulf Coast to ensure economic damage settlement funds coming to the state would both benefit the eight disproportionately affected counties and be properly accounted for. The Triumph Gulf Coast Board is tasked to make awards to programs and projects that meet the priorities for economic recovery, diversification, and enhancement of the disproportionately affected counties. The corporation is required to abide by the state’s public record laws and public meeting notice requirements.
Fla Chamber: Tallahassee Politicians Want to Dictate How Northwest Florida Distributes Triumph Settlement
Florida Chamber: Tallahassee Politicians Want to Dictate
How Northwest Florida Distributes Triumph Settlement
By: Mark Wilson
When considering legislation coming from Tallahassee, the devil is in the details. When it comes to the bills sending Triumph funds to Northwest Florida, there are a few details panhandle residents need to be aware of.
You may recall, in 2013, the Florida Legislature created Triumph Gulf Coast, a nonprofit corporation to administer the funds as a result of the BP settlement from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Triumph funding was to be used for programs and projects that encourage economic recovery in the eight Northwest Florida coastal counties.
These counties could soon have access to $300 million to spend for the betterment of the community, but there’s a catch. The current legislation releasing that money to your community says it cannot be used for economic diversification or tourism marketing efforts. It seems the Florida Legislature believes they know what Northwest Florida needs most – and, unfortunately, that isn’t more jobs or tourists.
Tallahassee politicians are wrong and the facts don’t support their view.
Research from Florida Chamber Foundation Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish tells us that every Northwest Florida county lost jobs – except for Santa Rosa County – between December 2007 and December 2016. Further, the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin and the Panama City-Lynn Haven metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are home to two of the least diversified economies in the entire state – ranking 17th and 21st, respectively out of 22 Florida MSAs.
In other words, if tourism slows down, many Northwest Florida jobs would be threatened.
When it comes to Triumph funding, the Florida Chamber of Commerce believes Northwest Florida counties should have all options available to them. Continuing to market your beaches as a tourist destination while creating high-skill, high-wage jobs are two options. The Triumph funding was a path toward attracting large-scale, competitive projects, like Navy Federal Credit Union in Pensacola, but now economic development projects are off the table in this latest move by the Florida Legislature.
Taking economic development strategies that work off the table is shortsighted, and will, without question, put Northwest Florida at a competitive disadvantage compared to neighboring states. Enterprise Florida, VISIT FLORIDA and local economic development and tourism agencies are important pieces to Florida’s economic puzzle.
Triumph funding was originally intended for economic recovery projects. What better use for than focusing on projects that diversify the economy and invest in tourism efforts? That’s the question we should be asking members of the Florida Legislature.
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.
Legislation to Keep BP Oil Funds in Northwest Florida Passes First Senate Committee
The Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism, chaired by Senator Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee), 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 Montford, 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.
“Our constituents are counting on us to ensure these critical settlement funds are distributed in a transparent manner,” said Senator Gainer. “This legislation requires all currently-held and future settlement payments to be transferred directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., where we have proper checks and balances in place to ensure accountability.”
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 provides Northwest Florida with a historic opportunity to create a comprehensive economic improvement plan and a pathway to complete recovery from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. This legislation ensures we can begin that process in timely manner by transferring funds directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc.,” said Senator Broxson.
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.
“Families and businesses in our communities are still feeling the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. This important legislation will make certain these critical settlement funds are allocated in a thoughtful and deliberative manner that will provide for ongoing and long-term economic recovery,” said Senator Montford. “Additionally, this legislation ensures that even our small disproportionately affected counties have representation on the Triumph Board.”
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 was amended today to expand 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 work with local governments 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.
Op-Ed: By Working Together, Northwest Florida Has Chance for Brighter Future
By Bryan Parker
One region, one voice. One united goal.
When millions of gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf of Mexico in the country’s worst environmental disaster, Northwest Florida was devastated. It was an overwhelming punch to the gut for the people and economy of our region.
Now, seven years later, that heartbreak can be replaced by opportunity. It’s up to us to work together, as a unified region, to make sure it becomes a reality.
A $300 million payment from BP, a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, is a first step to help Northwest Florida recover and rebuild stronger than ever. We are all grateful that Florida’s legislative leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to steer the promised funds to our region this year – but we also know that nothing is truly done until the ink is dry.
There is much work ahead to secure these initial funds for Northwest Florida and the remaining $1.2 billion in the future, and to guarantee that decisions related to how the money is allocated are made by Northwest Floridians. We all believe that Northwest Florida is most successful when it has the authority to determine its own economic future.
Northwest Florida economic development advocates have long known that the entire region benefits most from working together – one region, one voice – to attract more jobs, training and business opportunities. Whether it’s launching a job-training program at a local college, winning a federal grant or drawing an entire industry to the area, those unified efforts create positive impacts that ripple across all of Florida.
The anchors of the Northwest Florida economy historically have been tourism and the military, but this new money will help our region build beyond our traditional economic engines to create a more diverse economy and job base. Tens of thousands of area residents will see their lives, and their communities, transformed.
Florida’s Great Northwest, the economic development organization representing the entire region, has worked with more than 860 of the region’s business, government and community leaders to develop a regional strategy that identifies the most promising opportunities for transformative economic growth in the region. Our hope is that the regional strategy will serve as the framework for prioritizing projects and allocating resources across the region.
Our wonderful corner of Florida is blessed with so many natural jewels, from our incomparable beaches and emerald-green water to spectacular rivers and forests. Add the hard-working spirit of our residents and the incredible talent and technology associated with our many military installations and private sector businesses, and you have a recipe for economic vitality and prosperity.
The BP money gives us the means to diversify and develop hubs of business and industry; train a modern workforce that will attract companies with higher wages and stable jobs; establish a state-of-the-art economic infrastructure that connects communities throughout our region; encourage innovative ideas to become reality; and build stronger communities.
Northwest Florida’s state lawmakers are working together on this, recognizing the importance of ensuring that this money goes to critical short-term and long-term efforts. Together, our region will use the funds as the impetus to create new and wide-ranging opportunities – ones that will make Northwest Florida appealing to a whole new generation of creative, talented and hard-working citizens.
Where tar balls once blotted our sugar-white beaches, wiping out jobs and our economy, we now have the opportunity to help boost education and training, business competitiveness, infrastructure, innovation and placemaking strategies that will benefit everyone.
We’re all in this together. Unified, we can ensure a much brighter picture for Northwest Florida.
Bryan Parker is Economic Development Representative for PowerSouth Energy, where he directs the company’s economic and community development initiatives in Northwest Florida. He is a member of the Executive Board of Florida’s Great Northwest and serves as chairman of the organization’s Advocacy Committee.
Senators Gainer, Broxson, and Montford File Legislation to Keep BP Oil Funds in Northwest Florida
Senator George Gainer (R-Panama City), Senator Doug Broxson (R-Pensacola), and Senator Bill Montford (D-Tallahassee) today filed Senate Bill 364, The Recovery Fund for the Deepwater Horizon Incident, to 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.
“These funds represent a tremendous opportunity to make long-term investments in Northwest Florida’s economy. By sending settlement funds directly to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., we can ensure they are allocated in a transparent and accountable manner,” said Senator Gainer.
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 clarifies that funds are to be directly appropriated to Triumph Gulf Coast Inc. no later than 30 days after they are received by the state.
“By clarifying the requirements under current law, this legislation ensures a smooth transfer of funds to Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., not only for the funds the state recently received, but also for any future settlement payments,” said Senator Broxson.
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.
“Nearly seven years after the spill began, on a daily basis, we are still hearing from constituents whose families and businesses were drastically impacted,” said Senator Montford. “This legislation affirms our longstanding commitment to keep these critical funds in Northwest Florida to provide for the ongoing economic recovery of our region.”
During the 2013 Legislative Session, under the leadership of then-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 five-member 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 over a period of thirty years.
Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. is tasked to work with local governments 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. 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. The governing board will be responsible for evaluating the economic benefits provided by each proposed project and will approve or decline funding.
Northwest Florida blue crab trap closure ending early
Recreational and commercial blue crab traps may be placed back in state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles) from the Florida/Alabama state line through the Franklin/Wakulla county line starting Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Traps had to be removed from the water as part of a 10-day closure that started Jan. 5, but this closure ended early because efforts to remove lost and abandoned traps have been completed.
This and other similar closures give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.
Lost and abandoned blue crab traps are a problem in the blue crab fishery because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when left in the water. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters on the water.
The closure is one of three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures that occur in 2017 on the Gulf coast of Florida. There are six regional closures total: three in odd-numbered years on the west coast and three in even-numbered years on the east coast.
For more information regarding the FWC’s trap-retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations and cleanup events, go online to MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater Fishing” then “Trap Retrieval/Debris Removal.” For additional information, contact the FWC’s trap retrieval coordinator, Pamela Gruver, at 850-487-0554.
