FloridaCommerce announced today that more than 5,400 bonuses have been awarded through the Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Program. The state has welcomed over 400 recruits from jurisdictions such as Illinois, California, and New York. This initiative aligns with Governor Ron DeSantis' commitment to prioritizing public safety in Florida.
During Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez’s international mission to the Farnborough Air Show, aviation company AURA AERO Inc. announced the opening of its first US facility within Embry-Riddle and the decision to locate a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing and assembly plant in Florida. AURA AERO is a French designer and manufacturer of aircraft headquartered in Toulouse, France. This decision follows the company’s move last year to create a partnership with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at the University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach, which is now open. The new...
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded funds for workforce development through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) and the Workforce Development Capitalization Grant Program. Awards were made to St. Petersburg College to help establish the Semiconductor, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning Training for Technicians (SMART Tech) 4.0 lab.
FloridaCommerce announced today that the Fort Lauderdale metro area leads in job gains over the year in trade, transportation, and utilities (+5,100 jobs); government (+4,200 jobs); and other services (+4,100 jobs). The area’s total nonagricultural employment in June 2024 was 925,500, an increase of 21,100 jobs (+2.3%) over the year. The Fort Lauderdale area’s private sector employment in June 2024 rose by 2.1% (+16,900 jobs) over the year.
FloridaCommerce announced today that the Miami metro area gained the most private sector jobs over the year among all metro areas, adding 35,100 jobs (+3.0%) in June 2024. The area's labor force increased by 2.2% (+30,037) over the same period. Notably, Miami led all metro areas in job gains in three industry sectors: leisure and hospitality (8,400 jobs), professional and business services (8,100 jobs), and construction (5,800 jobs).
ORLANDO, Fla. — FloridaCommerce announced today that the Orlando area private sector employment increased by 15,300 jobs (+1.1%) over the year in June 2024. The industry sectors gaining the most jobs were trade, transportation, and utilities (+4,500 jobs), and education and health services (+4,300 jobs).
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Free State of Florida has emerged as the leading state for first-time homebuyers, according to a new study from WalletHub reported by Fox Business. The study ranked five Florida cities in the top five and six in the top ten. Palm Bay secured the number one spot, followed by Cape Coral, Port St. Lucie, Tampa, and Orlando in second through fifth places respectively. Lakeland also featured prominently in the top ten, ranking seventh.
FloridaCommerce has announced that the West Palm Beach metro area experienced the fastest over-the-year job growth rate in education and health services among all metro areas in the state, adding 6,000 jobs (+5.4%) in June 2024. The labor force in the West Palm Metro area increased by 1,521 in June 2024, marking a year-over-year increase of 0.2%.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — FloridaCommerce announced that the Jacksonville Metro Area’s total nonagricultural employment increased by 12,100 jobs (+1.5%) over the year in June 2024. The area's total private sector jobs rose by 9,400 jobs (+1.3%) over the same period.
FloridaCommerce has reported a 1.1% increase in total nonagricultural employment for the Pensacola metro area in June 2024, translating to an addition of 2,200 jobs over the past year. The private sector in Pensacola saw a growth of 1,500 jobs, or 0.9%, during the same period.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has extended the application deadline for several water quality protection grants. The online grant portal will remain open until July 31, 2024, allowing eligible entities to submit proposals for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Florida businesses and residents affected by severe storms and flooding from June 11-14 can now apply for low-interest disaster loans, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman made the loans available following a request from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on June 28 for a disaster declaration.
FloridaCommerce has approved more than $2.1 million in funding through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to support small businesses affected by recent flooding in South Florida. To date, 66 businesses have been approved to receive these funds, which are designed to provide interim financial relief while they await other sources of funding, such as insurance payouts.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, FloridaCommerce announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Florida businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the May 2024 North Florida Tornadoes and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the May North Florida Tornadoes are encouraged to submit a claim at FloridaJobs.org.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded funds for workforce development and infrastructure improvements through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) and the Defense Infrastructure Grant (DIG). Awards were made to Pensacola State College, the city of DeFuniak Springs, Santa Rosa County, and Jackson County for projects that will support the aviation and aerospace industry, the military and defense industry, and increase access to workforce housing.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Today, FloridaCommerce announced that the Jacksonville area’s private sector jobs increased by 13,200 jobs (+1.9 percent) over the year in May 2024. The area's labor force grew by 0.3 percent (+2,157) over the same period. The Jacksonville area unemployment rate was 3.0 percent in May 2024, marking a 0.2 percentage point increase from the May 2023 rate of 2.8 percent.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — FloridaCommerce announced today that the Fort Lauderdale metro area led in job gains over the past year in trade, transportation, and utilities (+6,500 jobs); government (+4,500 jobs); and other services (+3,900 jobs). The total nonagricultural employment for the area in May 2024 was 932,200, marking an increase of 21,100 jobs (+2.3 percent) over the year. Private sector employment in Fort Lauderdale rose by 16,600 jobs (+2.1 percent) during the same period.
MIAMI, Fla. — FloridaCommerce announced today that the Miami metro area led all metro areas in private sector job gains over the past year, adding 30,900 jobs (+2.7 percent) since May 2023. The labor force increased by 3.0 percent (+40,298) over the same period.
NAPLES, Fla. — FloridaCommerce has reported an increase of 6,400 jobs in the Southwest Florida private sector for May 2024 compared to the previous year. The unemployment rate in Naples stood at 2.7 percent, marking a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points over the year. Fort Myers maintained a steady unemployment rate of 3.0 percent.
ORLANDO, Fla. — FloridaCommerce announced today that the Orlando area private sector employment increased by 1.2 percent (+16,300 jobs) over the year in May 2024. The total nonagricultural employment in the Orlando area rose by 19,200 jobs (+1.3 percent) since May 2023.