Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $8 million to Miami-Dade County through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF) to support roadway infrastructure at Miami Freedom Park. The JGGF award aims to expand business opportunities in the park and create more than 1,800 jobs.
Governor Ron DeSantis Visits Taylor County to Provide Storm Updates, Survey Hurricane Damage, and Bring Support for Residents Following Hurricane Debby
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Debby. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Debby. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Debby recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses.
Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) continues to monitor and prepare for potential impacts from Tropical Depression Four. Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-157 on August 2, amending EO 24-156 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties. This allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential areas that the storm may impact.
On August 1, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-156, declaring a state of emergency in numerous counties across Florida in preparation for Invest 97L's projected landfall. The counties affected include Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Orange Osceola Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota...
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) continues to monitor and prepare for potential impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone Four. Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-156 on August 1, declaring a state of emergency for 54 counties, which allows state officials to make critical resources available to communities ahead of any potential areas that the storm may impact.
Governor Ron DeSantis has issued Executive Order (EO) 24-157, amending the previously declared EO 24-156 to include seven additional counties under a state of emergency due to the impending threat posed by Potential Tropical Cyclone Four. The amendment follows the National Hurricane Center's advisory, which upgraded Invest 97L to Potential Tropical Cyclone Four.
FloridaCommerce has announced the availability of $20 million in funding for rural communities in Florida through the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF). The initiative aims to support infrastructure projects that encourage job creation, capital investment, and economic strengthening in these areas. Since 2019, the RIF has awarded over $87 million for 121 projects.
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation announced today that the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing program has provided over $50 million in down payment and closing cost assistance to help Florida’s workforce purchase homes. Since the launch of the third cycle of funding on July 1, 2024, the program has allocated a total of $61.3 million to 3,745 families across the state. Veterans, active-duty military personnel, nurses, teachers, and law enforcement officers are among the primary beneficiaries.
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.