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.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 21.9 percent from the first quarter of 2019 to the first quarter of 2024, nearly double the national growth rate of 11.1 percent during the same period. Florida's annual GDP stands at nearly $1.3 trillion, and the state continues to lead in new business formations with over 3 million since 2019 and more than 266,000 formed already in 2024.
FloridaCommerce announced that the West Palm Beach metro area recorded the fastest over-the-year job growth rate among all metro areas in the state in education and health services, with a 6.0 percent increase in May 2024. The labor force in the West Palm Metro area grew by 1,114 in May 2024, reflecting a 0.1 percent year-over-year increase. Additionally, the region added 8,600 new private sector jobs over the year, marking a 1.4 percent rise. The unemployment rate in West Palm Beach was 2.9 percent in May 2024, up from 2.7 percent in May 2023.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — FloridaCommerce announced today that the Pensacola metro area saw a 1.6 percent increase in private sector employment, adding 2,800 jobs over the year in May 2024. The labor force in the Pensacola area grew by 0.2 percent, equivalent to an additional 574 individuals. The unemployment rate for the region was reported at 3.0 percent in May 2024, up from 2.8 percent in May 2023.
FloridaCommerce has released the employment data for the Miami area for May 2024. The detailed statistics can be accessed on their official website at www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.
FloridaCommerce has released the employment data for the Pensacola area for May 2024. The detailed statistics can be accessed on their official website.
FloridaCommerce has released the employment data for the Tampa area for May 2024. The data can be accessed on their official website at www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.
FloridaCommerce has released the Jacksonville area employment data for May 2024. The information is available at www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.
FloridaCommerce has released the employment data for the Fort Lauderdale area for May 2024. The detailed information can be accessed at www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases.