TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis announced the allocation of funds for infrastructure improvements through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund (JGGF). The cities of Umatilla and Plant City received awards aimed at supporting the manufacturing industry and enhancing access to commercial and industrial sites. These JGGF awards are projected to create or retain nearly 4,000 jobs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the annual Korean War Remembrance Day Proclamation, commemorating the start of the Korean War in 1950. More than 75,000 Korean War veterans currently reside in the Sunshine State.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis announced that state offices will be closed on Friday, July 5, 2024, in celebration of Independence Day weekend.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, June 21, Governor DeSantis signed a contentious ethics bill into law that will make it significantly more challenging for Floridians to file ethics complaints against government officials accused of violating the public trust. The law also imposes new restrictions on local ethics boards, such as those in Miami and Tallahassee, which will no longer be able to pursue self-initiated investigations from anonymous credible whistleblowers. This legislation is set to take effect on July 1.
Tallahassee, Fla., June 24, 2024 – Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., announced June’s chosen books for the Commissioner’s Book of the Month. This monthly reading challenge aims to promote literacy and reading engagement in preK-12 schools. Each month, Commissioner Diaz highlights five recommended books—one per selected grade range.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution has announced the arrest of six individuals accused of stealing nearly $250,000 from Florida seniors through grandparent scams. The Miami-Dade Police Department’s Vice Intelligence Squad reported that the defendants posed as lawyers or legal representatives of the victims' grandchildren, claiming the grandchildren were arrested after hitting a pregnant woman with a vehicle and needed bail money.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are now available to businesses and residents in Florida following a Presidential disaster declaration for severe storms, straight-line winds, and tornadoes that occurred on May 10.
The Georgia State Senate has passed Senate Bill 355, legislation aimed at banning ranked-choice voting in the state's elections. The bill, authored by Georgia Senate Majority Whip Randy Robertson (R-Cataula), will now proceed to the Georgia House of Representatives.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has announced significant policy changes following a recent settlement. These changes, outlined on NAR’s settlement FAQ page, will take effect on August 17, 2024.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites the public to attend the Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area 10-year Land Management Plan public hearing on Tuesday, July 23. The hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Glades County Commission Chambers, Room 201, 500 Ave J SW, Moore Haven, Florida.
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.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Michael Caschette and Eileen LaMarca to the Broward College District Board of Trustees.
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.
Attorney General Ashley Moody hosted a Cryptocurrency Scams Symposium in The Villages today. During the event, Moody’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit provided information to help attendees avoid falling victim to cryptocurrency schemes. Following the symposium, Moody recognized Florida’s top Seniors vs. Crime volunteers with the Senior Sleuth Awards.