MARATHON, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted Florida’s investments in coral reef protection and announced enhancements to the 2024 Lionfish Challenge and 2024 Lobster Mini-Season. Through the FY 2024-2025 Focus on Florida’s Future Budget, the Governor invested $57 million for coral reef restoration and coastal protection, bringing the total investment in these efforts during his second term to over $114 million.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is organizing regional workshops to inform local governments about opportunities to conserve gopher tortoises and other state-listed species in Florida. The aim of these workshops is to encourage local-level participation in gopher tortoise conservation by providing information that could help establish local protection policies. Additionally, the FWC will discuss how local policies can assist in conserving other state-listed species and will provide details on financial incentives available for habitat management.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will conduct an aerial treatment for aquatic plant control in portions of Lake Okeechobee during the week of June 17, weather permitting. The FWC aims to treat invasive Wright’s nutrush (Scleria lacustris) in areas where it exists in dense monocultures to limit ecological damage to the lake’s beneficial native plant communities.
FloridaCommerce has released the employment data for the Pensacola area for May 2024. The detailed statistics can be accessed on their official website.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Blair Bradley, Shawn Hindle, and Belinda Kirkegard and the reappointment of John Davis to the Valencia College District Board of Trustees.
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.
FloridaCommerce has released the employment data for the Orlando area for May 2024. The information is accessible at www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases. For further details on labor market and economic data, individuals can visit Florida Insight. The Department has also provided a video to help users understand the data available through Florida Insight.
Northeast Florida has been known as America’s Logistics Center for decades, with a critical component being the maritime landscape in the region. The area’s connectivity—three major interstates, four railroads, and a world-class international airport system—is strategically complemented by a port system that services the globe and various industries.
Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida TaxWatch released "Social Determinants of Health: Health Care Access and Quality," the first economic commentary in a series exploring social determinants of health as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The taxpayer research institute focuses on health care access and quality in this initial commentary.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Leon County for Individual Assistance following the severe weather and tornadoes in May 2024. Homeowners and renters who experienced losses can now apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, which may include financial aid for temporary lodging, basic home repairs, and other disaster-related expenses.
PortMiami recently celebrated the launch of shore power, enabling cruise ships to turn off their engines and connect to landside electrical power while docked. This initiative aims to reduce emissions and noise by providing electricity for lights, refrigeration, operating equipment, and other vessel functions when ships are berthed.
Port Canaveral is a world-class, highly efficient deep-water seaport connecting commerce and consumers throughout Florida and the southeastern United States. Located directly on the main Atlantic shipping lanes on the East Coast of Florida, Port Canaveral serves as a unique quadra-modal transportation hub linking sea, land, air, and space with the benefits of easy and efficient highway access, unrestricted air draft, 43-foot deep-water sea access, and multipurpose berthing.
After setting back-to-back record cargo growth at Florida’s seaports, additional economic data continues to show the significant role ports are playing as a major economic engine. Last month, new economic impact studies from JAXPORT and PortMiami revealed that the two seaports now produce $31 billion and $61 billion respectively in economic output, significantly higher than their respective 2019 and 2016 studies. Now, Port Everglades has released its latest report showing $26.5 billion in economic activity and 10,778 direct local jobs – a 12 percent increase for the 2023...
Port Everglades continues to be a significant contributor to the economy locally, regionally, and statewide based on a recently released annual economic impact report. Most notable is the 12 percent increase in direct local jobs, which has a positive cascading effect for the people and businesses who benefit from the money earned and spent by the workers.
MIAMI, Fla.—Governor Ron DeSantis today underscored substantial investments in pediatric and cancer care while signing three bills aimed at advancing health care innovation, research, and patient care in Florida. The legislation includes Senate Bill 1582, Senate Bill 7072, and House Bill 885.
Since the inception of The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Vessel Turn-In Program in late 2022, the FWC has received 186 applications from owners of at-risk or unwanted vessels. The first two vessels removed through this program were taken from Pasco and Pinellas counties in early March 2023, and the 100th vessel was removed from Wakulla County on June 7.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed four bills into law. The legislation includes CS/CS/HB 885, which addresses coverage for biomarker testing; CS/CS/CS/SB 1582, pertaining to the Department of Health; CS/SB 7072, focused on cancer funding; and SB 7078, concerning public records.