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Chairman's
Message
Historic funding for
manatee protection efforts
Governor
DeSantis said this week he will commit more than $30 million to
improve and expand manatee rescue and rehabilitation efforts and
provide habitat restoration for areas where manatees are concentrated.
This record investment in manatee protection more than doubles this
year’s budget.
“This
historic funding will support important restoration efforts across the
state to benefit our manatees and Florida’s natural environment,”
Governor DeSantis said while visiting the Manatee Critical Care Center
located at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. “My administration will
continue working to find new and innovative ways to support our native
species, like the manatee, so that the generations to come can
experience Florida’s natural resources.”
The
$30 million includes:
- $20
million to expand the network of manatee acute care facilities,
restore access to springs, provide habitat restoration in manatee
concentrated areas, expand manatee rescue and recovery efforts, and
implement pilot projects like the supplemental feeding trials that
took place this past winter.
- $5.3
million to expand Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
manatee mortality and response efforts, including 12 new
positions.
- $4.7
million in base funding to support manatee acute care facilities and
research, rescue, and conservation activities
- $160,000
to support increased aerial surveys
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/05/02/governor-ron-desantis-announces-historic-30-million-in-funding-for-manatee-rescue-programs-and-habitat-restoration/
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Expanding the fight
against red tide
Governor
DeSantis announced that Florida will invest another $14 million to
continue combating red tide, bringing the total Florida has invested
since he took office in 2019 to $40 million to mitigate the impacts of
red tide.
This
funding will support research through the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission and Mote Marine Laboratory along with grants
through the Department of Environmental Protection for red tide
cleanup.
“Since my first week in office, I have been focused on
protecting Florida’s environment,” Governor DeSantis said. “Not only
do red tide blooms affect our coastal waterways, but impacts of blooms
can also negatively impact businesses and decrease tourism. We will
continue to proactively work with local partners to ensure Florida is
at the forefront of innovative technologies to mitigate against
harmful blooms.”
About $4.8
million will go to the Center for Red Tide Research at the Fish and
Wildlife Research Institute, which was created at the request of
Governor DeSantis in 2019 to improve statewide red tide monitoring and
conduct research to better track, predict, and mitigate the effects of
red tide on Florida communities. As a result, red tide sampling has
increased by 68 percent and involves more than 60 partners across the
state. Additionally, offshore sampling, where red tide originates, has
doubled since 2019.
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/05/04/governor-ron-desantis-announces-funding-to-continue-supporting-red-tide-research-and-innovative-mitigation-technologies/
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More data shows
Florida leading the nation in business creation
Under
Governor DeSantis’ strong leadership prioritizing freedom for
individuals and businesses while providing tools for expanding
workforce education, Florida has become the leader in small business
creation and in training the employees needed to support that
growth.
Florida
leads the nation in business formations, increasing by 61% since 2019.
In 2021, Florida saw 114,000 more new businesses than the second place
state of California, despite that state having a population that is
40% larger than Florida’s. As of January 2022, the number of small
businesses opening in Florida increased nearly 10 percent compared to
pre-pandemic January 2020.
And this
week Governor DeSantis has announced that Florida accounts for nearly
30 percent of all Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB)
certifications nationwide. That surge has led the United States to
pass China in the number of ESB examinations between January 2021 and
March 2022 with 25,754 exams compared to China’s 16,199. More than
7,500 Florida students have earned the certification in just the past
eight months.
This is
creating a strong foundation for business and employment growth in
Florida.
“Florida’s
economy depends on entrepreneurship and successful small businesses,
and we know that freedom is the best way to achieve economic success,
contrary to the philosophy of the Chinese Communist Party,” Governor
DeSantis said. “Florida is committed to being the best place to do
business and it is by supporting manufacturing and business friendly
policies that this country can continue to surpass China on all
fronts. The rest of the nation should take note that this is how you
place the U.S. back as a leader on the world stage.”
Supporting
access to ESB certifications is a part of Florida’s goal to be the
best state in the nation for workforce education by 2030. Governor
DeSantis has supported entrepreneurship and small business education
throughout his time in office, including keeping Florida open over the
past two years.
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/05/04/florida-propels-u-s-to-surpass-china-in-entrepreneurship-and-small-business-certifications/
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reach them with our message.
FLORIDA
$20 million for
resilience from flooding
Governor
DeSantis announced nearly $20 million for the Resilient Florida
Program Planning Grants to support 98 projects to develop or update
comprehensive vulnerability assessments in inland and coastal
communities.
Additionally, Governor DeSantis announced that the
Department of Environmental Protection has opened the application
portal for Resilient Florida Planning Grants for the coming fiscal
year.
“For the
first time, Florida has strategic coordination guiding statewide
efforts to protect coastal and inland infrastructure, and dedicated
funding to support these projects,” Governor DeSantis said. “These
grants will strengthen Florida’s infrastructure to withstand the
impacts of flooding and storm surge. My administration will continue
the momentum to support resilience in communities across the
state.”
Vulnerability assessments are required to identify
infrastructure at risk of flooding from sea level rise, storm surge
and rainfall events. The assessments assist local communities in
developing strategies and projects to mitigate the effects of
flooding.
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/05/03/governor-ron-desantis-announces-award-of-nearly-20-million-for-98-projects-through-the-resilient-florida-grant-program/
See
the list of projects here: https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/sites/default/files/documents/FY2021-22_RF_PlanningGrants.pdf
The
application portal is here: https://protectingfloridatogether.gov/state-action/grants-submissions
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$22 million for
broadband and other infrastructure
Governor
DeSantis announced $22 million in funding to 15 Florida communities to
support projects that include expanding broadband internet services,
improving community centers and accessing small business grants.
“We have
been responsible, we have protected people’s freedoms, and we have
kept the economy open in Florida,” Governor DeSantis. “Today we are
proud to announce another $22 million for workforce development and
infrastructure across Florida. Communities across the state are going
to benefit from this funding and their growth will help us continue to
succeed as a state.”
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/04/29/governor-ron-desantis-awards-more-than-22-million-for-broadband-infrastructure-and-workforce-development-in-florida-communities/
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More help on the
way for tornado ravaged Southwest Florida
Governor
DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced
that the U.S. Small Business Administration granted Florida’s request
for a Disaster Declaration, which makes disaster loans available to
individuals and businesses impacted by the January 2022 Southwest
Florida tornadoes.
The
Disaster Declaration provides additional relief in the form of
low-interest loans in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee
counties. This announcement follows the Federal Emergency Management
Agency’s decision to deny Florida’s appeal for Individual Assistance
for disaster survivors.
“In
January, I assured Southwest Florida residents that the State of
Florida would identify all available forms of assistance to help their
recovery efforts following the tornadoes,” Governor DeSantis said.
“It’s a shame that after months of waiting for an appeal decision, the
Biden Administration decided to deny Individual Assistance again to
these disaster survivors. However, despite the federal government’s
lack of support, the State of Florida will not let impacted residents
suffer because of White House politics.”
Read more: https://www.flgov.com/2022/05/04/governor-desantis-announces-u-s-small-business-administration-disaster-loans-available-to-residents-impacted-by-southwest-florida-tornadoes/
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Video: Marco Rubio
is right for Florida
Watch video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5RE6dGL-bQ
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AG Moody chosen to
lead national fight against human trafficking
Attorney
General Ashley Moody was chosen this week by the National Association
of Attorneys Generals to lead the organization’s Human Trafficking
Committee that focuses on anti-human trafficking policies and services
for survivors.
“Ending
human trafficking in Florida is one of my top priorities, but we can’t
achieve this lofty goal by working within our state borders alone,”
Attorney General Moody said. “That’s not how traffickers operate, so
we too must break down barriers and work together. The members of this
prestigious committee will work in unison to share ideas and
strategies for combating human trafficking and saving
lives.”
The Human
Trafficking Committee helps with education, investigation, outreach,
prevention, prosecution and victim services protection while sharing
information on emerging issues and practices in the fight against
human trafficking.
In January,
Attorney General Moody launched the 100 Percent Club, which recognizes
Florida businesses and organizations that commit to training their
employees on how to spot and report suspected human trafficking.
Further,
the Attorney General is working with the Florida Department of Highway
Safety and Motor Vehicles to train truck drivers to spot and report
human trafficking. Since its launch, more than 4,600 commercial truck
drivers have received anti-human trafficking training and are now
better equipped to help keep an eye on Florida’s 12,000 miles of
highways.
Read more: http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/CBC0AEAB075F2AB18525883600541775
And
more: https://thecapitolist.com/ag-ashley-moody-tapped-to-lead-national-human-trafficking-committee/
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LG Nuñez guest
editorial in the Miami Herald:
“Florida has a
special bond with Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle
East”
My
faith has been an inextinguishable light in my life. There are moments
where, yes, it flickers and dims, but there are moments where that
light burns ever so brightly.
Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Israel, our
greatest ally in the Middle East, alongside five other lieutenant
governors from across the county. We exchanged ideas with Israeli
industry leaders, met with government officials and military leaders,
visited the Embassy in Jerusalem, the Iron Dome, all while exploring
cultural and biblical sites that date back to over 3,000 years ago.
Israel is a vibrant country where faith is palpable and warmth is
exuded at every turn.
We
arrived during the festival of Purim, yet another example of the
tenacity of the Jewish people. I am reminded that Esther and Mordecai
risked their lives to save those of their fellow Jews. We are all
called to serve, undoubtedly in different capacities.
There
is no room for nonchalance when it comes to Israel. “For such a time
as this.” Pride is clearly in the Israeli’s DNA. They do not apologize
for their zeal. They promote it. They do not reflect on their trials
and lament; they perceive the triumph through their battles. They do
not wallow in defeat; they learn and surge in victory.
As I
walked the halls of Yad Vashem seeing portraits of those innocent
souls lost, I thought about our Holocaust survivors in Florida and I
reflected on my own moral responsibility as a public servant. The
phrase “never again” compels us to fight against hatred in all its
forms and challenges us to confront today’s polarization so that we
build stronger, safer and unified communities.
Read the rest here: https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article261023347.html
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