Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersApril 19, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his administration’s recommendations of 427 communities across Florida designated as “Low Tax Opportunity Zones,” aiming to use federal tax advantages to encourage business development. The zones target low-income census tracts in all 67 counties, making businesses and developers working there eligible for deferred capital gains taxes under the newly-approved federal Tax Cut […]

Staff ReportsMarch 12, 2018

The January 2018 jobs numbers are out, and they still paint a rosy economic picture. Per a release from the Department of Economic Development: The unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in January 2018 was the same as it was in December, yet down 0.7 percentage point from a year ago. As has been the case for […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 13, 2018

There was something off about the usual hustle and bustle of the Florida Capitol on Tuesday morning; empty corridors and courtyards were replaced with demonstrations of new age technology — and bright, young students from across the state smiled as they watched passersby marvel at their work. The scenery was for STEM — short for […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott visited Jacksonville’s FDOT office on the Westside Tuesday, with a “major announcement” via the state’s $85 million “job growth” fund. The fund, a compromise solution to Enterprise Florida’s previous practice of directing money to businesses (many of them businesses that had donated to Scott’s “Let’s Get to Work” political committee), includes money for […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 20, 2017

Nationwide, unemployment claims are down to levels not seen since 1973; a sign of confidence among employers, who aren’t laying off stafaf. However, September saw the cataclysmic Hurricane Irma hit Florida hard. Neighboring Georgia had already reported job loss and increased unemployment due to the storm. So, going into the monthly jobs report from Florida Gov. Rick […]

Jim RosicaOctober 11, 2017

Lawmakers asked lots of questions but didn’t get the answers they wanted Wednesday as a Senate panel tried to get a handle on the state’s new $85 million jobs fund. The Senate Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee heard from Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) head Cissy Proctor on the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. […]

Staff ReportsOctober 5, 2017

The state’s Department of Economic Opportunity announced it will co-host a series of business roundtables “to highlight programs available to assist individuals, communities and businesses that have been affected by Hurricane Irma.” The first event is today, 1-2 p.m., in Daytona Beach, at Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, 126 E. Orange Ave. Later today, another will be held 4:30-5:30 p.m. […]

Staff ReportsAugust 18, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott announced the creation of more than 26,000 private-sector jobs in July, with the unemployment rate remaining at “the lowest rate in a decade, 4.1 percent.” “Over the past six and a half years, we have worked relentlessly to cut taxes, reduce burdensome regulations and completely turn around Florida’s economy,” Scott said in […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 21, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott said ‘let there be jobs’—and there were jobs. And the jobs numbers were good. In fact, in one key metric—the official unemployment rate—the numbers were the best in a decade. Florida’s unemployment rate “has dropped to its lowest rate in 10 years and nearly 18,000 new jobs were created for families across the state in […]

Staff ReportsMay 26, 2017

Florida’s gross domestic product grew by 3 percent last year, outpacing both the national rate of 1.5 percent and the other large states, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday. “This great news is further proof that our economy is booming and we must stay focused on continuing this growth so Florida can out compete other locations […]

Tag: Cissy Proctor
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Rick Scott announces 427 areas designated ‘Low Tax Opportunity Zones’ under new law

January unemployment rate held below 4 percent

STEM Day takes Capitol by storm

Rick Scott rolls out $35 million plan for job growth grant fund spending

Irma impact: Florida loses jobs in September, yet unemployment falls

Senators sound skeptical of new state jobs fund

DEO, partners hold hurricane recovery roundtables

Rick Scott: Florida unemployment down to 4.1 percent

Rick Scott: Florida unemployment lowest in decade

Rick Scott: Florida GDP continues to outpace national growth rate