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Staff ReportsMay 25, 2017

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) on Wednesday invited “communities across Florida to submit proposals for three grant funding opportunities for the upcoming fiscal year,” according to a press release. The department “is committed to using our resources and tools to help all Florida communities and their residents flourish,” DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 10, 2017

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Gov. Rick Scott signed into law Tuesday a bill that creates statewide regulations for ride-booking companies, like Uber and Lyft. “I’m proud to sign this legislation today to make it easier for ridesharing companies to thrive in Florida and help ensure the safety of our families,” said Scott in a statement. “Florida is one of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 21, 2017

Florida’s unemployment rate is dropping. The state Department of Economic Opportunity announced Friday the unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percent in March, down from 5 percent one month earlier. That’s slightly lower than March 2016, when the state reported a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.9 percent. “This is an exciting day — jobs, jobs, […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2017

When it comes to Gov. Rick Scott and Northeast Florida, is there such a thing as too much of a good thing? For the fourth time since the beginning of March, Gov. Scott was in Jacksonville Tuesday, as Scott held another “business roundtable” with Mayor Lenny Curry and other Jacksonville notables, including former mayor and UNF President […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 30, 2017

In the world of search engine optimization, a discouraged practice is keyword stuffing: where a search phrase is inserted in the copy with such frequency that the search engine recognizes it as spam. The latest press release from Gov. Rick Scott may not qualify as keyword stuffing, per se. But when it comes to two of […]

Peter SchorschMarch 20, 2017

Nearly 200 job seekers will be able to wear a new-to-them suit as they hunt for employment, thanks to a clothing donation drive put on by ridesharing company Uber and Volunteer Florida Wednesday. The second annual “#SuitsForSession” campaign collected professional clothing donations at the Capitol and also sent out Uber drivers to pick up donations […]

Jim RosicaMarch 13, 2017

Proponents of keeping Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA have been repeating the talking point that even Coca-Cola, king of market share, still advertises. And so on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott kept driving home his counter-frame to House Speaker Richard Corcoran‘s “corporate welfare” narrative that killing the state’s economic development organization and tourism marketing agency will kill […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 15, 2017

Addressing what he called the “obvious elephant in the room,” Florida Chamber President Mark Wilson criticized Florida House members who backed an effort to end economic incentive programs, calling the move political. “I want to be blunt for a few minutes,” said Wilson. “This is not a Legislature trying to seek how to diversify the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 13, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott met with Lee County community and business leaders, holding the first in a series of round table discussions across the state meant to rally support for Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida funding. “Right now, I’m going to fight every day to make sure we keep this funding because it’s good for your […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 8, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott has now sicced the Department of Economic Opportunity, headed by executive director Cissy Proctor, on the Florida House to take down its critique of economic incentives. A news release, issued late Tuesday, continues the cold war of words between the governor, an ardent supporter of incentives, and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who has […]

Tag: Cissy Proctor
Image via Palatka Main Street.

DEO seeks applicants for grant opportunities

Governor signs landmark ride-sharing legislation into law

Florida’s unemployment rate dips to 4.8% in March

Encore performance: Rick Scott messages economic incentives in Jacksonville

Rick Scott touts Enterprise Florida in job growth press release

#SuitsForSession clothing drive brings in more than 3,000 donations

Rick Scott stumps for economic development, tourism dollars in Tallahassee

Mark Wilson calls House push to eliminate Enterprise Florida ‘a political conversation about ideology’

Rick Scott talks Enterprise Florida, Visit Florida with SWFL business, community leaders

DEO “Cissysplains” economic incentives to Richard Corcoran