Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiMarch 27, 2018

The City of Jacksonville last week advanced suggestions to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for Opportunity Zones, each with an urban core focus. Per Neighborhoods Director Stephanie Burch, five census tracts have been chosen in the downtown area, within the aegis of the Downtown Investment Authority. The areas chosen have extant infrastructure, can absorb private […]

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. GancarskiOctober 20, 2017

Friday saw Gov. Rick Scott‘s Department of Economic Opportunity release September job numbers for Northeast Florida, a mixed bag in the wake of Irma. The good news, via the DEO: the Jacksonville area’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent in September, down 1.4 points from September 2016. Unemployment rates ranged from 2.7 percent in St. Johns […]

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 ReportsSeptember 5, 2017

The state has inked a $1.67 million deal for just over eight acres known as “Barefoot Palms” as a buffer around Naval Support Activity (NSA) Panama City. The Department of Environmental Protection announced the completed purchase. NSA Panama City sits on 657 acres in the Panhandle. “The acquisition of this property will prevent further incompatible development adjacent to NSA […]

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 […]

Peter SchorschAugust 2, 2017

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Foley & Lardner lobbyist and partner Jonathan Kilman has been appointed to the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce‘s Board of Governors and the its newly-formed Strategy Committee, the group announced Wednesday. “We did our homework and Jonathan is regarded as a widely respected and visionary leader who understands the intersection of business and policy in Florida,” said Julio Fuentes, […]

Staff ReportsJune 29, 2017

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Florida Department of Economic Opportunity chief of staff Jim Poppell will be the next Secretary of the Lottery, Gov. Rick Scott‘s office announced Thursday. The Lottery’s profits go into the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, which pays for Florida Bright Futures Scholarships, among other things. “During his time at DEO, Jim has helped provide Florida families […]

Tag: Department of Economic Opportunity

Proposed Jacksonville ‘opportunity zones’ have urban core focus

January unemployment rate held below 4 percent

STEM Day takes Capitol by storm

Jacksonville area sees lower unemployment in September

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

Senators sound skeptical of new state jobs fund

State gets land for base buffering

Rick Scott: Florida unemployment down to 4.1 percent

Personnel note: Jonathan Kilman joins Hispanic Chamber board

Personnel note: Jim Poppell named Lottery Secretary