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Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2017

State Sen. Jeff Brandes‘s new economic development proposal would continue operations of the embattled Enterprise Florida and state Department of Economic Opportunity, but on tight leashes. Senate Bills 1110 and 1112 spell out a new way of doing business for two of Florida’s major economic development programs that have been under fire for accountability, particularly […]

Phil AmmannJanuary 31, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott is recommending a $163 million increase in funding for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity in his proposed 2017-18 budget. LobbyTools reports that the boost will bring the DEO budget to nearly $1.27 billion. Scott announced his budget proposal Tuesday morning at a Tallahassee news conference. Scott’s ask includes $85 million in economic incentives […]

Scott PowersDecember 16, 2016

Florida added another 31,600 private-sector jobs in November, the 56th consecutive month of job growth in the Sunshine State, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday. Orlando continued to lead the state in job growth in November, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went up slightly since October and held […]

Terry RoenNovember 15, 2016

Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit government watchdog, has urged state leaders to hold Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute accountable for the $155 million in tax incentives they received to move to Florida. The Florida Department of Economic Development (DEO) asked Sanford Burnham last month to return half, or $77 million in taxpayer money, if it […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 30, 2016

Emergency unemployment assistance is now available to people who lost their jobs as a direct result of Hurricane Hermine, Gov. Rick Scott announced Friday. Under the federal disaster declaration approved Wednesday, people who lost jobs because of the storm, and who are not eligible for regular joblessness benefits, may apply for assistance through the Florida […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 29, 2016

Florida’s cities mostly exceeded the national trend last year regarding economic growth, state officials announced Thursday. In fact, the economies in 15 of Florida’s 22 metropolitan statistical areas grew faster than the national average. Overall, the state’s real gross domestic product was $789.8 billion, up by 3.1 percent from the year before. The national economy […]

Michael MolineAugust 19, 2016

Florida’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.7 percent in July, despite the creation of 26,500 new private-sector jobs, state officials announced Friday. Out of a labor force of more than 9.7 million Floridians, 456,000 could not find work. Gov. Rick Scott noted that July marked the 52nd consecutive month that Florida job growth outpaced the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 17, 2016

The state’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in May, according to new employment figures released by state’s jobs agency Friday. Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in May, down from 4.8 percent in April. The rate is down from 5.4 percent a year ago, according to monthly employment numbers released by the Florida Department […]

Shannon NickinsonFebruary 10, 2016

Does Pensacola have the skills to pay the bills? Signs may be turning toward yes. The announcement that Pensacola State will host the state conference for one of the leading career and technical education conferences from 2018 to 2020 may be a sign that we’re getting there. PSC will host SkillsUSA Florida State Leadership and […]

Associated PressFebruary 1, 2016

The Florida Legislature is being asked to give tens of millions to help sports teams in Jacksonville and Miami and Daytona International Speedway. The state’s economic development agency on Monday forwarded three sports applications to state lawmakers to review. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity did not rank the applications but suggested that all three […]

Tag: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
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Jeff Brandes bills keep Enterprise Florida, but with tight leash

Rick Scott spending plan sets DEO budget at nearly $1.3B

Rick Scott touts 31K new jobs added in Florida in November

Florida TaxWatch blasts Sanford Burnham’s escape plan

Hermine disaster declaration opens emergency jobless benefits

Florida’s metro areas registered strong economic growth in 2015

Florida unemployment rate steady at 4.7 percent

Florida unemployment rate at 4.7 percent in May

Shannon Nickinson: Workers with technical skills vital to Pensacola

Legislature asked to consider money for sports teams