Discussions with DEO

May 2019

When I was appointed to Executive Director of DEO, Governor DeSantis charged our agency with helping Floridians rebuild their lives after disasters. We have been focused on utilizing every resource to develop resilient communities and to help Floridians get back on their feet.

The best way to rebuild after a storm is to be prepared before a storm. FloridaDisaster.biz is a great resource for businesses. On the website, business owners can register to receive updates during a disaster, create a Disaster Planning Toolkit for their business and access other resources to prepare for Hurricane Season.

We're also encouraging agricultural producers who lost crops in Hurricane Michael to apply to the recently activated Small Businesses Emergency Bridge Loan. The Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program will provide agricultural producers in impacted areas resources to prepare for the upcoming growing seasons. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2019. For more information and to apply, please visit www.FloridaDisasterLoan.org.

Throughout the last year, we have been hard at work helping communities recover through our Rebuild Florida program. The program is doing great work, and recently completed the first home repair. I did an interview with the Florida Channel to discuss the assistance we are providing to Floridians and the steps being taken to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. You can watch the interview here .

As we enter hurricane season, we hope to support Floridians before, during and after a disaster. Be prepared, create a plan and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Ken

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Disaster Recovery

Rebuild Florida Business Loan Program

Governor Ron DeSantis announced the launch of the Rebuild Florida Business Loan program with $40 million in state and federal funds to help small businesses that are still recovering from Hurricane Irma to rebuild and expand.

The Rebuild Florida Business Loan program can provide up to $500,000 in financing for the following business purposes: inventory purchases, construction or renovation, working capital needs, capital start-up loans, machinery and equipment purchases, equipment financing and more.

Learn more

Rebuild Florida's First Home Repair

Rebuild Florida completed the first repair of a Hurricane Irma damaged home in the City of Palm Bay. The Palm Bay home, owned by Robert and Stacie Bark, experienced significant roof damage and a broken window from Hurricane Irma. After working through the steps to receive assistance, Rebuild Florida paid to replace the Barks’ roof and broken window. To see photos of Rebuild Florida’s first home repair project, click here .

The Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program is helping eligible homeowners impacted by Hurricane Irma by repairing, rebuilding or replacing damaged homes across the hardest-hit communities . Learn more.

Watch below to see how Robert and Stacie Bark were able to recover with the help of Rebuild Florida.

Partners

The Florida Chamber Foundation and CareerSource Florida are co-hosting the 2019 Learners to Earners Workforce Summit June 18-19 in Orlando. The summit will focus on expanding apprenticeship opportunities in the state.

Discussion topics will include:

-Talent supply needs for 2030

-Employability skills

-Innovations in education

-Retaining talent for tomorrow

-Preparing the earliest years

-Apprenticeships and Florida's growing industries

Learn more about the Learners to Earners Workforce Summit

Florida's Workforce

Florida's economy continues to strengthen. Florida's top rated higher education system, talented workforce, low taxes and reasonable regulatory environment continue to foster impressive economic indicators. Florida's private-sector businesses created 203,000 jobs over the year and 16,000 in April 2019, this is a 0.2 percent increase from March 2019 and a 2.7 percent increase over the year.

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Over the year, 136,000 Floridians entered the labor force, which is an annual growth rate of 1.3 percent. This means more Floridians are confident about entering the workforce. Floridians are benefiting from a robust and diverse economic environment. Florida's economy continues to give every Floridian the opportunity to work.

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Agency News:

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces More Than $1.6 Million in Awards to Rural Florida Communities:

Governor Ron DeSantis announced more than $1.6 million in funding for infrastructure projects in rural Florida communities. The funds are administered by DEO from the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant, Rural Infrastructure Fund and Regional Rural Development Grant.

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, DEO stands ready to utilize every resource available to assist rural communities and help them achieve their economic goals,” said Executive Director of DEO Ken Lawson . “We look forward to seeing the great work these communities accomplish and how they continue to grow their economies.”

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