Hello!
As I reflect on the month of November, I am thankful for my entire team, of nearly 1,500 employees, at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity who have worked so diligently to assist Floridians and their communities. This month, we had exceptional highlights of the work we do together.
We were thankful to announce $3 million available to fund projects in Florida's rural communities through DEO's Rural Revolving Loan Fund. This funding can help strengthen our state's rural communities by making them more resilient to disasters, attract businesses and create new local jobs for Floridians. Read more about the announcement
here.
Throughout November, DEO’s Office of Disaster Recovery traveled the state holding workshops in Florida communities impacted by Hurricanes Hermine, Matthew and Irma to discuss ideas for the State Action Plan for the Community Development Block Grant – Mitigation program. The $633 million in first-of-its-kind funding is for disaster mitigation projects in affected areas. We are thankful for your feedback so this funding can service and help our communities build back stronger after these storms and be more resilient for the future.
At DEO, we are also thankful for our state's veterans. We were proud to honor all the veterans that work at DEO, as well as the 1.5 million veterans that live in the state of Florida. As a Marine, I understand the values and assets veterans can bring Florida's businesses and communities. This year, in partnership with multiple state partners, we hosted the seventh annual
Paychecks for Patriots
.
These hiring events provided an opportunity for veterans throughout the state to meet with employers in person as well as learn about and apply for immediate job openings. The opportunity to make these connections is so important for veterans and their families so they can grow their careers and take advantage of job training opportunities.
DEO is grateful for Governor DeSantis' continued commitment to Florida communities. This was evident in the release of the
2020-2021 budget
recommendations. Through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, our agency is able to make recommendations for opportunities to continue developing a highly-skilled workforce and enhance infrastructure so communities are able to attract businesses, create jobs and promote economic growth. We stood beside Governor DeSantis this month as he announced a nearly
$4 million award for the Orlando-Melbourne International Airport
from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund.
Florida communities continue to make great strides in combining state resources to grow their workforce and continue enhancing their economies. I'm proud to have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated professionals and innovative communities as we continue to improve life for all Floridians.
As we move into the holiday season, I want you to know I am thankful for the opportunity to serve our great state and I look forward to many more accomplishments and successes to share in the future.
Sincerely,
Ken
