Tag: cares act

This week, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released “Navigating Federal Pandemic Relief: Following Billions in Stimulus Dollars, Where Do We Go From Here?” The report presents an analysis of the dollars allocated to Florida for the six...

Florida A&M University (FAMU) students will get $41.5 million in tuition and fee assistance during the 2021-2022 school year. FAMU President Larry Robinson announced additional assistance for students as part of the kick-off activities for...

At an event in Panama City last week highlighting Hurricane Michael recovery, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has awarded more than $5 billion in disaster recovery funding...

This EDA grant, to be matched with $1 million in local funds, is expected to create hundreds of jobs and generate $150 million in private investment.

As part of the $1.9 trillion that Congress and the White House agreed upon last month, the American Rescue Plan provides $500 million for Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) to keep schools operating safely, address summer school and keep educators on the job through the public health emergency.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., this week to write to U.S. Education Sec. Miguel Cardona requesting a status update on school reopening dollars in light of reports that school officials are considering diverting funds that are intended to reopen schools to instead give teacher bonuses.

The bill passed on a 219-212 with two Democrats joining a united GOP in opposing it. Party lines held in the Florida delegation with all of the Democrats from the Sunshine State backing the proposal and all the Republicans opposing it. 

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., is co-sponsoring the proposal. 

While the pandemic presented many unforeseen obstacles, it also brought opportunities, Robinson said. The university was able to increase its online and remote course offerings, while also addressing the technology needs of students, faculty and staff.

“The funds, which are being released in two separate disbursements ($20 million and $65 million), will be used to provide rental assistance, support emergency shelters, and conduct street outreach programs to connect unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness with local housing and other essential services,” the governor's office noted. 

Topping the list of priorities are protecting the 2020-2021 Medicaid funding increase, enacting COVID liability protections for long term care, and addressing long term care centers’ workforce challenges by making the Personal Care Attendant Program permanent.

Last week, state Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis showcased his record in 2020, noting that his office has helped Florida families and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, fought fraud and held scam artists accountable, advocated for Florida’s firefighters and first responders, responded to the hurricane season, provided record-breaking unclaimed property returns to Floridians and advocated for Florida consumers and businesses.