|
Nassau County, Florida, May 30, 2023 – The Board of County Commissioners is excited to introduce its Productivity Dashboard. This new, on-line feature provides a reporting of activities of key departments and services and places them in one location for residents to easily access, thus further increasing transparency and reporting of data in real-time. The new Productivity Dashboard currently features Nassau County Animal Services, the Building Department, the Library, and the Road Department. New departments will be added in the coming months.
The Department of Strategic Advancement has been working closely with the Nassau County Property Appraiser’s Office for several months to make this information available to the public, utilizing the GIS Software the PA office already had in place. The project began with departments entering metrics back to the beginning of 2021 so they could begin to build a history of data in the system. Each month, these departments will enter metrics of services/activities they track such as number of permits issues, number of intakes at the shelter, number of pet adoptions, number of books circulated, etc. This information provides residents with detailed information of activities that are taking place each month. It also provides the Board the necessary data needed to make informed decisions during the budget process to ensure that the department has what it needs to keep up with the current demand while planning for expanded services as the County continues to grow. Director of Strategic Advancement, Brandy Carvalho, stated, “The Productivity Dashboard is one of the ways we are honoring our Strategic Planning initiatives to ‘improve transparency and be the catalyst for a collaborative approach to governance that facilitates the shared pursuit of the common good’. Starting with these 4 departments, we will use community feedback and user experiences to expand the Dashboard and features, growing into a robust and multi-faceted tool for the residents to see the impact of our County’s departments and staff. We would like to thank Property Appraiser Mike Hickox’s GIS team, particularly GIS Director, Jason Gregory, and GIS Analyst/Programmer, Kathy Mulcahy, for their expertise, creativity and time in designing the Dashboard.” The Productivity Dashboard can be located at: https://bit.ly/NassauDashboard. Should you have any questions, please contact Brandy Carvalho at (904) 530-6010, Option 7, or via email at bcarvalho@nassaucountyfl.com.
0 Comments
 Consumers can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, the sales tax holiday begins Saturday, May 27 and extends through Friday, June 9. A second exemption period will begin Saturday, August 26 and extend through Friday, September 8. During the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, the following qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax:  The sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.
For more information on implementing the sales tax holiday, please see the Department of Revenue's Taxpayer Information Publication on the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday or the 2023 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday FAQs for Businesses. Florida’s unemployment rate remains at a near record low 2.6 percent for the 4th consecutive month. Florida also saw the largest volume of visitors ever recorded in a single quarter between January and March of this year.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida has the lowest unemployment rate among the top 10 largest states in the nation at 2.6 percent, as Floridians see continued economic stability spurred on in part by the thriving tourism industry. Between January and March of 2023, Florida saw a record 37.9 million visitors, the largest volume of visitors ever recorded in a single quarter. In April 2023, Florida’s unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the fourth consecutive month, which is 0.8 percentage points lower than the national rate of 3.4 percent. Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has remained lower than the national rate for 30 consecutive months since November 2020. In April 2023, the labor force was 10,960,000, an increase of 5.8 percent since February 2020. Between April 2022 and April 2023, Florida’s total private sector employment grew by 336,200 jobs (4.1 percent), which is faster than the national private sector job growth rate of 2.7 percent during the same time period. In April 2023, with the exception of October 2022, Florida employers have added jobs for 35 months since May 2020. Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nation’s growth rate for 25 consecutive months since April 2021. “Through strong economic policy and strategic investments, Florida is outperforming the nation and providing more opportunity for its citizens, resulting in more than 200,000 new business formations this year alone and an unemployment rate near an all-time low,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “In Florida, we are combatting negative national economic headwinds by promoting policies that support Florida businesses and families and attract record numbers of tourists every day.” “Florida’s low unemployment rate of 2.6 percent – the lowest among the top 10 largest states in the nation – is a testament to Governor DeSantis’ bold leadership,” said Meredith Ivey, Acting Secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). “Governor DeSantis’ Freedom First policies are helping Florida businesses continue to create jobs and Floridians feel confident in the meaningful job opportunities available to them, ensuring the economic prosperity of the great state of Florida and its residents.” “The Q1 estimates show that 2023 is on track to continue Florida’s outstanding performance in welcoming visitors,” said Dana Young, VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO. “Each quarter shows that Florida is the most sought-after destination for visitors and we are excited to continue our efforts in welcoming more throughout the year. VISIT FLORIDA is proud of the work we have done with our partners in sharing Florida’s sunshine with the world and we thank Governor DeSantis for his unwavering support of our organization and the tourism industry.” Florida’s strong economy and freedom first policies continue to draw record numbers of visitors that support Florida’s businesses. Florida welcomed 37.9 million total visitors between January and March 2023, according to VISIT FLORIDA estimates. This is the largest volume of visitors ever recorded for a single quarter. A record high of approximately 34.6 million domestic visitors traveled to Florida in Q1 2023, continuing the trend of domestic visitation growth for an eighth consecutive quarter. Florida welcomed 1.8 million overseas travelers in Q1 2023, an increase of 36 percent from Q1 2022. This marks the closest that overseas visitation has come to full recovery since the onset of the pandemic. Total enplanements at 19 Florida airports rose 11.8 percent in Q1 2023 from Q1 2022, reaching 27.6 million visitors. Florida’s labor force grew over-the-year by 2.3 percent (+248,000), faster than the national labor force growth rate of 1.7 percent. In April 2023, Florida’s labor force grew by 0.3 percent (+38,000), while the national labor force declined by less than 0.1 percent over the month. In April 2023, total private employment increased by 18,200 (+0.2 percent), growth on par with the national rate of change. In April 2023, the professional and business services sector gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 10,900 jobs (+0.7 percent) from the previous month, followed by education and health services with 7,100 jobs (+0.5 percent) and financial activities with the addition of 2,700 jobs (+0.4 percent). Data from the month of April continues to indicate there are many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with more than 464,000 jobs posted online. Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities are encouraged to turn to the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by perfecting resume writing and interviewing skills, establishing career goals and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers. To view the April 2023 jobs reports by region, please see below: To view the April 2023 employment data, visit: www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases. Visit Florida Insight for more information on labor market and economic data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight. ~The First Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday will last two weeks, beginning May 27 through June 9 ~
Tallahassee, Fla – Today, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) encouraged Floridians to purchase disaster preparedness items during Florida’s two 14-day Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays beginning May 27 through June 9 and August 26 through September 8. Floridians are expected to save an estimated $144 million on the purchase of tax-free items - more than five times the amount of savings when compared to the $25.6 million Floridians saved during the 2022 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. “I want to thank our Governor and the Florida Legislature for their commitment to making disaster preparedness affordable and accessible to all Floridians,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “I encourage residents to take time now to finalize their disaster supply kits and take advantage of these tax holidays in preparation for hurricane season.” "As we saw last year with Hurricane Ian, a disaster can bring a host of needs to people in its path. Advanced preparation can help keep people, homes, and pets safe when disaster strikes," said Jim Zingale, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Revenue. "The 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday helps Floridians save money while gathering essential supplies." House Bill 7063, the largest tax relief plan in Florida’s history, was signed into law by Governor DeSantis extending the Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from a single 14-day holiday to two separate 14-day holidays. This year, common household supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels and soap are also included in the list of items eligible to be purchased tax-free. The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season begins on June 1 and lasts until November 30. A full list of eligible tax-free items is available here. Floridians can find a full disaster supply kit checklist here. For weather updates and safety tips, follow the Division on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @FLSERT.  Pictured: Commissioner Jeff Gray; Jim Bollenbacher, Lead Instructor for the Nassau County MRC; Aida Washburn, Emergency Management Planner; and Tim Cooper, Emergency Management Director 5/25/23 @ 3:10 p.m. - At the Monday, May 22nd meeting, the Board approved Resolution No. 2023-112 proclaiming the week of June 1 - June 7, 2023, as CPR and AED Awareness Week.
This week is recognized nationally by the American Heart Association to spotlight how lives can be saved if more Americans know how to administer Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year and of those, 70% happen in the home. About 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die, however the victim's chance of survival more than doubles if a bystander immediately performs hands-only CPR. The Nassau County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) has spearheaded a free hands-only CPR and AED public education program and has already trained more than 800 Nassau County residents. The Board recognizes the value MRC's Lifesavers Initiative Outreach Program and extends their gratitude to its volunteers and educators for their service to the residents of Nassau County. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer 5/25/23 @ 9:30 a.m. - Nassau County Department of Health is conducting a Community Health Assessment (CHA) to identify factors that affect the health of our community, and to determine available resources to addresses those factors. The information gathered is also used to prioritize issues and make decisions on programs and health improvement plans that serve our county. Please consider taking this community health survey. The survey has about 29 questions (not all questions may pertain to you but you are able to skip them) and only takes a few minutes to complete. All responses are important, fully confidential and anonymous. And if you finish the survey and provide your email address at the end, you will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad. If you have any questions, please contact Barb Baptista, Community Engagement & Minority Health Liaison for DOH-Nassau at (904) 557-9168 or via email at Barbara.Baptista@flhealth.gov. -Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer  NASSAU, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Nassau (DOH-Nassau) encourages residents and visitors to enjoy a safe and healthy Memorial Day weekend.
Follow these tips for a healthy holiday weekend. Water Safety: Each year, many children drown during summer holiday weekends. Awareness of the basic principles of water safety, combined with knowledge and understanding of water hazards, can increase enjoyment and significantly reduce drowning deaths each year.
Sun Safety:
Food Safety:
About the Florida Department of Health The Florida Department of Health, nationally accredited as part of an Integrated Local Public Health Department System by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov. Governor DeSantis Announces Jacksonville Area Labor Force Up 4.5 Percent Over the Year in April 20235/23/2023 Jacksonville, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Jacksonville area’s labor force was up 4.5 percent (+36,567) over the year in April 2023. Additionally, the Jacksonville area’s private sector employment was up 4.3 percent (29,500 jobs) over the year in April 2023. In April 2023, the Jacksonville area led the metro areas in job gains over the year in financial activities, increasing by 3,100 jobs and information, increasing by 600 jobs.
The Jacksonville area unemployment rate was 2.3 percent in April 2023, down 0.3 percentage point from the April 2022 rate of 2.6 percent. The Jacksonville area labor force also grew by 36,567 over the year, up 4.5 percent. The industries gaining the most jobs over the year were leisure and hospitality, increasing by 5,600 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities increasing by 5,400 jobs professional and business services, increasing by 5,300 jobs; and education and health services, increasing by 5,000 jobs. In April 2023, Florida’s unemployment rate was 2.6 percent for the fourth consecutive month, which is 0.8 percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.4 percent. Florida’s statewide unemployment rate has remained lower than the national rate for 30 consecutive months since November 2020. In April 2023, the labor force was 10,960,000, an increase of 5.8 percent since February 2020. Between April 2022 and April 2023, Florida’s total private sector employment grew by 336,200 jobs (4.1 percent), which is faster than the national private sector job growth rate of 2.7 percent during the same time period. In April 2023, with the exception of October 2022, Florida employers have added jobs for 35 months since May 2020. Florida’s over-the-year private sector job growth rate has exceeded the nation’s growth rate for 25 consecutive months since April 2021. Florida’s labor force grew over-the-year by 2.3 percent (+248,000), faster than the national labor force growth rate of 1.7 percent. In April 2023, Florida’s labor force grew by 0.3 percent (+38,000), while the national labor force declined by less than 0.1 percent over the month. In April 2023, total private employment increased by 18,200 (+0.2 percent), growth on par with the national rate of change. In April 2023, the professional and business services sector gained the most jobs among all major industries, adding 10,900 jobs (+0.7 percent) from the previous month, followed by education and health services with 7,100 jobs (+0.5 percent) and financial activities with the addition of 2,700 jobs (+0.4 percent). Data from the month of April continues to indicate there are many job opportunities available for Floridians throughout the state, with more than 464,000 jobs posted online. Floridians in search of work and new job opportunities are encouraged to turn to the CareerSource Florida network for help. Floridians can find guidance on how to register with Employ Florida and search listings of available local job openings. Career seekers also can improve their employability by perfecting resume writing and interviewing skills, establishing career goals and pursuing customized career training. These services are provided at no cost to job seekers. To view the April 2023 employment data, visit: www.floridajobs.org/labor-market-information/labor-market-information-press-releases/monthly-press-releases. Visit Florida Insight for more information on labor market and economic data. Additionally, the Department has provided a video to assist users in explaining the data provided through Florida Insight. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced that already more than $40 million in loans to 14 Florida small businesses have been obligated through the Florida State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI 2.0), stimulating more than $137 million in private capital lending and creating or retaining more than 340 jobs for Floridians. SSBCI 2.0 is a reauthorization and an expansion of the State Small Business Credit Initiative, which was originally created through the Small Business Jobs Act in 2010 to help states strengthen and/or create new capital programs that support the financing of small businesses.
Earlier this year, DEO announced the availability of $142 million in new capital for small businesses and startups through Florida’s SSBCI program. In September 2022, DEO announced the approval of the state’s SSBCI 2.0 application by the United States Department of the Treasury (U.S. Treasury) for $488 million in funding. Funding is available from U.S. Treasury in three tranches, and the first tranche of funding – $142 million – is ready for deployment. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to work urgently to deliver small business and job creation resources into the hands of small businesses, communities and economic development partners,” said DEO Acting Secretary, Meredith Ivey . “For many of Florida’s nearly 550,000 small businesses – the employers of more than 5.1 million Floridians – programs like SSBCI 2.0 can help employers expand operations and jobs.” “Florida’s small businesses employ more than 5.1 million Floridians, nearly 60 percent of our workforce,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce, President and CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc. Laura DiBella. “I’m grateful to partner with DEO, lenders, and other small business networks like the Florida Small Business Development Center Network to connect with new and expanding small businesses, help them scale, leverage resources and ultimately elevate Florida’s workforce.” Through SSBCI, lenders are able to serve eligible small businesses of all shapes and sizes. Eligible businesses may use funds for start-up costs, business procurement, franchise fees, equipment, inventory, and the purchase, construction, renovation, or tenant improvements of an eligible place of business. SSBCI connects businesses with access to capital they may not otherwise be able to obtain. This multi-year initiative is part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ large-scale effort to prioritize workforce development, cultivate a business-friendly environment, and stimulate aggressive economic growth. For more information about the SSBCI program and eligibility requirements based on the program type, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org/SSBCI.  5/19/23 @ 10:45 a.m. - Attached is the April 2023 edition of the Board of County Commissioner's monthly newsletter. This monthly publication features a variety of information related to projects and activities for the departments under the Board. It also includes information about road projects, special events, adopted policies and procedures, budget discussions, and more!
-Sabrina Robertson Public Information Officer |
Nassau County Chamber of Commerce BlogChamber Member Updates, Events and News Archives
May 2023
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
Nassau County Chamber of Commerce
961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G | Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Phone: (904) 261-3248 | info@nassaucountyflchamber.com | site map | privacy policy |
|