Good News From Florida’s CRAs

FHLBank Atlanta is actively monitoring reports and briefings regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). In consideration of operational challenges and agency shutdowns AHP applicants are facing related to the COVID-19 pandemic, FHLBank Atlanta has decided to extend the 2020 AHP application deadline until June 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. With this extended application deadline, we anticipate that application approvals will…

The city is going to take a $5.65 million hit to give residents and business owners a financial break, and to nudge along development as so much in the economy is freezing up amid the coronavirus pandemic. At a special meeting Tuesday night, city commissioners approved waiving a significant portion of residents’ utility bills for…

Staring down the possibility of economic ruin from the coronavirus crisis, Leon County and Tallahassee city commissioners signed off on a $1 million relief package for local businesses. The decision by the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency, made up of all 12 city and county commissioners, happened Wednesday during what was one of the most unusual and…

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to go ahead with more than a half-billion dollars in tax refunds for the state’s largest corporations — even as the state economy crashes amid the spreading coronavirus pandemic. The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature committed to the corporate tax refunds — which will total $543 million — two years ago, long…

Special Edition- Coronavirus (COVID-19) As a partner of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), we care about the success of your business as well as the health and well-being of your employees and all Floridians. Given the current environment, we want to ensure you and your business community has all the up-to-date information to…

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 – USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America. OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF Rural Housing Service…

Due to COVID-19, our Pinellas County hospitals, first responders, emergency medical services, nursing homes and home healthcare workers are proactively collecting the following items. We’re reaching out to our business community to ask for donations of the items listed here. Please complete this survey, if you’re able to donate, sell or manufacture these specific supplies to help…

SARASOTA COUNTY — Gloria Jones is afraid. She’s not sure if the Jamaican American Soul Food Restaurant she owns on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way will survive the coronavirus pandemic. With no employees to lay off and few customers trickling in for take-out orders of jerk chicken and collard greens at the banana-yellow building in…

Last week, Governor DeSantis issued an executive order related to the suspension of in-person quorum for local governments. Local governments may utilize communication technology such as telephones and video conferencing to operate and they do not need to meet in a specific place. This executive order does not waive any other requirements under the Florida…

What are the terms of the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program? Eligible Florida small business applicants can apply for an interest-free, 1-year working capital loan for up to $50,000. For purposes of the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, an amount greater than the program maximum ($50,000), up to $100,000 may be applied and awarded if there is…

Today, Gov. DeSantis issued three executive orders (EO-69, EO-70 and EO-71) regarding local government public meetings, the closure of certain beaches, and alcohol sales, restaurants and gyms, respectively. All of these orders are linked above and available on our Coronavirus Resources page. Following the issuance of EO-69 (Public Meetings), the League sent a letter to Florida’s municipal attorneys summarizing the…

Today, Governor DeSantis issued an executive order related to the suspension of in-person quorum for local governments. Local governments may utilize communication technology such as telephones and video conferencing. To read the executive order, click here. To read the executive order, click here.

The team at the Riviera Beach CRA wanted to reach out and give each and every one of you a heartfelt cyber-hug during this difficult time. We’re all in this together and, like you, we are looking forward to making our way back to normalcy soon. Rest assured that not only are we closely monitoring…

Small businesses are an integral part of the fabric of Lake Park. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has already begun to negatively impact small businesses here and across the country, and no one knows how long this will last. In order to help mitigate this situation, the Small Business Association (SBA) announced that, beginning today (March…

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, released the Keeping Workers Paid and Employed Act, a $300 billion small…

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL (March 19, 2020) The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to Florida small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of COVID-19. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance per small business and can provide vital economic support to small businesses…

Governing is operated as a virtual office. Our staff lives in five different states and three different time zones. We’ve made it work, and you can, too. Remote work does take some adjustment. Here are some habits and strategies drawn from my own experience in working from home for nearly a decade now. Read the…

People experiencing homelessness don’t have access to the recommended precautions to stave off the coronavirus. The state of play: They often don’t have access to places to wash their hands, many sleep outside in crowded encampments, and social distancing is next to impossible in crowded shelters. The population living outside tends to be older and…

Florida lawmakers ended the 2020 legislative session by approving House Bill 1339 that authorizes local governments to approve affordable housing on any land zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use. Gov. Ron DeSantis would need to sign or veto the bill. Lawmakers could vote to override the veto. The bill introduced by Republican Rep. Clay…

In Florida we have a habit of cheering half measures and Johnny-come-lately actions from our public leaders. To wit: The Florida Legislature last week passed the first bill in a decade that acknowledges climate change – this in a state widely known as extraordinarily vulnerable to our altered climate. The bill will require that the…

Gainesville residents and visitors are a step closer to being able to navigate the streets on rented electric scooters. The City Commission voted on the first read of an ordinance regulating “dockless electric scooters” last week. The vote was to adopt the permit program that would allow the scooters, called “micromobility devices” by city officials,…