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October 15th

By Todd Thomson | October 16, 2020

After Applying With FEMA, It’s Important to Submit SBA Loan Application After you apply for disaster assistance from FEMA, you may be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). If you are referred to SBA, you should submit an SBA disaster loan application. If your application is approved, you are not obligated to accept…

October 14th

By Todd Thomson | October 16, 2020

Florida Department of Transportation Provides Timeline For 3 Mile Bridge Repairs The Florida Department of Transportation has outlined key milestones in the established schedule for repairs. Repairs will take approximately six months to complete with a targeted opening date of early March 2021.     For more updates, go to FDOT’s website here.   How…

October 13th

By Todd Thomson | October 16, 2020

Regional Chambers of Commerce Applaud CFO Patronis’ Guiding Principles for Liability Protections Today, regional chambers of commerce across the state praised Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis for his guiding principles on liability protections, which are designed to help lawmakers as they craft legislation for the upcoming legislative session. This is what they’re saying… Todd…

October 12th

By Todd Thomson | October 16, 2020

Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Announces Opposition to Amendment Two Today, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce announced its opposition to the proposed Florida Constitutional Amendment 2 (Minimum Wage Amendment).  This item is on the November general election ballot. “With all the challenges our small businesses have faced in 2020, burdening them with this financial…

October 8th Hurricane Sally Recovery Update

By Todd Thomson | October 8, 2020

FDOT, Local Leaders to Meet Regularly Regarding Three Mile Bridge Repairs The Florida Department of Transportation held the first of soon-to-be regular meetings with local government leaders Wednesday to coordinate efforts as they work on reopening Three Mile Bridge. The group met for more than an hour before holding a news conference just after noon. …

October 6th Hurricane Sally Recovery Update

By Todd Thomson | October 8, 2020

Today is the Final Day to Apply for the Escambia CARES Business Assistance Grant Program The application window for businesses impacted by COVID-19 to receive consideration for the CARES Business Grant Program ends today at 8pm. To apply for the grant online go here. To apply in person, visit one of the following sites during…

October 5th Hurricane Sally Recovery Update

By Todd Thomson | October 8, 2020

FEMA opens Mobile Registration Centers in Northwest Florida Northwest Florida residents can now register for disaster assistance at mobile registrations sites setup throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. FEMA announced the Mobile Registration Intake Centers Saturday saying the five sites will be open daily from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.  Learn more here.  …

October 1st Hurricane Sally Recovery Update

By Todd Thomson | October 1, 2020

Escambia CARES Business Emergency Financial Assistance Grants Applications Accepted Starting Oct. 2 Escambia County will start accepting applications for the Escambia CARES Business Emergency Financial Assistance Grants beginning Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 a.m. Applications will be accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 8 p.m. Applications will be accepted online at www.myescambia.com/CARES and at several…

September 29th Hurricane Sally Recovery Update

By Todd Thomson | October 1, 2020

Escambia County Hosting Job Fair for Hurricane Sally Recovery Workers Today Another job fair will take place in Escambia County on Tuesday for workers for Hurricane Sally recovery.  Applications are still being accepted for debris monitors. The job pays $1,000 per week for 12 hours per day, seven days a week.  Learn more here.  …

September 30th Hurricane Sally Recovery Update

By Todd Thomson | October 1, 2020

Red Cross Offers Aid for Residents Whose Homes were Destroyed by Hurricane Sally The American Red Cross is offering $450 in emergency assistance for residents whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sally. The funds are meant to help families replace clothes or food, offset transportation costs and support any other immediate needs, according to the…

Don Gaetz Believes the Gulf Coast Can Triumph

"But it’s not enough for Triumph and its private and public sector partners to produce thousands of new jobs if there aren’t thousands of Northwest Floridians qualified to fill them. That’s why Triumph is working with school districts and higher education institutions to reshape what is taught and how it’s taught in our schools. Triumph already is funding projects in six of our eight counties that will prepare 9,000 students to earn national industry certifications for the very jobs most needed in our region over the next decade." -Don Gaetz

The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce was honored to support the University of West Florida in their appeal to Triumph to support their efforts to equip over 3,000 students to earn top-level certifications in cyber security and advanced manufacturing and supply chain logistics industry certifications. Through the Center for Cybersecurity, the Sea3D Additive Manufacturing Laboratory and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering UWF proposes to produce a minimum of 3,220 industry certifications that would provide career pathways to high paying jobs across the region.

Read more here...

Department Of Labor Issues Final Ruling on Overtime

Conversations begin in the Florida House Regarding Teacher pay increases

Effective January 1, 2020, the minimum salary threshold established by the Department of Labor for overtime eligibility will be set at $684 per week / $35, 568 annually.

More information about the final rule is available here..

Florida House’s committee on preK-12 education budgeting has begun conversations around the Governor's proposed salary increase for teachers of $47,500 - a total price tag of $603 million, annually. The committee is moving forward with caution, as raising taxes does not seem to be a viable option, however, they are hopeful they can find the funds in existing budgets.

Read more here...

 

The Board of Education prioritized its Public Education Capital Outlay plan, unanimously approving seven projects that are now in line to receive a combined $86.4 million in construction funding over the next three years - Pensacola state college made that list.

The Board of Education prioritized its Public Education Capital Outlay plan on Friday, September 20th, unanimously approving seven projects  which are in line to receive a combined $86.4 million in construction funding over the next three years.

Read more here...

 

NATIONAL ECONOMIC PROGRESS CONTINUES, HOWEVER, CONCERNS ARE IN THE AIR

Recent Progress in the Economy:

  • There were 2.3 million more workers in 2018 than 2017!
  • Workers are earning higher wages with increases by 3.4% from 2017 to 2018.
  • Poverty has declined by 0.5 percentage points to 11.8% which is 1.4 million fewer people in poverty.
  • Economic growth driven by tax reform and recent efforts of the current administration to reduce regulatory burdens are having a positive effect.

Positive outcomes from these results:

  • Workers are better able to support their families.
  • There are more available jobs; however, there are still more jobs than people, so workforce remains a major concern.

Gaps in The Economy That Must be Addressed

“The first is a skills gap – too many people lack the skills or credentials they need to compete for 21st century jobs. The second is a people gap – too many businesses can’t find the workers they need, when and where they need them. Businesses must be part of the solution. No single entity has a greater stake in the strength of our talent pool than the business community. We have the ideas, the innovations, and the incentive to drive change and create solutions.”, said U.S. Chamber CEO Donohue at the Talent Forward event earlier this year.

The Gaps

  1. Solutions for the Skills Gap
    1. Improving education and mandating increased school accountability, more choices for families, and improved collaboration among key stakeholders.
    2. Ensuring the annual $400 billion dollars of taxpayer money being invested in higher education will result into credentials and a return on investment back into the economy.
    3. The business community must ensure that local education institutions teach in-demand skills by implementing similar programs such as the Foundation Talent Pipeline Management Initiative https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/talent-pipeline-management
    4. Better access to quality childcare, as it is the foundation for basic skills and ability.
  2. Solutions for People Gap
    1. The opioid epidemic is a large contributor to the decline in working-age men in the workforce. We need to support public and private sectors working to address the issue in addition to supporting good public policy.

but fair process for the millions of undocumented people living in the U.S. to have the opportunity to earn a legal status.” This includes the “Dreamers” who came to the U.S. as children and Temporary Protected Status recipients.

  1. We must have good policy to produce good results!

Signs of Policy Uncertainty Is Negatively Affecting the Economy

“Amid all the talk of a possible recession, it’s important for everyone to remember this: Economic expansions do not die of natural causes. They often die because of missteps and policy mistakes. And the biggest mistake our leaders could make right now — putting our economy at greater risk of a downturn — is to stoke further uncertainty We’re calling on our leaders to eliminate the uncertainty, rebuild business confidence and keep this economy working for all Americans.” U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Donohue writes.

  1. “When leaders make decisions that foster certainty, businesses invest, hire, grow and better drive the economy in a positive direction.”
  2. Examples of the Effect of Fostering Certainty
    1. Unemployment rate has reached a generational low
    2. Employee compensation has risen 3.4% in the first half of 2019
    3. Inflammation remains near record lows
    4. Consumer spending is strong, and retail sales have beat the calculated expectations for the first half of the year.
  3. Examples of the Negative Effect from Not Fostering Certainty
    1. Increased trade tensions and softening of global economy

“The business community shares the administration’s concern over China’s trade and industrial practices, and the U.S. Chamber strongly supports efforts to secure a deal that addresses forced technology transfer, industrial subsidies, data privacy and intellectual-property protection, and market access. The initial tariffs have brought China to the negotiating table, but the current path of constant escalation doesn’t increase the likelihood of a deal; it risks a recession here at home.” – U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  1. Business investment has experienced its first decline in three years
  2. Manufacturing sector has been in a downturn for nine months
  3. Famers’ income has plummeted
  4. Investors have begun to panic over “inverted yield curves” in the bond market and wild swings in the stock market – typically key indicators a recession is coming. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/08/14/recession-watch-what-is-an-inverted-yield-curve-why-does-it-matter/

The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Commitment

We know that neither growth nor a recession are guaranteed; however, both result from choices we make as a country. The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce will be calling on our leaders to eliminate as much uncertainty in the economy’s future as possible by encouraging the introducing and supporting of logical tax reform and an increase in educational and workforce development resources. Together we can close these gaps and increase the business community’s confidence in the future, both near and long.

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Sean Hackbarth, A Strong Economy Improves American’s Lives,” First Things First, (September 2019): https://page.uschamber.com/index.php/email/emailWebview