TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive, created by First Lady Casey DeSantis, Hope Florida and the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, distributed more than 1,400 toys, bringing joy and festive spirit to Florida families in need during the 2023 holiday season.   Individuals and businesses from around the state donated new toys that […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis attended a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the filling of the first cell of the 6,500-acre Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Stormwater Treatment Area, which will store and clean water flowing from Lake Okeechobee before it is sent south. The EAA Reservoir is the crown jewel of Everglades restoration, and will […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced $550,000 in Florida Disaster Fund recovery grants to support long-term recovery efforts following Hurricane Idalia. Expedited grants in the amount of $50,000 have been awarded to 11 organizations that are designated as Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs). LTRGs help to coordinate long-term recovery services […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted Florida has been ranked as the number one state to retire according to a study by WalletHub. The study also ranked Florida number one for quality of life for seniors among all 50 states. Florida continues to attract new residents to Florida because of the state’s favorable tax […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Education announced that the state’s 2022–23 high school graduation rate climbed to 88 percent, an increase of 0.7 percentage points over the previous school year and a 1.1 percentage point increase over the pre-pandemic graduation rate in 2018–19. The 2022–23 high school graduation rate also represents the highest […]

TO:              Brian Fienemann, Director of Real Estate Management and Development Kerby Smith,                      Chair of County Commission, Lake County Jimmy Burry, Mayor of  Leesburg FROM:        Governor Ron DeSantis DATE:         Friday, January 19, 2024 RE: […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $2.8 million to five Florida communities through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for workforce housing and public infrastructure development. This builds upon more than $95 million invested in 132 community development projects for Florida communities since 2019.   “Today’s awards improve infrastructure […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez hosted a roundtable discussion regarding SB 174, which would allow veterans’ spouses to qualify to live in state-run long-term care facilities for veterans. The roundtable brought together Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs Executive Director Major General James S. “Hammer” Hartsell and State Senator Danny Burgess, who discussed the expanded […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the record-breaking success of his three-month Great Outdoors Initiative, providing 50% discounts on Gold Sportsman hunting and fishing licenses and Annual State Park Passes. First announced on October 14, 2023, the Great Outdoors Initiative encouraged Floridians to get outdoors and explore Florida’s natural resources by saving Florida families money. The discount […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $20 million through the Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant Program to strengthen ongoing efforts to restore water quality in the bay. Since 2019, the state of Florida has invested more than $70 million for targeted water quality projects in Biscayne Bay. To ensure restoration efforts continue, Governor DeSantis has again included $20 million […]