TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announces the appointment of Glen Gilzean as Supervisor of Elections in Orange County to fill the vacancy left by former supervisor Bill Cowles’ retirement in January. Gilzean has been a dedicated public servant to the State of Florida, most recently serving as Administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District […]

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 […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted a recent study commissioned by VISIT FLORIDA which shows that with the record-breaking number of visitors in 2022, travelers spent a record $124.9 billion, outpacing 2021 by nearly $20 billion. For every dollar spent by the 137.4 million visitors in 2022, 97 cents were retained in the Florida […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that visitation to Florida continues to rise, setting a record for the number of visitors to Florida in the third quarter of a year, with an estimated total of 35.1 million visitors between July and September 2023. Visitation included 32.2 million domestic visitors, 2.2 million overseas visitors […]

 Florida Disaster Fund awards will support the aquaculture and shellfish industries and boost economic development and workforce education in Taylor County following the closure of the Georgia-Pacific Foley Cellulose Facility     HOMOSASSA, Fla. — Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis visited Citrus County to announce more than $6 million to support disaster recovery in the Big […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to undertake the removal of storm debris from waterways in the Big Bend region following Hurricane Idalia. DEP has already tasked an existing contractor with the removal of debris. Mobilization has begun and removal will begin this week. “Many communities impacted […]

Governor also calls on the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to approve the federal fisheries emergency declaration requested for Hurricane Ian nearly one year ago   TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis requested the U.S. Secretary of Commerce issue a federal fisheries disaster declaration to help the fishing industry in the Big Bend area rebuild. This […]

  The budget includes a record tax relief package to help Florida families and record investments in Florida’s environment   FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Framework for Freedom Budget for Fiscal Year 2023–24 while visiting the City of Fort Pierce. The Framework for Freedom Budget includes a record $2.7 billion tax […]

Governor DeSantis also announced his intent to appoint J. Alex Kelly to lead the newly created Florida Department of Commerce  TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 5, creating a singular Department of Commerce in Florida to streamline and modernize Florida’s economic development agencies to meet the needs of today’s businesses. The […]

Fisheating Creek Ecosystem Florida Forever Project | Photos by Carlton Ward Jr./Wildpath TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved the investment of over $103 million to conserve nearly 40,000 acres across the state through the Florida Forever and Rural and Family Lands Protection programs. Nearly all of the projects approved are within the Florida […]