TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Following Hurricane Ian, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has activated Operation Blue Roof to provide temporary blue tarp-like covering to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made. This service is free to homeowners, and the initial sign-up period is set for 21 days, ending on October 23. Five counties are currently eligible:

• Lee
• Charlotte
• Sarasota
• Collier
• DeSoto

Operation Blue Roof protects property, reduces temporary housing costs, and allows residents to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm. Homes eligible for Operation Blue Roof include primary residences or a permanently occupied rental property with less than 50% structural damage, excluding vacation rental properties. All storm debris must be removed for the roof to qualify. Roofs that are flat, metal, clay, slate, or asbestos tile do not qualify.

For more information, call 1-888-ROOF-BLU or visit this site.

Governor Ron DeSantis Activates the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, Making $50 Million Available – At Least $10 Million of Which Must Go to Assist Agricultural Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Ian

Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties are eligible to apply

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $50 million available — at least $10 million of which must go to small businesses that are agricultural producers impacted by Hurricane Ian in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties. Small businesses in the most impacted counties — Charlotte, Collier, Lee, and Sarasota — will be escalated and prioritized as they are received.

The program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Ian. Interested applicants can apply now through December 2, 2022, or until all available funds are expended.

“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ strong, decisive leadership, we will ensure that communities across the state are able to recover quickly from Hurricane Ian’s devastation,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle. “Florida’s small business owners in need of assistance can now apply for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program at www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL.”

Loans approved through the Emergency Bridge Loan Program are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims, or other resources. Eligible small businesses may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program.

Loans made under this program are short-term, zero-interest, personal loans using State of Florida funds. They are not grants and loans must be repaid by the approved applicant.

DEO administers the Emergency Bridge Loan Program alongside its fiscal administrator, Florida First Capital Finance Corporation.

Visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, as well as to view the lending guidelines and required documentation and to complete an application by the December 2, 2022, deadline. Business owners who need further program information may call 833-832-4494 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

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Reemployment Assistance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance are available to eligible Floridians

** Eligible Floridians may apply for Reemployment Assistance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance Today, October 1, 2022 until 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 2, 2022, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Starting October 3, 2022, CONNECT will be available Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. ** 

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the work search reporting, waiting week, and Employ Florida registration requirements for Reemployment Assistance claims have been temporarily waived for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian in FEMA disaster-declared counties. By waiving these requirements, eligible Floridians will be able to quickly apply and receive reemployment assistance and disaster unemployment assistance benefits.

Additionally, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Florida businesses and residents in FEMA disaster-declared counties whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Ian and are not eligible for regular state or Federal Reemployment Assistance benefits.

“Right now, Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian are trying to meet their critical needs and what they don’t need are roadblocks interfering with their recovery,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle. “Governor DeSantis’ swift action to cut red tape and waive reporting requirements for reemployment assistance is the right choice to get families the help they need to get back on their feet faster, and DEO stands ready to distribute this vital assistance as quickly as possible.”

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is currently accepting applications for DUA from residents and businesses in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia counties.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:

• Is unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Was scheduled to start employment but was unable to as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Is unable to reach their job or self-employment location because the individual has to travel through an affected area and is prevented from doing so as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Has become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result of the major disaster; or
• Is unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of the major disaster.

To file a claim, go to http://www.floridajobs.org and select “File a Claim”, visit a local CareerSource Career Center, or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time to assist claimants. For DUA claims information, call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak with a representative.

Individuals must file for state Reemployment Assistance benefits before filing for DUA. During the application, claimants should indicate they have been impacted by the disaster. Claimants who are determined ineligible or who have exhausted Reemployment Assistance benefits will be automatically prompted to file a DUA application if they indicated on their Reemployment Assistance application that their employment was impacted by the disaster.

DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning September 25, 2022 until April 1, 2023­­­­­­­­­­­­, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a direct result of the disaster. The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is December 30, 2022.

Applications filed after the deadline will be considered untimely and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause. Applicants must submit their Social Security number, check stubs, and documentation to support the claim that they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred, or evidence substantiating they were unable to begin employment or self-employment due to the disaster. In some cases, additional documentation may be required. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the DUA application is filed.

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In accordance with Florida’s Constitution, the minimum wage in Florida increases to $11 an hour, effective today, September 30, 2022. The cash wage for employers claiming tip credit is $7.98 beginning today. All Florida employers are required to post the current minimum wage in their place of business where an employee can see it.

FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS, sells all-inclusive compliance posters which include the minimum wage updates. Those can be purchased HERE.

Additionally, the minimum wage posters are available in English, Spanish, and Creole on our Minimum Wage webpage.

For more information on the minimum wage increase, please visit the FRLA Minimum Wage information page HERE. 

Background: On November 3, 2020, Florida voters approved AMENDMENT 2, which amends Florida’s constitution to gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by the year 2026.

Tallahassee, FL – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Ian. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Ian recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, DEO is committed to supporting preparation, response, and recovery efforts of Florida businesses, communities, and citizens impacted by Hurricane Ian. The business damage assessment survey assists DEO and its federal, state, and local partners in those efforts,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle.  “I encourage businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian to complete the Business Damage Assessment Survey at FloridaDisaster.biz.”

On September 24, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 22-219 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties in the State of Florida. All affected businesses should complete the survey.

Results from the Business Damage Assessment Survey will be shared with various federal, state, and local agencies to implement appropriate relief. Businesses can complete the survey online or visit  FloridaDisaster.biz and select “Hurricane Ian” from the dropdown menu. If you need additional assistance with your business, please call 850-815-4925 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or email ESF-18@em.myflorida.com.

In advance of Hurricane Ian, FRLA continues to urge all Florida lodging operators to utilize VISIT Florida’s Emergency Accommodations Module (EAM) to list availabilities for visitors and displaced residents seeking lodging. Please update your listing as often as possible to provide the most accurate information for room-seekers. FRLA also respectfully requests all hotels to allow pets and waive no-pet policies so that families with pets can move to safety as pet-friendly shelters fill.

The Emergency Accommodations Module can be accessed here.

In preparation for Hurricane Ian, VISIT FLORIDA has activated the Emergency Accommodations Module on Expedia.com to provide real-time hotel and lodging availability for impacted Floridians and visitors throughout the state.

FRLA is encouraging all lodging members to utilize the module to share their availability and consumers to use the module to find lodging.

Governor Ron DeSantis has expanded the State of Emergency for all 67 Florida Counties and Attorney General Ashley Moody Activates Price Gouging Hotline in Advance of Tropical Storm Ian (formerly Tropical Depression 9)

From the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis

From the Office of the Attorney General

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— Attorney General Ashley Moody today activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline with Tropical Depression Nine approaching the state. The activation comes following Governor Ron DeSantis’s state-of-emergency declaration for 24 counties. In areas covered by the state of emergency, Floridians can report instances of severe price increases on essential commodities needed to prepare for the storm. Florida’s price gouging law only applies to commodities and services essential to preparing for, or recovering from, a storm within the areas of a declared state of emergency.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Floridians should prepare now with Tropical Depression Nine moving closer to our state. If anyone suspects price gouging, report it to my office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM, filing online at MyFloridaLegal.com or using our free No Scam reporting app.”

During a storm-related declared state of emergency, state law prohibits excessive increases in the price of essential commodities, such as food, water, hotel rooms, ice, gasoline, lumber, equipment and storm-related services needed as a direct result of the event.

The state of emergency for Tropical Depression Nine is declared for the following counties: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and St. Lucie.

Anyone who suspects price gouging can report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by using the No Scam app, visiting MyFloridaLegal.com or calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM. Attorney General Moody’s No Scam app can be downloaded for free on Apple and Android devices through the app store by searching No Scam.

For tips on reporting price gouging, click here.

For more information on price gouging, click here.

Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to a total of $25,000 for multiple violations committed in a single 24-hour period. In addition to the civil penalties for price gouging, state law criminalizes the sale of goods and services to the public without possession of a business tax receipt.

To download Attorney General Moody’s Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging brochure in English, click here. To download the Spanish version, click here.

For tips on what to do before and after a storm strikes, download the 2022 Hurricane Preparedness Guide here. For the Spanish version, click here.

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From the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis

Nationwide Partnership Helps Address Industry’s Workforce Shortage, Provides Immediate Employment to U.S. Talent Pool

WASHINGTON (September 20, 2022) – The American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLAF) announced today a formal partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Corps – first of its kind for Job Corps and for the hospitality industry at large – to ignite the hospitality workforce. With 130,000 open jobs in hospitality, this new partnership’s engagement and retention initiatives will help fill these positions with the highly skilled, ready-to-work Job Corps students enrolled in hospitality and related training programs.

This collaboration will provide Job Corps students access to hotel jobs and AHLAF’s flagship apprenticeship program – an industry-driven, competency-based initiative that offers pathways to becoming a lodging manager or hotel cook and includes nationally recognized credential attainment. By tapping into each other’s networks and resources, developing work-based learning opportunities, and utilizing connections to support job placement, the two organizations will join forces to shine a spotlight on hospitality and grow top talent within the industry.

“We are proud to team up with Job Corps as a platinum partner to strengthen our retention and recruitment programs,” said Sarah Cozewith, Vice President of Workforce Development at AHLA Foundation. “With hundreds of thousands of open hotel positions, this is the perfect time for these students to enroll in the hotel industry. From training more than 1400 apprentices to providing more than $1 million in academic scholarships annually, this trailblazing partnership builds on AHLAF’s ongoing efforts to craft an industry as diverse as the guests we serve.”

“Through our work with AHLAF, we can tap into their robust employer network and put our Job Corps graduates on the path to success,” said Rachel Torres, National Director of Job Corps. “Employers are increasingly looking to Job Corps as a source of talented, well-trained workers. We are all working toward the same goal as we begin this partnership together.”

With access to Job Corps’ locations nationwide, AHLAF will be able to complement its existing workforce development programs by connecting its members with graduates from hospitality, culinary, facilities maintenance and other related Job Corps programs.  With more than 200 career pathways in the industry, this partnership will allow graduates to take a job in an industry that provides opportunities to advance and grow their career.

From career fairs to classroom visits, professional development training to networking events, AHLAF and Job Corps are planning to open new doors for graduates as they develop and promote top talent through the industry.

To learn more about this partnership and other AHLAF recruitment and retention programs, please visit www.ahlafoundation.org.

About Job Corps

Job Corps is a federal career technical training and education program for young people who aspire to higher-paying careers and higher education. With 121 residential and nonresidential locations nationwide, training is available in the nation’s fastest-growing industries to eligible 16- through 24-year-olds. The program is completely free of charge.