This page highlights Florida agencies and other entities that are planning stimulus-related projects and programs and does not purport to represent every dollar that will be allocated to the state of Florida. This page will be updated to reflect new projects and funding opportunities as information becomes available.
Current Activity:
Health and Human Services: Projected $1 billion for health care and related programs.
Funded programs include those focused on disease prevention, increasing the healthcare workforce, construction of additional community health centers, research into health-related issues, the Meals on Wheels program, the state’s child support enforcement and foster care programs, and money for the state’s Medicaid and prescription drug programs. For a broader description of programs, see Florida's Recovery Act website.
What this means for Florida employers: Florida opportunities for jobs in the health care industry span a wide range of skills and experience, and employers in many different industries have the chance to benefit. Some of the occupations likely to see growth include healthcare providers such as doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants, lab technicians and technicians who work in specialty areas such as radiology and dialysis, technology-related jobs such as computer programmers, manufacturers of high-tech medical equipment and those needed to install and run it, education and training positions, research and scientific opportunities and jobs in construction.
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Education: Projected $3.9 billion
Although Florida is not yet reporting specific projects it has planned for its education funding, the money has already been designated by general goal and purpose within the state’s educational system.
The types of programs that will be funded with Recovery Act education money include those designed to improve educational standards and teaching quality in low-income and at-risk communities, to save education jobs that would otherwise be cut because of budgetary concerns, to implement new and innovative teaching methods through the use of technology, to improve and update school buildings, particularly in low income areas, to add services to the state’s special education programs, and to add programs for young children in low income areas, such as Head Start. For more information, see Florida's Recovery Act website.
Florida is also eligible to apply for additional money under the newly created State Fiscal Stabilization Fund (SFSF). This money is designed to prevent reductions in critical education and other services. State governors must apply for these funds and allocate 81.8 percent of them for education and may direct the remainder, 18.8 percent, toward other government services, which can include education.
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Infrastructure: Total amount of funds not available.
Environmental
Florida designates a number of environmental projects as “infrastructure” programs. To date, the following money has been allocated for such projects:
- $132.2 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for wastewater projects
- $88 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for drinking water projects
- $1.7 million for diesel emission reduction
Transportation
The following funds have been allocated for various transportation projects in Florida:
- $70 million for airport projects
- $1.35 billion for highway and bridge projects
- $316 million for transit grants
Currently, a number of state and local transportation projects have been submitted to the Florida legislature for approval and distribution of funds, including the criteria the state is using to prioritize projects. Factors for prioritizing “shovel ready” projects include those that:
- Have been deferred by the state
- Are tied to concurrency where development is being held up
- Have the potential to generate revenues and jobs
- Are geographically balanced
- Provide congestion relief
- Are located in economically distressed areas
- Can be completed in 3 years
Florida's Department of Transportation lists projects that are open for bid every three weeks. Not all of these projects are related to Recovery Act funds. Florida's DOT provides bid information.
What this means for Florida employers: There are a lot of opportunities for Florida employers in the construction and related industries to get work under the Recovery Act. Occupations likely to see an increase in work include suppliers of raw materials needed for roadwork and bridge repair, contractors and other skilled and unskilled construction workers who can perform repair and maintenance work to roads, bridges and rail systems, surveyors, engineers and urban planners.
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Energy / Environmental: Projected $470 million
Separate from the state’s allocation to improve its waste water and drinking water infrastructure, Florida will also receive money for energy and environmental projects designed to develop and support renewable energy programs, improve energy efficiency, and reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses. Specifically, money allocated to Florida includes:
- $175.9 million for weatherization programs for low income families and federal buildings.
- $126 million for the State Energy Program, which are designed to increase investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy for households.
- $168 million for the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program for projects that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. This money will be allocated to counties, cities, two tribal governments and the governor’s Energy Office.
It is expected that funds will be available by July 1, 2009, and all money must be designated to a specific project by September 30, 2010. For more information go to the State of Florida Recovery.
Although bid information for these projects is not yet available from the state, several federal grant opportunities are already available through the US Department of Energy. For more information visit page. For more information, visit Monster's Department of Energy page.
What this means for Florida employers: A major goal of the US Department of Energy is to increase the development and use of renewable energy sources and reduce the country’s dependence on traditional fossil fuel. Thus, employers who manufacture or supply environmentally friendly or energy efficient products (such as manufacturers and suppliers of products to weatherize homes and buildings) are likely to benefit. Other occupations that could see growth from Recovery Act money include researchers and scientists involved in developing new renewable energy sources, those involved in electrical upgrades and “Smart Grid” technology, and those involved in the manufacture of electrical battery components for hybrid vehicles.
Existing Projects (with links to bid information):
Environment
Diesel Truck “green” retrofits
First-come, first served rebates will be $1,500 to any Florida-based owner operator of an on-road Class 8 heavy duty commercial diesel vehicles with a gross vehicle weight greater than 33,001 lbs and equipped with a sleeper berth who purchases and installs an auxiliary power unit.
For more information, visit the Florida Recovery website.
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