Governor DeSantis awards $1,901,000 to Suwannee County
County Commission Chair Franklin White accepts check from Governor DeSantis on behalf of Suwannee County.
-Photo: Barbara Gill
By Barbara Gill
Monday, August 30, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded more than $1.9 million to Suwannee County through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The project will support business growth of the Suwannee County Catalyst Site, a 500-acre industrial park centrally located between I-10 and U.S. 90. The funding awarded will help Suwannee County expand water distribution infrastructure and treatment facilities to support commercial businesses moving to the area and bolster economic development. This project is expected to add 1,040 jobs to the area including jobs in high-demand fields like manufacturing and distribution.
County Commission Chair Franklin White accepted a check from Governor DeSantis on behalf of Suwannee County for $1,901,000.
DeSantis stated that many of the reasons people love Florida and we are doing so good, is that during the Covid lockdowns, we put our children first while other states locked children out and it has been disastrous. Florida unemployment is 2.7% while the national average is 3.5%. We have more employed today than before Covid and many states have not recovered from their draconian policies and lockdowns. The U.S. is denying a visa for tennis champion Novak Djokovic while our border is flooded with the non-vaccinated. Florida has been a ‘sea of sanity’ for the whole country during these mandates and restrictions. It is a slap in the face for our government to not enforce the laws regarding our borders.
“Fentanyl poisoning is now the #1 cause of death in adults 18-45 years old. We have a major drug epidemic because of the reckless policies at our overwhelmed southern border. When red states send these illegal aliens to the blue states, guess what, they don’t like it.”
While other states are cutting law enforcement, turning criminals out and not prosecuting many crimes, Florida has a $5,000 sign on bonus for law enforcement. Our public and our schools are not safe without law enforcement. “Recruiting is in the toilet.”
DeSantis commented on the hiring of 87,000 new IRS agents, stating that they will be going after small businesses, sole proprietors – those who cannot afford to hire lawyers and accountants to withstand these audits, “And by the way, they go after people they don’t like.” Recently the Governor of New York stated that Republicans should leave the state and move to Florida. DeSantis asked, who would say that if you don’t agree with me, you don’t have a right to be here. President Biden stated that people who oppose his policies (which is a majority of the Country) are semi-fascist. DeSantis said Biden is using the power of state to weaponize against people they don’t like.
Regarding the student loan bailout, DeSantis stated that President Biden has no legal authority to do so. He was citing a law from 911 meant to help first responders and the military. Under Governor DeSantis Florida state school tuition has been frozen. Universities, like Harvard with an almost $60 billion endowment, which is not taxed “should be on the hook” and this debt forgiveness will incentivize students into more debt. Asking taxpayers to pay these debts makes no sense and is very unfair.
State Representative Chuck Brannon stated that when he ran for office he wanted two things: to keep our state clean and our fiscal house in order. He thanked Governor DeSantis for his leadership and support. Brannon added that he worked his way through college and his Dad (now 86 years old) “saved his pennies to pay for my college and nobody is sending my Daddy a check.”
DeSantis stated that he hopes the Republicans take hold of Congress and will hold Biden accountable for what is going on (applause from audience).
There were approximately 100 in attendance at the press conference held at Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative in Live Oak.
