NACo Federal Updates – 2024
March 21, 2024
ACC Alumni Program – 2023
September 20, 2023
For the 2023 Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) Alumni program, Craig Fugate was invited to address key leadership issues for county officials in the emergency management arena. Mr. Fugate was the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency from 2009 – 2017, overseeing the Federal Government’s response to multiple major disasters, including Super Storm Sandy, Hurricane Mathew, and the Joplin tornadoes. Prior to FEMA, Mr. Fugate served as Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), serving as the Florida State Coordinating Officer for 11 Presidentially-declared disasters. In 2004, he managed the largest federal disaster response in Florida history as four major hurricanes impacted the state in quick succession: Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne.
August 10, 2023
The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is a federal, state, and county partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences and to making that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. UF/IFAS Extension brings the power of UF's research and education to every county in Florida. This short video is hosted by Dr. Nathan Palardy, Assistant Professor at UF/IFAS, and provides a brief history and overview of UF/IFAS Extension and its role in Florida’s 67 Counties.
June 5, 2023
JonesEdmunds teamed up with the Florida Association of Counties for a comprehensive webinar on preparing for unpredictable weather. Join Justin Gregory (Vice President), and Mark Nelson (Senior Consultant) at JonesEdmunds, to learn how your county can take the proper steps to protect the lives of citizens.
April 13, 2023
Indelible Solutions teamed up with the Florida Association of Counties for a comprehensive webinar on effective utilization of opioid settlement funding. Join Shamarial Roberson, DrPH, MPH, President of Health and Human Services at Indelible Solutions, to learn how your county can maximize the impact of funding received from the legislature and explore Indelible’s service offerings designed to help you make the most of this critical opportunity.
Public Notice Compliance
Apri 5, 2023
Due to a recent change in statute, there are new options for placing and publishing public notices throughout Florida. Column can help you navigate the complexities of each option through software and expertise. Save time and money while providing transparency to the public through Column’s software.
Introducing the State of Florida Cybersecurity Grant Program for Local Governments
January 31, 2023
Whole of State Cybersecurity is a collaborative effort between State government, Local government, and education to protect the citizens, individual municipalities, and the state, as a whole, from cybersecurity threat s. In 2020 the Florida Legislature created the Florida Digital Service (FLDS) to help strengthen cybersecurity defenses across the state. After starting with a comprehensive program for the State Agencies, FLDS is now shifting resources to Florida's local governments through the $30M Local Cybersecurity Grant Program funded in House Appropriation 2944A.
View and share this Florida Association of Counties webinar to learn more about the State's digital defenses, this grant program, and how your county can leverage them. The discussion will be led by former County Chief Information Officer, Chris Cruz, and the State of Florida Chief Information Officer, James Grant.
Mr. Cruz will share his experiences from the frontlines of securing a county, including interesting insights into the social, technical and political impact of his work. He will also be joined by State CIO, James Grant, who leads the Florida Digital Service and is making great strides in the effort to create a comprehensive cyber security program across the State. In addition to hearing about the State's cybersecurity strategy and specifics of the Local Government Grant program, Mr. Grant will also share how FLDS will partner with the counties.
County Roles in Economic Development
June 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. EST
To create communities that are safe, healthy, and vibrant, county governments often invest significant time and resources in local economic development. While local needs and circumstances dictate how individual counties approach this issue, most collaborate with community partners and strive to assist small businesses, including minority-owned businesses. One entity that has been successful in this effort is the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economy Vitality (OEV). A new model in collective economic development, the Tallahassee-Leon County OEV was created in 2016 within the consolidated Department of Planning, Land Management, and Community Enhancement (PLACE). This department operates as an Intergovernmental Agency, whose Board is composed of the Tallahassee City Commission and the Leon County Commission. The OEV is the front door to business solutions through a collaborative network that fosters entrepreneurship, advances local businesses, grows targeted industry sectors, provides access to world-class resources in applied sciences, and attracts innovative companies to the community.
Transportation Highlights of the New Federal Infrastructure Bill
March 16, 2022
On November 15, 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), formally known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58), was signed into law. The BIL provides $973 billion over five years from FY 2022 through FY 2026, including $550 billion in new investments for all modes of transportation, water, power and energy, environmental remediation, public lands, broadband and resilience. In this webinar, FDOT will provide an overview of the transportation funding opportunities of the legislation, specifically federal discretionary grants available to local governments, and provide resources that may be helpful as new information and guidance is released from USDOT.
Navigating the Waters of HB53: Stormwater and Wastewater 20-year Needs Analyses
February 2, 2022
See FAC’s Rural Caucus and JonesEdmunds webinar focused on the implementation of HB53 which requires the Office of Economic & Demographic Research (EDR) to include an analysis of the expenditures necessary to repair, replace, and expand water-related infrastructure in its annual assessment of Florida's water resources and conservation lands. This is the first webinar for the 2022 FAC Rural Caucus Webinar Series focused on Infrastructure.
By June 30, 2022, and every five years thereafter, the bill requires each county, municipality, or special district providing wastewater or stormwater services to develop a needs analysis for its jurisdiction over the subsequent 20 years. Counties must compile the local reports (including their own) and submit them to EDR and the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection by July 31, 2022. EDR must evaluate the compiled documents for the purpose of developing a statewide analysis for inclusion in the annual assessment due January 1, 2023.
Conversation with Representative Chip Lamarca
December 5, 2021
Join Representative Chip Lamarca, in a coversation on what's happening in the Florida Legislature with Eric Poole. Rep. Lamarca represents the state's 100th House District which includes parts of Broward County.
The Future of Water Resource Funding in Florida: Options and Opportunities
November 10, 2021
During the 2021 FAC Innovation & Policy Conference, the WES Policy Committee moved to adopt WES-PP-07 to support state policies allowing for local governments to establish local water commissions. The goal of this framework is to improve the coordination of local water projects that can support and supplement regional and state water resource initiatives.
Join ICG and members of FAC’s Water and Environmental Sustainability (WES) Policy Committee to discuss: The Future of Water Resource Funding in Florida: Options and Opportunities. Frank Bernardino (Anfield Consulting) and John Kaliski (Cambridge Systematics) will highlight water and transportation spending and the accompanied planning processes at the local and state level. The webinar will discuss Florida’s water infrastructure goals and offer options to address Florida’s growing water needs.
FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): Risk Rating 2.0
November 2, 2021
The NFIP is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and allows property owners in participating communities to buy insurance to protect against flood losses. Under federal law, the purchase of flood insurance is mandatory for all federal or federally related financial assistance, including home mortgage loans, for the acquisition and/or construction of buildings in high-risk flood areas (Special Flood Hazard Areas or SFHAs). Florida is an important state within the NFIP, as it holds one-third of all policies nationwide (1.77 million out of 5.5 million). According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), Florida policy holders pay more than $940 million annually into the NFIP and, since 1978, have received over $4.1 billion in flood claims.
Over the past several years, numerous changes have been made to the NFIP, particularly as they relate to premiums and how properties are rated for risk. The most recent change when into effect on October 1, 2021. Specifically, FEMA has updated its risk rating methodology through the implementation of a new pricing methodology called Risk Rating 2.0. According to FEMA, the methodology leverages industry best practices and cutting-edge technology to enable the agency to deliver rates that are actuarily sound, equitable, easier to understand and better reflect a property’s flood risk. This webinar provides and overview of the NFIP and how the new Risk Rating 2.0 will affect Florida and Florida Counties.
County Transportation Funding and Gas Tax Indexing
September 16, 2021
Funding transportation infrastructure is a challenge for all local governments. While counties use a variety of sources to meet maintenance needs and capital improvements, one of the principal funding sources used by many is the local option fuel tax. Though counties are authorized to levy up to up to 12-cents per gallon, the revenues generated from this source are often inadequate to meet the growing needs of the community. One solution to help ameliorate this problem, is tying the tax to a growth factor (such as the Consumer Price Index) to ensure the purchasing power of the tax does not erode over time. Use of this approach – referred to as indexing – has been employed the State of Florida since 1985. According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), for FY 19-20, indexing the state motor fuel tax to the CPI generated an additional $792 million in revenues when compared to what collections would have been without indexing.
To understand how state authorization for local option fuel taxes could benefit your county, please join us for this webinar where two leading experts (Ramon Gavarrete and Chris Evers) discuss this topic.
Understanding the Property Tax Assessment Process in Florida
September 14, 2021
Join Tim Wilmath, the Chief Appraiser at the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office, for a webinar which will cover important facts about the property tax assessment system in Florida. It will include an overview of the important dates and timeline, a brief history of property tax in Florida, the responsibility of the property appraiser and the duties the property appraiser performs. We will also discuss the methods the property appraiser uses to determine ownership, apply exemptions and set values. The presentation will cover the differences between market, assessed and taxable values and explain an overview of the various caps on assessments in Florida. We will also cover the most common exemptions, including homestead and portability (the ability to transfer cap savings to a different property). We will also briefly cover Agricultural classifications and personal property assessments. Lastly, we will discuss the appeals process. You won't want to miss this informative webinar.
Supporting Economic Development in Florida
June 2, 2021
The webinar is designed to illustrate how Florida’s counties can work with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Florida’s Regional Planning Councils (RPCs) serving as the EDA-designated Economic Development Districts to help them build the capacity for economic development based on local conditions and needs. Learn how EDA’s grant investments in planning, technical assistance and infrastructure construction are designed to leverage regional assets to support the implementation of economic development strategies that make it easier for businesses to start and grow. Economic resiliency, EDA’s grant process and current grant funding opportunities including the American Rescue Plan will be discussed within the context of locally driven, community-supported approaches to create the foundation for high-quality job growth and private sector investment.
Who’s on First? Navigating, Understanding, & Complying with Federal COVID Funding
May 26, 2021
This webinar will provide an overview Federal funding related to COVID and Recovery, including CARES Act, ARPA, and FEMA, the unique requirements for each fund, and the different sets of compliance applicable to each fund. It will examine the interplay among the funds, how to avoid duplication of benefits, and appropriate funding uses. Finally, the session provide insight on the Federal audit and oversight process, discuss common audit findings, and how to maximize funding while reducing risk of clawbacks and deobligations.
Disaster Response Bootcamp for County Commissioners - The County's Role in Emergency Management
May 14, 2021
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was like no other. Not only did it produce 30 named storms, but the United States suffered 12 direct hits. Forecasters had to turn to the rarely used Greek alphabet for only the second time in history to name tropical systems. While NOAA will issue its outlook for the 2021 hurricane season in late May, forecasters at Colorado State University are projecting 17 named storms, including 8 hurricanes. In view of this, Florida’s counties will once again be on the front line and its emergency management systems will be put to the test.
You won't want to miss this webinar which featured Joe Myers, President, Disaster Strategies and Ideas (DSI), and Former Director of Florida Division of Emergency Management, who discussed "The County's Role in Emergency Management."
Innovating County Government: How Miami-Dade County Modernizes Services
May 12, 2021
Governments across the country are continuously taking steps to innovate services for their communities. However, these innovation efforts can often be difficult to get off the ground - where do you start? Join Miami-Dade county and Qualtrics in a discussion about how Miami-Dade is innovating their programs in a variety of different ways, including listening to resident feedback, automating service delivery, and streamlining internal workflows.
Disaster Response Bootcamp for County Commissioners - The State’s Role in Emergency Management
May 7, 2021
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was like no other. Not only did it produce 30 named storms, but the United States suffered 12 direct hits. Forecasters had to turn to the rarely used Greek alphabet for only the second time in history to name tropical systems. While NOAA will issue its outlook for the 2021 hurricane season in late May, forecasters at Colorado State University are projecting 17 named storms, including 8 hurricanes. In view of this, Florida’s counties will once again be on the front line and its emergency management systems will be put to the test. To prepare for the upcoming season, FAC’s Institute for County Government (ICG) has organized an informal learning program for county commissioners during the month of May.
Be sure to watch this informative webinar featuring Kevin Guthrie, Deputy Director, Florida Division of Emergency Management discussing "The State’s Role in Emergency Management."
Looking to the Future: Counties & Emergency Management
March 31, 2021
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) plays a well-known role across the state, working day-and-night to ensure that Florida is prepared to respond to emergencies, recover from them, and mitigate impacts. In the age of COVID-19, counties collaboration with FDEM provides a vital life-line for our communities more than ever.
Jared Moskowitz is stepping down as the Director of FDEM and will be succeeded by current Deputy Director and Former Pasco County Assistant Administrator, Kevin Guthrie. Bid your farewell to Director Jared Moskowitz and welcome Deputy Director Kevin Guthrie this Wednesday, March 31! In addition to this conversation of transition, Kevin Guthrie will provide details on his plan for his upcoming role and communicate with county leadership in order to further solidify our ongoing partnership - you don't want to miss it!
Rural Broadband Solutions webinar
March 24, 2021
Founded in 2002, Inspired Technologies is an industry leader in technology support. Inspired specializes in IT support and consulting for county government/city/law enforcement, wireless technologies, 4GLTE/5G installations and support for T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon, microwave installation, fiber construction, inside and outside plant engineering for internet service providers, and infrastructure cabling for Cat5/Cat6 cabling.
Zack Dunlap is the Vice President of Business Development for Inspired Technologies Inc. and manages the Florida Association of Counties Managed IT Services Program on behalf of Inspired Technologies.
Planning for the $1.9T American Rescue Plan and Emergency Rental Assistance Program Implementation Strategies
March 9, 2021
Witt O’Brien’s and Unqork will present information on the $1.9T American Rescue Plan and explain various approaches to Emergency Rental Assistance Program implementation.
Redistricting County Commissions in 2021
February 25, 2021
February 25, 2021
The Florida Constitution and Statutes require the Board of County Commissioners to divide the county into districts that are nearly equal in population after each decennial census. 2020 census data will be available later this year. The webinar will review the redistricting requirements and offer insights into best practices so that the process may be implemented in an efficient and effective manner.
For more information, please go to www.ksanet.net
Best Practices - Polk County: Helping HANDS
February 24, 2021
Challenged with mentally ill inmates cycling through jail, Polk County developed Helping HANDS. The program uses the Assess, Plan, Identify and Coordinate(APIC) jail transition model unconventionally, staffing Community Paramedics alongside Recovery Peer Specialists to engage inmates and assist them with community reentry. The program ensures participants engage in treatment, receive medications and connect with social services resulting in reduced arrests, crisis admissions, and inappropriate use of EMS. Breaking down barriers, partnerships include Polk County Sheriffs’ Office, Fire Rescue, Health and Human Services, jail healthcare providers and behavioral health providers who share information and data. Early results show improvements in fewer arrests, EMS calls and emergency room visits.
Aetna - Covid-19 Vaccine Update
February 23, 2021
The surge of COVID-19 has severely impacted the United States both medically and financially; however, the creation of not one but multiple vaccines signifies that help is on the way. The swift and efficient development of the COVID-19 vaccines is an unprecedented scientific revelation, yet hurdles remain. Dr. E. Lee Washington—Senior Medical Director of the Department of Plan Sponsor Insights in Aetna National Accounts—tackles the latest vaccine news, breaking down the clinical efficacy of the various vaccine candidates and what the population can expect from pharmacy distribution, the vaccination experience, and community efforts to alleviate vaccine hesitancy. Register today to receive crucial updates on all things vaccine-related!
Best Practices - Flagler County: Fire Leadership Academy
February 17, 2021
Flagler County Fire Rescue in cooperation with the Flagler County School Board created a classroom-to-career curriculum with all approvals needed to open its doors in January 2017 and hiring their first graduates in 2019. In the end, Flagler County created a program with a built in hiring pool and the potential of a long-term employee that will contribute to the local economy. This program has been lauded as the first of its kind in the nation because it goes further than just preparing a student for entering the fire academy upon graduation; it prepares students to enter the workplace.
Best Practices - Volusia County: Youth Services in a Pandemic - From Obstacles to Innovation
February 10, 2021
When library branches closed and library programs ceased, library youth staff immediately began adapting the traditional face-to-face library programming to continue providing meaningful learning experiences for our community. Out of new restrictions emerged not only virtual programs that have expanded staff’s technical knowledge, but the award-winning Lit Kits to Go! Service, Facebook Live Volusia Reads Stories, YouTube videos that include Education Station, Bilingual programs, S.T.R.E.A.M, and Kindergarten Readiness.
COVID and Counties: It’s Not Just A Horrible Disease - It Could Be Your Next Employee Lawsuit by Bryant Miller Olive
January 13, 2021
COVID-19 is a horrific disease with tragic consequences for millions of people. We’re all vulnerable - family, friends, residents, and our valued employees - and we’re all sharing the burdens of dealing with the medical and the economic impact. One of those burdens are lawsuits and other legal action arising from the pandemic and how we deal with it. Can the county require employees to be vaccinated? Can the county discipline employees who engage in unsafe off-duty conduct? Can the county be sued if an employee is infected with COVID-19 on the job? Employment law attorneys David C. Miller and Ranjiv Sondhi of the law firm of Bryant Miller Olive will address these and other issues and answer your questions in this upcoming presentation.
COVID-19 Rental Assistance: A Playbook for Immediate Deadlines and Program Implementation
January 12, 2021
Join the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) and experts from Witt O'Brien's for the first installment of our COVID-19 Rental Assistance webinar series. In response to the new $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, Witt O’Brien’s experts will outline the immediate steps you should take when evaluating if you should opt in to receive your reserved allocation, strategies for immediate actions ahead of receiving funds, and the framework for designing a successful program.
2021 Fiscal Outlook featuring Joe Rulison, CEO/Founder, three+one
January 5, 2021
"The Florida Association of Counties (FAC) is excited to offer a 2021 Fiscal Outlook featuring Joe Rulison, CEO of three+one®, a FAC partner. In our 20 minute conversation, Joe will highlight a couple of trends he expects will impact counties in 2021. Over the last several years, Joe has published a yearly outlook which has been found to be very informative and actionable.
three+one is a fintech company that focuses on liquidity analysis and data for public entities through their cashVest® and rfpPrep® platforms. In 2019, three+one entered into an official partnership with the National Association of Counties (NACo), followed by a formal partnership with the FAC in 2020.
Since 2014, three+one, has generated over $350,000,000 in new income and savings for public entities and the communities they serve. More information may be found on their website: three+one.us
Modernizing on a Dime: How St. Petersburg, FL moved quickly to save small businesses by rethinking how they work
Thursday, December 17
December 17, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (EST)
St. Pete set out to provide relief to small businesses impacted by local COVID-19 orders through its Fighting Chance Fund.
While the City moved quickly to stem the losses to businesses and individuals, they rewired workflows across departments and adopted technology solutions that enabled them to collaborate, automate, and share data in near-real-time.
The Future of Public Meetings By OnBoard
Wednesday, December 16
As communities across the nation continue to deal with challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, government bodies have had to find new ways to conduct business, provide constituent services, and create opportunities for citizen oversight and feedback. After all, in times of crisis and uncertainty, open communication is even more vital as citizens look to public sector leaders to provide information and necessary support.
CARES Act: The End is Nigh! Webinar by Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A.
Tuesday, December 15
CARES Act: The End is Nigh! Webinar by Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson, P.A..
Although this year feels like it has lasted a decade, the close of 2020 is finally upon us and with it the end of the CARES Act. However, it’s not time, just yet, to chill the champagne, there is a lot of work yet to take place.
This presentation will provide a general summary of the CARES Act, best practices for close out, what Commissioners can do now to prepare their counties for audits in the future, and how to prepare for what may be on the horizon in 2021 for additional stimulus related to COVID-19. The end is nigh!
IEM Webinar - A Holistic Approach to COVID-19 Response and Recovery
Wednesday, December 9
IEM, a company dedicated to assisting state and local governments through their most difficult challenges for the last three and half decades, will provide an update on federal and national COVID-19 efforts, reflecting on their work in Florida and around the country. The team will review their AI-based COVID-19 Modeling for Florida, including current case projections and provide an update on Coronavirus Vaccine development. Finally, IEM will offer an overview of federal funding (e.g., CARES, FEMA & CDBG-DR), including what they are seeing in their work across the country in the pace of reimbursements, issues/concerns, and best practices.
FDOT: Update on MCORES
Wednesday, November 18
Join FAC on Wednesday, November 18th at 3:00 pm for an update on the FDOT M-CORES Program. The Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES) program is intended to revitalize rural communities, encourage job creation and provide regional connectivity while leveraging technology, enhancing the quality of life and public safety, and protecting the environment and natural resources.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is assigned with assembling task forces to study three specific corridors:
- The Suncoast Connector, extending from Citrus County to Jefferson County
- The Northern Turnpike Connector, extending from the northern terminus of Florida’s Turnpike northwest to the Suncoast Parkway
- The Southwest-Central Florida Connector, extending from Collier County to Polk County
The Florida Legislature charged each Task Force with providing recommendations and evaluations in a final report by November 15, 2020, which will guide the Florida Department of Transportation in its subsequent study phases through the implementation of high-level needs, guiding principles, and instructions.
Results 2020 - Overview of County Elections
Wednesday, November 4
On Wednesday, while the nation recovers from another wild election cycle, join FAC staff for a run-down of what happened in Florida's county races. We will discuss results, introduce some new commissioners and review a few local ballot initiatives.
This year, there have been a lot of tight races, more than a few of our long serving commissioners have retired and at least three seats are up in most counties resulting in a large class of new commissioners.
A Look at the Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) Update
Wednesday, October 28
The Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) is the state’s long-range plan guiding Florida’s transportation future. The FTP is a plan for all of Florida – and affects every resident, business, and visitor. It is important because it not only sets a long-range vision for the future, but it guides transportation decisions today.
The FTP considers how Florida will:
- Attain a goal of zero fatalities on Florida’s transportation system
- Provide a more efficient and mobile transportation system
- Meet the needs of a growing and changing population
- Make our economy more competitive
- Enhance the quality of life and environment of Florida’s communities
- Address emerging issues such as the rapid changes in technology
To learn more about what FDOT and its partners are doing to plan for tomorrow’s growth, particularly as it relates to rural areas, please join us for this informative webinar sponsored by FAC’s Rural Affairs Caucus.
Use CARES Act Funds to Improve Mental Health In Your County
Wednesday, October 21
With the CARES Act “use it or lose it” expiration date fast approaching, we’ll share practical and efficient strategies for using your funding to broadly expand mental and behavioral health outreach in accordance with the criteria.
Specifically discussed:
- How it is essential for behavioral health to work in conjunction with public health to improve overall mental well-being within our communities.
- Why this need for collaboration is even more essential in the face of COVID 19 and the associated emotional distress; civil and social unrest; and health disparities experienced by socially disadvantaged populations.
- How empowering communities with self-help prevention and intervention resources can alleviate mental health issues “upstream” before they escalate into co-morbid acute care episodes.
Join Bryan Desloge, Leon County Commissioner and past president of both the National Association of Counties and the Florida Association of Counties, and Deryk Van Brunt, PhD, CredibleMind CEO and clinical professor at the US, Berkeley’s School of Public Health for this timely webinar.
Media in a Virtual World
Wednesday, October 14
Many local governments have a communications plan in place to deal with emergencies and natural disasters, but these strategies often involve gathering key staff and the media in one small “war room” – an environment not safe during a global health pandemic. However, the unprecedented environment does not change the public and the media’s need for increased transparency and speed when communicating with their local leaders. Instead, it forces local governments and their leaders to get creative and adapt their approaches to suit a virtual world. Hear from Ryan Houck, a media consultant and communications strategist, as he explains this new media landscape, ways to engage with the media remotely, and how to relay non-pandemic news to the media and the public that won't be overshadowed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge disrupter to everything we know and understand in the world today. As a disrupter to our sense of “normal,” organizations must concede that business conducted pre-pandemic will continue to evolve in the new environment. Our conversation will engage you in thinking about how COVID-19 impacts organizational actions with regards to the behavioral health aspects of your employees.
COVID-19 & Mental Health in the Workplace
Thursday, October 8
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge disrupter to everything we know and understand in the world today. As a disrupter to our sense of “normal,” organizations must concede that business conducted pre-pandemic will continue to evolve in the new environment. Our conversation will engage you in thinking about how COVID-19 impacts organizational actions with regards to the behavioral health aspects of your employees.
Community Policing in Florida
Wednesday, September 30
FAC Urban Caucus Chair and Vice-Chair, Commissioner Janet Long and Mayor Jerry Demings, will lead a discussion regarding community-oriented policing techniques with sheriffs from across the state and members of the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA).
Town Hall with CFO Jimmy Patronis
Wednesday, September 23
The office of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Florida is perhaps one of the most important yet least known offices of state government. Leading this Department is CFO Jimmy Patronis, a Florida native, businessman, and former member of the Florida House of Representatives.
CFO Patronis has been an outspoken advocate for Florida consumers, particularly in the aftermath of major disasters, like Hurricane Michael and more recent disruptive events like COVID-19.
Please join us for this town hall meeting with CFO Patronis to hear all that his office is doing on financial transparency, disaster recovery, consumer protection and much more.
Solutions to COVID-19 Budget Challenges
Wednesday, September 16
Ged Lawyers has successfully recovered over $50M for local municipalities and medical providers under Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. Join us as the team at Ged Lawyers pulls back the curtain and educates us on how this can be accomplished, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Election Security During COVID-19
September 2, 2020
One of the biggest issues being reported by the media in recent months has been election security. Whether one votes by mail or in-person, safe and secure voting has never been more important.
Recently, the Florida Supervisor of Elections reported that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, "Florida is one of the most, if not the most, engaged state working with DHS on securing election systems infrastructure."
With the primary elections now behind us and the approaching general election in November, please join us for this informative webinar discussion to hear what challenges, if any, our election supervisors encounter during the primary and what efforts are being made to secure the next election.
COVID-19: The Science Behind the Headlines
August 26, 2020
National public health expert, Dr. Georges Benjamin, and the Vice President of State Government Affairs for CVS Health, Leanne D. Gassaway, discuss the science and facts behind the headlines related to the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 Rapid Contact Tracing
August 19, 2020
Rapid Trace, a contact tracing company dedicated to tracing and contacting individuals who have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, explains the process of contact tracing including compliance requirements, the necessary technology, and data security and reliability.
Florida's Housing Framework: Legislative Update and COVID 19
August 12, 2020
Jamie Ross, a leading expert in affordable housing, walks counties through strategies that they can develop to address the affordable housing crisi in Florida.
CARES Act Budgeting
August 7, 2020
Since the release of the CARES Act funds, counties across the state have been creating plans and programs in order to best serve their communities' needs during the coronavirus pandemic, but deciding which programs to prioritize and how much should be allocated towards different programs can be challenging. Florida Local Government Investment Trust (Florida Trust) discusses best practices when it comes to budgeting your CARES Act funds.
Demographics are Destiny: How Demographic Trends are Reshaping Florida and the United States
August 5, 2020
Dr. Tim Chapin, Dean of Social Sciences at Florida State University and a leading expert on demographic trends and urban planning, offers insights on what counties can anticipate with the 2020 US census count underway.
Navigating Public Employees’ Speech Rights
July 29, 2020
A public employee has a First Amendment right to freedom of speech. However, the right applies to speaking as a citizen on a matter of public concern but not to speech that is personal in nature or within the scope of the employee’s duties for the public employer. Ray Poole from Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP provides a proper analysis on whether the public employee has engaged in protected speech under the First Amendment.
Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez Provides an Update on the 2020 Census
July 23, 2020
Census participation is crucial in ensuring communities across Florida receive the appropriate amount of federal funds and accurate political representation. Florida's Lieutenant Governor, Jeanette Nuñez, provides an update on that status of the 2020 Census in Florida.
New Tech Entering the Market to Help with Reopening
July 22, 2020
New tech is exploding onto the market to help businesses and governments cope with COVID-19. FAC Business Solution and Corporate Partner, Inspired Technologies, walks you through some of the coolest and practical tech on the market today.
Campaigning and Communicating in a COVID World
July 15, 2020
John Sowinski, a veteran consultant for numerous successful statewide issue and corporate campaigns, discusses the keys to running a winning campaign despite the challenges COVID-19 presents and how best to communicate with your constituents during this turbulent time.
5G, Public Safety & Cybersecurity
July 8, 2020
An informative deep dive webinar into all things Verizon including: network, public safety, cyber security and 5G technology.
Is your virtual BOCC meeting secure?
July 1, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
FAC's new Business Solution Partner, Inspired Technologies, walks you through the capabilities and security of virtual meeting platforms like MS Teams and Zoom.
What Now? Clean Waterways Act - New Requirements on Florida Counties
June 30, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
The unanimous passage of the Clean Waterways Act in Senate Bill 712 is the culmination of several years of focus on statewide protection and improvement of our water resources. While we all support these protections and the goals of the Act, many sections of the bill will have an ongoing fiscal impact on local government and require operational changes to your utilities. This webinar provides a high-level overview of the provisions, requirements, and timelines outlined in the bill and some of the potential financial and political implications resulting from its passage.