News

CLOSE TO $1 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AWARDED TO AVON PARK
The City of Avon Park, with the help of the Highlands County Economic Development office and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, has been awarded a grant of $971,500 to fund water and wastewater infrastructure improvements to serve businesses in north Avon park. Florida Governor Rick Scott awarded the funds from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The project will fund the extension of a 12” water distribution line for approximately 2.25 miles and an 8” sewer force main for approximately 2 miles along US 27 in north Avon Park up to the county line.   Read more here.

AP PREPPING FOR NUCOR PLANT
Highlands News-Sun By Marc Valero
The City Council discussed the project to extend its utilities northward to provide service to Nucor’s steel rebar mill, which is slated to open in July 2020. The production facility, on the northern side of the Highlands County line in Polk County, will create 250 new high-paying jobs, according to a grant application that will reimburse the city for the cost of extending water and wastewater services.  Read more here.

FDOT STILL WORKING AP, LP FIVE-YEAR PLAN HEAVY ON SIDEWALKS
Highlands News-Sun By Phil Attinger
Several resurfacing projects, and turn lanes additions added to State Road 66, State Road 17 in Sebring, and U.S. 27 in Lake Placid.  View other proposed changes here.

HEALTH CARE TRAININGS EXPANDED IN HIGHLANDS COUNTY - SFSC OFFERS EVENING/WEEKEND SCHEDULE FOR NURSING DEGREE
Highlands News-Sun By Phil Attinger
South Florida State College will introduce alternative evening/weekend scheduling for its Associate in Science degree in Nursing beginning Jan. 28, 2019, the first day of the third flex session of spring term. Classes will meet two or three weekday evenings and one weekend day for four terms. Read more here. 

RENOVATIONS ON THE NAN-CESS-O-WEE MAY BEGIN IN THE SPRING
Highlands News-Sun By Melissa Main
Tony Collins, owner of the Nan-cess-o-wee, is moving forward with his plans to renovate the historic building into modern apartments and store fronts. He is carefully assembling all the pieces of the project, so he can begin construction by the middle of March 2019.  Read more here.

GOV. SCOTT: FLORIDA REEMPLOYMENT TAX RATE TO REMAIN AT LOWEST RATE FOR FOURTH YEAR
Governor Rick Scott announced Florida businesses will continue to pay the lowest possible rate for reemployment taxes in 2019 – for the fourth year in a row. Florida’s strong economy and private-sector job growth has allowed the state to dramatically reduce the minimum reemployment tax rate. The $7.00 per employee minimum tax rate for 2019 is down from a high of $120.80 per employee in 2012. Since 2012, Florida has reduced the reemployment tax for businesses by more than 94 percent, resulting in a savings of more than $6.8 billion.  Read more here.

FLORIDA MINIMUM WAGE TO GO UP IN 2019
Highlands News-Sun By Kim Leatherman
Employees making minimum wage will receive a small raise beginning on Jan. 1, 2019. The minimum wage will be raised 21 cents for hourly and tipped wages.  Read more here.

NEW YEAR BRINGS WORKERS' COMP CHANGES

Businesses across Florida will begin to see lower workers' compensation insurance rates in 2019. Regulators have approved an overall 13.8 percent decrease. The decrease follows a 9.5 average rate reduction in 2018. Read more here.