Montford's First Commerce and Tourism Committe Meeting to Focus on Hurricane Recovery

Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Tourism, will lead the committee’s first meeting on hurricane effects and recovery efforts across the business community in Florida.
 
“Hurricane Irma was a catastrophic storm, the likes of which Florida has never seen,” Montford said in a press statement Wednesday. “We continue to face the long and complicated process of recovery statewide, from our businesses and tourist industry, the school systems, to agriculture and infrastructure, there was not an entity left untouched.

"It is important that we focus on fully understanding the impacts so that the Legislature can stand with local governments, businesses and citizens on the road to recovery. I have invited several representatives from the business community, as well as the governmental entities that focus on commerce and economic development to our first meeting," Montford said. "I also welcome all of my Senate colleagues to attend and participate in the panel discussion if they have questions specific to their districts. Vice Chair Gainer and I are committed to ensuring that Hurricane Irma will not stunt economic development in Florida.”
 
The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will meet Monday, Oct. 9 in Room 110 of the Senate Office Building. The panel will consist of representatives from the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida United Businesses Association, CareerSource Florida, Visit Florida, Florida Small Business Development Center Network, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. The panelists will provide a brief overview of the impacts of the storm as well as efforts in recovery, and will be prepared to answer specific questions from senators.