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 ~ FloridaCommerce Waives Work Search Reporting and Additional Reemployment Assistance Requirements for Floridians Impacted by Hurricane Idalia ~

** Reconnect is available Monday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.**

TALLAHASSEE –  Today, FloridaCommerce announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to Florida businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Idalia and are not eligible for regular state or Federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Idalia are encouraged to submit a claim at www.FloridaJobs.org.

Additionally, work search reporting, waiting week, and Employ Florida registration requirements for Reemployment Assistance claims have been temporarily waived for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Idalia in FEMA disaster-declared counties. By waiving these requirements, eligible Floridians will be able to quickly apply and receive reemployment assistance and disaster unemployment assistance benefits.

FloridaCommerce is accepting applications for DUA from residents and businesses in Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, and Taylor counties, the FEMA-designated disaster impacted area as of September 10, 2023.

DUA is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:

• Worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment;
• Are not able to work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
• Can establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their principal source of income; 
• Do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits from any state;
• Cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
• Became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of household.

DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning September 3, 2023 until March 2, 2024, as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster in a designated-disaster areas. 

The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 3, 2023 for businesses and residents in Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison, Pasco, Suwannee, and Taylor counties. For businesses and residents in Pinellas County, the deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 5, 2023. For businesses and residents in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, the deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than 11:59 p.m. on October 11, 2023.  

Applications filed after the deadline will be considered untimely and DUA benefits may be denied unless the individual provides good cause. Applicants must submit their Social Security number, check stubs, and documentation to support the claim that they were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred. In some cases, additional documentation may be required. To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the date the DUA application is filed.

To file a DUA claim, visit www.FloridaJobs.org or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, to assist claimants. For DUA claims information, call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak to a customer service representative.

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alachuatoday.com

GAINESVILLE, FL -- The Gainesville Fine Arts Association (GFAA) is celebrating its 100^th year anniversary this year. GFAA will be celebrating this milestone with two big events this month. 

The first celebration is their 100 Year Anniversary Party on Saturday, Sept. 23^rd from 6 to 9 p.m. at the newly restored 1908 Grand located at 215 N. Main Street, Gainesville where “history meets modern elegance.” This historic building was built in 1908 as the Gainesville Masonic Lodge No. 41, whose members were instrumental in the building of several historic downtown Gainesville structures, including the Gainesville courthouse and the University Auditorium.

 This is a ticketed fundraiser event. Tickets are $50 per person and include dinner provided by Blue Gill (with vegetarian options) and a drink, as well as a cash bar.  In addition, the event will feature an artwork raffle, and dancing to music provided by the Gainesville String Quartet and DJ Elio.

Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 16 at gainesvillefinearts.org/100.

The second is the reception for GFAA’s History Exhibition: 100 Years of Art being held on Sept. 29 from 7 to 10 p.m. during Gainesville’s Artwalk. The reception will include live music and refreshments. The exhibition tells the story of the organization and includes original art from members through the past 100 years, including old newspaper articles and works by one of the founders, Emmaline Buchholz on loan from the Matheson Museum. The 100 Years of Art exhibit will be on display free and open to the public at GFAA Gallery from September 29^th to November 18th, 2023.

These events are funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, in part by the by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment of the Arts and in part by a grant from the City of Gainesville, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department.

The history and impact of Gainesville Fine Arts Association

GFAA was formed in 1923 by three close friends, Mrs. F.W. Buchholz (Emmaline), Miss Nelly Trezevant and Mrs. C. Addison Pound (Annie) to “foster and encourage the study of the Arts theoretically and practically through every medium.” During its early years, it brought exhibits to the city and presented art lectures. The Association’s monthly meetings were held on the second floor of the Thomas Hotel.

In the 1930s a studio of three rooms was rented at 131 Union Street (on the south side of the “courthouse” square) where travelling exhibitions and classes were taught. Continuing through the war years and the growth of the 1950s, the Association offered painting classes for adults, children, sidewalk art shows, art jamborees, auctions, and children’s exhibits. The first Newsletter was sent out in 1963, and in 1973 the Association was re-chartered by the state of Florida and granted tax exempt, nonprofit status in 1978.

Over the decades, GFAA has held many events that have contributed to Gainesville’s art and culture in its long history including: the original Gainesville Mall Art Show, Art Festival at Thornebrook, the Winter Fine Arts Fair at Tioga Town Center, and many different exhibits at the Thomas Center, Santa Fe College, Oak Hammock, Trinity United Methodist, and other area businesses and restaurants. GFAA creates community, support, and opportunities for exposure and connection for Gainesville Artists, as well as professional exhibitions where art appreciators can view and buy local art.   

In 2016, GFAA secured their first ever gallery space, the GFAA Gallery, located at 1314 South Main Street. The Gallery is supported by GFAA’s 300 artist members active in the Gallery’s robust programming including monthly exhibitions, workshops, artist meet-ups, weekly shared studio time in the gallery, concerts, and other events. The Gallery is free and open to the public, and the exhibitions include local artists in all different phases of their practice.

For more information, please visit gainesvillefinearts.org/100.

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alachuatoday.com

GAINESVILLE, FLA. - The Florida Gators host the Tennessee Volunteers for the 22nd time in the 53rd all-time meeting between the two programs.  The Orange & Blue boasts a 31-21 record in the series featuring victories in 16 of the last 18 matchups.  Game time is Sept. 16 // 7 p.m. ET // Gainesville, Fla. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field.   In last year's matchup at Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, the Volunteers edged out the Gators 38-33.The Gators have not lost a home game to the Volunteers since 2003, owning nine-straight home wins in the series. In last year’s meeting, Florida totaled 594 yards including a season-high 453 passing yards from QB Anthony Richardson, which ranked ninth all-time in program history.

How to Watch/Listen

ESPN

Play-by-Play: Chris Fowler Analyst: Kirk Herbstreit Reporter: Holly Rowe Channel (Cox): 7 / 1007 [HD] Channel (DirecTV): 8 [HD]

Gator Sports Network from LEARFIELD

Play-by-Play: Sean Kelley Analyst: Shane Matthews Reporter: Tate Casey Channel: Local Affiliates Sirius Channel: 82

ESPN National Radio
Play-by-Play: Marc Kestecher Analyst: Kelly Stouffer Reporter: Ian Fitzsimmons Sirius Channel: 80

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alachuatoday.com

• $700,000 was awarded to seven education foundations to support impacted teachers.
  • $100,000 to Dixie Education Foundation, Inc.
  • $100,000 to Hamilton County Public Schools Foundation
  • $100,000 to Lafayette Penny Foundation
  • $100,000 to Levy County Schools Foundation
  • $100,000 to Madison County Foundation for Excellence in Education
  • $100,000 to Suwannee Education Foundation
  • $100,000 to Taylor County Education Foundation 

• $700,000 was awarded to support charitable organizations assisting in disaster response efforts including:  
  • Adventist Community Services
  • Cajun Navy Ground Force
  • Catholic Charities
  • Convoy of Hope
  • Feeding Florida
  • Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief
  • Florida State Animal Response Coalition
  • Mercy Chefs
  • Operation BBQ Relief
  • Salvation Army
  • Second Harvest of the Big Bend
  • Team Rubicon
  • ToolBank USA
  • Florida Methodist Church Disaster Relief 

• $200,000 was awarded to local community churches that were impacted by the storm. Providing funds to these institutions is imperative to ensure a sense of normalcy is brought back to the area through the faith community. Funds will be used to support traditional community support services or to enable churches to reopen and hold services while they await long-term repairs and applicable reimbursements.