Across our district, where unemployment hovers around 4.0%—with some neighborhoods facing rates nearly double the average—we’re committed to building real pathways for success. Our plan invests in small business growth, expands access to job training, and helps workers move up the career ladder. As AI and automation reshape our economy, we’ll support programs that prepare people for the jobs of tomorrow so no one is left behind. At the same time, with an estimated 1,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in our region, we’re focused on comprehensive community support: housing, food security, healthcare access, and workforce programs that help families regain stability and thrive.
1. Small Business Growth & Workforce Opportunity
Unemployment in FL‑06—primarily in Volusia and Flagler counties—stands at 4.6% and 4.8% respectively as of June 2025, which is about 0.9 to 1.1 percentage points higher than Florida’s statewide rate of 3.7%.These elevated jobless rates signal lingering barriers in accessing quality employment, especially for retail and service-sector workers, and reflect a need for better workforce pathways. At the same time, small businesses—key local employers—face headwinds from elevated costs and regulatory complexity.
- Invest in Small Business Growth: Expand access to SBA loans, streamline permitting, and offer targeted tax credits for businesses revitalizing vacant or abandoned properties in underserved areas.
- Career Pathways for Retail Workers: Commit to federal grant programs that fund training initiatives helping retail and service workers advance into higher-paying roles—such as management, logistics, tech, aviation, and healthcare.
- Apprenticeship & Skills Development: Partner with community colleges and local employers to offer flexible, in-demand certifications and apprenticeships, making career growth affordable and practical.
2. Future-Proofing Jobs in the Age of AI
AI and automation are reshaping industries nationwide, and districts like FL‑06—where retail, service, and some administrative jobs are prevalent—face the risk of job displacement. Without proactive steps, workers could see lost wages, fewer opportunities, and stalled economic growth.
- Workforce Reskilling & Upskilling: Expand federal training grants and partnerships with community colleges for short-term certifications in tech, logistics, healthcare, and skilled trades—fields less vulnerable to AI disruption.
- Career Transition Support: Fund wage insurance and portable benefits pilots to help displaced workers move into new roles without losing financial security.
- Local Tech & Innovation Hubs: Provide federal grants to attract industries like aerospace, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing to the district—creating high-paying jobs that complement AI, rather than compete with it.
- Responsible AI Deployment: Support policies requiring businesses to assess workforce impacts before large-scale automation and encourage solutions that augment rather than replace human workers.
- Small Business AI Access Grants: Help local businesses adopt AI tools for efficiency while protecting jobs through retraining and human-in-the-loop practices.
3. Homelessness Solutions
The Volusia-Flagler region of FL‑06 has over 1,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given day, with Flagler County seeing a 30% increase since 2022. Causes range from housing shortages and job instability to mental health and addiction—problems that can’t be solved with one-size-fits-all approaches.
- Emergency Shelter & Transitional Housing: Expand HUD funding for emergency beds and incentivize conversion of abandoned properties into temporary housing.
- Food Access Partnerships: Support local food banks and nonprofits with federal grants to ensure consistent, efficient meal distribution.
- Healthcare on the Go: Fund mobile health units offering primary care, mental health counseling, and addiction treatment; expand support for behavioral health clinics.
- Pathways Out of Homelessness: Create federal grants for job training programs targeting homeless individuals and those at risk; connect them to apprenticeships and local employers.
- Affordable Housing Expansion: Increase Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and redevelopment grants for infill projects—revitalizing communities without unchecked sprawl.
- Prevention First: Support rental assistance and eviction prevention measures for working families living paycheck to paycheck.