Accomplishments

Achieving measurable results

AN ACCOMPLISHED GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FIRM

When choosing a team to assist in influencing public policy, clients need an accomplished government relations firm backed by years of success. Our team successfully assists a broad array of clients in developing strategies and programs to win passage of legislation, modify regulations, and establish allies to support public policy objectives. The diversity of our clients’ interests range from issues dealing with appropriations, energy and environment, water and wastewater, utilities services, local governmental matters, economic development, education, transportation, and healthcare, among others. Our ability to work on these and other issues with our clients, from concept to completion, has been met with unprecedented success. Our many accomplishments on behalf of our clients therefore reflect the depth and diversity of our practice. As an accomplished government relations firm, we’ve gained the expertise to further assist clients in the future.

Some of our accomplishments for current and former clients include:

  • As part of the Jacksonville Water and Sewer Expansion Authority (WSEA) Project Delivery Team, secured $300,000 for the WSEA through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State and Tribal Assistance Grant Program (STAG). Only two projects in Florida received federal funding from this account.
  • Successfully secured a $25 million authorization in the 2007 Federal Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) on behalf of WSEA. To date, this is still one of the largest WRDA earmarks for Florida water and sewer projects.
  • Assisted WSEA, as part of the St. Johns River Accord, with obtaining funding to help convert 22 areas of Duval County to public sewer systems. TFG assisted in securing funding for numerous Accord projects in the 2008-09 state budget, including $300,000 for the Jacksonville Lincoln Villas Septic Tank Phase Out project, $100,000 for the Jacksonville Lower Eastside Drainage Improvement project, $250,000 for the Jacksonville Williamson Creek Restoration project, $3.7 million for the Lower St. Johns River Basin Initiative, $1.8 million for the Middle St. Johns River Basin Initiative, $400,000 for the Upper St. Johns River Basin Initiative and $2.5 million for the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin.
  • Worked on behalf of the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind to secure funding for blind services in the 2011-12 state budget.
  • Successfully increased allocations for the Florida Voluntary Clean-up Tax Credit on behalf of the Florida Brownfields Association.
  • Worked to ensure funding for the Florida Ready to Work Program in the state budget for the past four consecutive years.
  • Secured international advocacy funding for the Southeast U.S./Japan Association in Florida, and successfully preserved funding through the budget veto period.
  • Worked with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development (OTTED) and Enterprise Florida to secure $7 million in Farm to Fuels grants for Verenium Corporation.
  • Assisted Verenium Biofuels Corp. with securing a $2.5 million Florida Bioenergy Grant in 2009 for the “Highlands Ethanol Project.”
  • Secured over $15 million in state grants from the Transportation Outreach Program for projects for the City of Jacksonville, CSX Transportation and AirKaman.
  • Successfully secured funding for the University State Matching Gifts Program of over $100 million, of which more than $60 million went to our client, the University of Florida.
  • Assisted with securing funding and proviso language in the 2010-2011 state budget for the Encore economic development project in partnership with Bank of America and the City of Tampa.
  • Worked on behalf of St. Johns County, Florida to expedite federal stimulus funding for Florida State Road 9B.
  • Secured $891,000 for non-functional septic tanks in St. Johns County.
  • Acquired a $2 million road fund grant to assist Citicorp Credit Services, Inc. in their expansion plans in Jacksonville, Florida.
  • Assisted with securing the passage of legislation to allow the Boards of Trustees of Florida’s public universities to establish a Differential Undergraduate Tuition Fee.
  • Aided with securing a veto of SB 2694 during the 2009 legislative session, which would have imposed significant restrictions on the ability of universities to purchase goods and services in a timely and cost effective manner.
  • Assisted with the federal authorization process for Florida Community College at Jacksonville to become one of 23 air traffic control training centers in the nation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
  • Successfully lobbied for legislation to allow the University of Florida to construct a columbarium on campus for the inurnment of remains.
  • Assisted with securing the passage of legislation to increase the state cigarette user fee, which provided additional funding for the UF Cancer Center.
  • Developed and implemented the first grassroots program for the University of Florida.
  • TFG named 2002 Lobbyist of the Year by the Florida Association of Technical Center Educators.
  • As part of the Jacksonville Water and Sewer Expansion Authority (WSEA) Project Delivery Team, secured $300,000 for the WSEA through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State and Tribal Assistance Grant Program (STAG). Only two projects in Florida received federal funding from this account.
  • Successfully secured a $25 million authorization in the 2007 Federal Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) on behalf of WSEA. To date, this is still one of the largest WRDA earmarks for Florida water and sewer projects.
  • Assisted WSEA, as part of the St. Johns River Accord, with obtaining funding to help convert 22 areas of Duval County to public sewer systems. TFG assisted in securing funding for numerous Accord projects in the 2008-09 state budget, including $300,000 for the Jacksonville Lincoln Villas Septic Tank Phase Out project, $100,000 for the Jacksonville Lower Eastside Drainage Improvement project, $250,000 for the Jacksonville Williamson Creek Restoration project, $3.7 million for the Lower St. Johns River Basin Initiative, $1.8 million for the Middle St. Johns River Basin Initiative, $400,000 for the Upper St. Johns River Basin Initiative and $2.5 million for the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin.
  • Worked on behalf of St. Johns County, Florida to ensure funding in the 2011-12 state budget for local county beach renourishment projects.
  • Successfully passed legislation on behalf of the Florida Brownfields Association in 2006 and 2008 which greatly enhanced redevelopment tax credit incentives offered by the State for voluntary Brownfields site cleanup and rehabilitation.
  • Worked with the Florida Brownfields Association during the 2010 legislative session to pass beneficial Brownfields legislation, as well as prevent legislation which would have been detrimental to the industry.
  • From 2006-2008, worked on several river, water resource and septic tank phase-out projects throughout the Northeast Florida area.
  • Played a key role during the 2011 session in securing passage of legislation creating the “Consumer Choice Protection Act.”
  • Worked on AT&T’s lobby team to pass landmark free market telecommunication legislation that eliminated a longstanding monopoly held by cable companies in Florida.
  • Successfully passed legislation designating an enterprise zone in Polk County to assist CSX Transportation with the construction and development of a new Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC).
  • Secured legislation to clarify ad valorem taxation of Public Private Partnerships.
  • Instrumental in defeating legislation which would have taxed cruise industry passengers in order to pay for a new stadium for the Florida Marlins, while representing the International Council of Cruise Lines.
  • Assisted with crafting and passing 2010 legislation to extend and expand the Qualified Target Industry (QTI) tax refund program, the state’s most widely used economic incentive program designed to create jobs and promote growth.
  • Played a key role during the 2011 session in securing passage of legislation creating the “Consumer Choice Protection Act.”
  • Worked on AT&T’s lobby team to pass landmark free market telecommunication legislation that eliminated a longstanding monopoly held by cable companies in Florida.
  • Successfully passed legislation designating an enterprise zone in Polk County to assist CSX Transportation with the construction and development of a new Intermodal Logistics Center (ILC).
  • During the 2011 legislative session, worked to ensure passage of legislation to substantially increase funding for Florida Ports and streamline the permitting process.
  • Operated with lawmakers during the 2011 session on issues relating to Growth Management legislation, including changing the formula for Transportation Proportionate Share.
  • Developed a plan of acquisition by the State of Florida of 61 miles of CSX railroad right-of-way through downtown Orlando for $491 million and successfully led the execution of that plan which resulted in a special legislative session on rail transportation.
  • Operated with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to successfully pass legislation creating the Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Study Commission during the 2010 legislative session.
  • Worked on behalf of the Tampa Bay Partnership to draft and pass legislation creating the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) during the 2007 legislative session.
  • Operated on behalf of the Jacksonville Port Authority to secure passage of port policy and regulatory relief legislation during the 2010 session.
  • Worked on behalf of the Jacksonville Port Authority and the Florida Ports Council to build a maritime coalition which successfully secured $50 million in one-time infrastructure improvements for Florida’s ports during the 2007 legislative session.
  • Operated on behalf of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to pass legislation to expand the organization’s scope of services to allow for a possible regional transportation authority and facilitate public-private partnerships.
  • Assisted Florida Coastal School of Law in working with the Florida Department of Transportation to modify state regulation regarding highway signs for private education institutions.

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