Key Points
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is holding a press conference alongside Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly at Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 11:15 a.m. local time.
- The event was announced by FOX 13 News, highlighting the governor’s ongoing engagements with economic leaders [8].
- Past similar events include a March 2025 conference in Winter Haven where DeSantis touted Florida‘s top-ranked economy by CNBC and US News, low unemployment, job growth, and tax relief initiatives [2][5].
- DeSantis has frequently partnered with Secretary Kelly to announce tax cuts, infrastructure funding, and business incentives, emphasising Florida‘s no-income-tax policy and debt reduction [3].
- Recent activities feature awards of $311 million for infrastructure in 37 counties and millions to rural communities [7][11].
- Florida‘s economy under DeSantis has seen 3.3 million new businesses since 2019, the lowest reemployment tax rate, and billions in tax relief since 2019 [3].
- The Steinhatchee event follows a pattern of coastal and rural stops, potentially addressing economic updates, fishing, or disaster recovery given the marina location [6].
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is convening a press conference with Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly at Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee today, Wednesday, January 7, 2026.
The event, scheduled for 11:15 a.m., underscores DeSantis’s continued focus on economic achievements and state growth initiatives. As reported across multiple outlets including FOX 13 News, such gatherings frequently highlight Florida‘s robust job market and pro-business policies [8].
What is the Purpose of DeSantis’s Press Conference in Steinhatchee?
Governor DeSantis’s appearance at Sea Hag Marina with Secretary Kelly aligns with his pattern of spotlighting Florida‘s economic successes in key locales. A YouTube announcement from local coverage specifies the venue and participants, suggesting topics like coastal economic development or fishing industry support [6].
In analogous events, such as the March 9, 2025, Winter Haven conference covered by multiple YouTube streams, DeSantis emphasised Florida‘s number one economy ranking by CNBC and US News & World Report for two years running [2][5]. “Morning we’re excited to be back in P County we got a great announcement today,” DeSantis stated in the Winter Haven transcript provided by News4JAX [5].
Steinhatchee, a fishing community in Taylor County, may feature discussions on marine-related tax relief, mirroring DeSantis’s prior proposals for a marine fuel tax holiday to aid boaters and fishermen [5].
Who is Joining Governor DeSantis at the Event?
Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly accompanies the governor, as confirmed in the FOX 13 News alert and echoed in prior joint appearances [8][6]. Kelly has praised DeSantis’s leadership, noting, “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida business owners will continue to pay the lowest possible reemployment tax rate… Since 2019, 3.3 million new businesses have been formed in Florida – more than any other state in the nation,” according to Florida Department of Revenue media releases [3].
What Economic Milestones Did DeSantis Highlight in Past Conferences?
As reported by News4JAX in a March 2025 transcript, DeSantis detailed Florida‘s 50th consecutive month of unemployment below the national average, jobs added in 52 of the last 56 months since May 2020, and private sector job growth exceeding the national average for 40 months [5]. The state maintains a AAA credit rating and has paid off 41% of all debt accumulated since 1845 [5].
“We have one of the lowest state tax burdens in America with no income tax,” DeSantis remarked, pointing to billions in tax relief since 2019, including permanent exemptions for baby items and proposed holidays for back-to-school, disaster prep, Second Amendment items, and marine fuel [5][3].
Florida Department of Revenue Executive Director Jim Zingale affirmed, “The continuation of the lowest possible reemployment tax rate is great news for Florida‘s employers,” in coverage of DeSantis signing HB 7073 for $1.07 billion in tax relief [3].
How Has Florida‘s Economy Performed Under DeSantis and Kelly?
DeSantis has secured nearly $6.7 billion in tax cuts since 2019 while running budget surpluses, as per official press releases [3]. “Florida’s economy has remained strong despite reckless federal spending,” DeSantis stated upon signing major relief packages [3].
Secretary Kelly highlighted the influx of businesses fleeing high-tax states: “A lot of these Governors or business guys are just calling hey we want to let the governor know we want to come to Florida” [5]. This has positioned Florida as a leader in job creation and economic migration.
House Speaker Paul Renner added, “At a time of rising inflation, Florida’s legislative leaders and Governor DeSantis continue to deliver meaningful tax relief to help the people of Florida” [3].
What Recent Infrastructure and Rural Investments Were Announced?
In December 2025, DeSantis awarded $311 million for infrastructure repairs across 37 Florida counties, as covered by News4JAX [7]. Earlier in August 2025, millions went to over a dozen rural communities [11].
These follow “Moving Florida Forward” debt reduction efforts and bond financing to lower state debt [5]. Such announcements often occur alongside Kelly, reinforcing economic stability.
Why Do These Press Conferences Matter for Floridians?
Events like today’s provide updates on tax policies, job growth, and business climate, directly impacting families and employers. DeSantis noted in Winter Haven, “We’re not trying to regulate people to death and certainly not try to tax people to death” [5].
Past conferences welcomed local leaders like Winter Haven Mayor Brian Yates and city commissioners, fostering community ties [5]. The Steinhatchee stop likely continues this outreach to coastal economies.
What Tax Relief Initiatives Have Been Implemented?
Key measures include a month-long Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday from August 1-31, saving families over $160 million, as announced by DeSantis [3]. Permanent exemptions cover baby necessities like diapers and cribs, saving nearly $234 million annually [3].
“We worked hard to include this tax holiday in our Framework for Freedom Budget,” DeSantis said [3]. Additional relief totalled $2.7 billion in 2023-2024, the largest in state history.
This comprehensive approach, detailed across Florida government releases, positions Florida as a low-tax haven [3].