|
|
S P O N S O R S P O T L I G H T
Florida. Innovation Hub of the Americas
With an economy that is leading the nation, Florida’s story is one of sustained economic success through technology, innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, international trade, and an unparalleled quality of life.
The state’s economic development efforts continue to pay great dividends as shown in:
- labor and employment statistics
- climbing rate of Foreign Direct Investment
- Florida’s continued dominance in high-tech employment
- the steady increase in global and national corporations that choose Florida as a headquarters location.
Florida focuses on attracting, retaining and expanding its businesses. The state is proactive in targeting high-value business sectors including information technology, life sciences, aviation/aerospace, homeland security/defense and financial/professional services. Florida also seeks companies that are able to invest in its communities and pay their employees higher-than-average wages.
|
Visit this award-winning web site for detailed information about Florida’s global advantages, key sectors, business climate, business incentives, EFI programs, detailed trade and economic reports and more.
|
With one of the strongest economies and work forces in the nation, Florida’s outlook is promising:
- Florida’s total 2005 employment of 8.329 million workers ranked it 4th in the nation and 1st in the Southeast.
- In 2005, Florida’s merchandise trade reached $95.3 billion, an increase of 17 percent over 2004.
- Florida ranked third in the U.S. in high-tech exports in 2005, and was number one in the nation for total dollar growth from 2004-2005.
- Florida ranked 8th in the nation in state-origin exports in 2005.
- Florida is the 4th most populous state in the nation and the most populous state in the Southeast, with 17.8 million residents in 2005.
- Florida’s February 2006 unemployment rate of 3.2 percent was 1.6 percent lower than the national rate.
- Florida continues to lead the U.S. in the number of new jobs created, with the fastest rate of annual job growth (more than twice the national average).
- Florida remains one of the top tourist destinations in the world. In 2006, Florida announced a record number of tourists — 85.8 million, the first time annual visitation to Florida has exceeded 80 million.
|
Florida was named one of the "Top Ten Pro-Business States 2006" by Pollina Corporate Real Estate. Pollina’s survey ranks Florida among the best places in the nation for conducting and succeeding in business because of its pro-business policies, quality work force and overall economic climate.
|
Following are the priorities for the 2007-2012 Roadmap to Florida’s Future, the state’s strategic approach to economic development:
- Build World-Class Talent — a focus on education at all levels (pre-K to 12, workforce, higher education) for a better economy.
- Ensure Business Climate Competitiveness — a twofold objective: 1) addressing available and affordable insurance and work-force housing issues that threaten Florida’s competitiveness; and 2) meeting the need for new incentives that reward productivity and innovation.
- Promote Sustainable Development to Ensure Florida’s Superior Quality of Life — a proactive approach to multi-faceted growth management challenges with balanced land use planning and multimodal infrastructure to meet future needs.
- Invest in Florida’s Innovation Economy — building on research and development and technology commercialization for home-grown businesses with high-wage, high value-added jobs that will accelerate economic diversification.
- Establish Florida as a Pre-eminent Global Hub — advancing Florida’s status from an international gateway to a premier global business hub.
- Accelerate Florida’s Economic Diversification — addressing issues regarding the quality and quantity of economic growth needed to achieve the diversity that is vital for Florida’s stability, prosperity and global competitiveness. (e.g., Ensuring multiple engines of industry growth, and fostering a balanced distribution of geographic growth while heightening its quality.)
|
IAMC Notes