As we catapult into 2024, the Florida Economic Development Council (FEDC) continues to drive Florida’s GDP growth with an emphasis on doubling that which is attributed to Florida’s 32 rural counties. FEDC’s rockstar regional directors continue to align regional economic development strategies with the Florida 2030 Blueprint. A good example of this is our recently released Business Florida – 2024 Opportunity Guide, published in partnership with Florida Trend.
This talent-touting resource showcases the workforce solutions businesses are finding across Florida’s eight economic development regions. Distributed to C-Suite executives, Site Location Consultants and Corporate decision makers, Business Florida invites growth-oriented people and businesses to enjoy our #1 higher education system, #4 best national tax climate and resource rich entrepreneurial landscape ranked first in business startups.
Particularly exciting is the recent move Florida made to a top 10 state in manufacturing employment. If you haven’t already, be sure to read the State of Manufacturing report released in December by FloridaCommerce with support from FloridaMakes. This data-rich resource is a primer to how far we have come and the work we have left to do to achieve the collective goals of Florida 2030.
As outlined in FEDC’s 2024 Legislative Priorities, Florida must increase investment in university and institutional research initiatives to accelerate the use of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, autonomous robots, simulation, cloud computing, augmented reality, and additive manufacturing. To that end, FEDC is supporting ASTRO America in partnership with FSU-FAMU, UF, UCF, and FIU in the pursuit of an NSF Engines proposal to become a U.S. hub for additive manufacturing use-inspired research and translation to production capabilities. Leading Florida aerospace and energy companies are committed to innovating new parts and systems and working to improve qualification. Florida’s approach will strengthen SME’s, spawn new businesses, and graduate experienced additive design engineers thus allowing the industry to provide critical solutions to the customer in hours instead of days, weeks, and months. This strengthens national security, reduces waste, and creates a Design, Buy, Build, Sustain manufacturing ecosystem in Florida.
FSU – Panama City Campus – October 3-5, 2023
Nathan Sparks, One Okaloosa; Scott Luth, Space Florida, and Verdell Hawkins, FPL and Chairman of the Board for Florida’s Great Northwest.
Cori Henderson, Triumph Gulf Coast; David Bear, Triumph Gulf Coast; Jennifer Conoley, FGNW; Randy Hanna, FSU
UCF Summit – Nov 16-17, 2023
FIU Summit January 25-26, 2024
