Economic Development

Probability of a Florida Recession Continues to Drop and New County Data Available

According to Florida Chamber Foundation Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish, Florida’s probability of a recession declined for the second month in a row. This news along with new county data added to TheFloridaScorecard.org are topics discussed in the latest By the Numbers. Access to high-speed communications is vital in today’s technical economy. The Florida 2030 Blueprint includes an infrastructure goal that by 2030, 100 percent of Florida residents will have access to high-speed communications. To learn the percentage of residents in your county with access to high-speed…

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Strategies for Rural Economic Development

Florida’s economy has seen a significant reshaping over the past 20 years. By 2030, rapid advancements in technology and automation will replace nearly half of all jobs that currently exist. While many urban areas of Florida have already begun preparing for this change, a large number of our rural areas are still reeling from the economic realities of the changes in agriculture and the devastation of Hurricane Michael. At the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Future of…

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Florida’s Small Businesses Point to Workforce Quality as Top Concern Keeping Them Up at Night

Despite Concern, Job Creators Anticipate Higher Sales FOURTH QUARTER SMALL BUSINESS INDEX SURVEY TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (October 22, 2019) — Even though Florida is outpacing the national average in jobs created, workforce quality continues to be the top concern among Florida small businesses, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth Quarter Small Business Index Survey. This is the 10th quarter out of 11 that small businesses have ranked this issue among their top concern. Despite…

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Commerce Secretary Jamal Sowell and EFI’s Economic Plan

REGISTER We are pleased to welcome Florida’s Secretary of Commerce and Enterprise Florida President and CEO Jamal Sowell as a featured speaker at the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2019 Future of Florida Forum. Secretary Sowell will discuss Governor DeSantis’ bold vision for economic growth in Florida, highlighting the Governor’s recent business development missions, industries that are important to Florida’s economy including aviation/aerospace and financial services, and opportunities for the business community to help expand and diversify…

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2020 Florida Business Leaders’ Summit on Prosperity and Economic Opportunity

REGISTER BECOME A SPONSOR Did you know more than 3 million Floridians live in poverty? Of those, more than 260,000 are under age 5. Join business and industry leaders as well as elected officials and community voices us as we analyze a path to prosperity for each of Florida’s zip codes. We will also discuss best practices around the state, how they can be replicated and more. Conversations will also focus around 10 topic areas…

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While Chances of a Recession in Florida Are Increasing, Florida’s Economic Diversification Ranking is Also Strengthening

“Since April 2019, the probability of a Florida recession in the next nine months has increased substantially.” – Dr. Jerry Parrish, Chief Economist, Florida Chamber Foundation TALLAHASSEE, FL (August 21, 2019) – The probability of a Florida recession over the next nine months has increased to 34.2 percent, according to Florida Chamber Foundation Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish, in the latest in a series of metrics-based educational videos. While the chances of a recession are…

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Governor Ron DeSantis Announces $16.2 Million in Awards to Improve Infrastructure in 24 Small and Rural Florida Communities

Tallahassee, Fla. – On July 23, Governor Ron DeSantis announced $16.2 million in awards for 24 small and rural communities across the state through the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The program, administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), helps communities fund infrastructure improvements and housing rehabilitation. The Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)…

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A Talented Workforce and the Rising Probability of a Recession Leave Florida’s Small Businesses Feeling Uncertain

Latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index Survey Shows TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 22, 2019)— While Florida’s small businesses continue boosting the state’s economy, finding qualified workers to fill available jobs tops the list of issues keeping small business owners up at night, survey results from the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Third Quarter Small Business Index Survey show.  “Florida’s small businesses continue to be concerned about being able to hire a talented workforce,” said Dr.…

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Florida Chamber of Commerce Names Representative Bob Rommel 2019 Most Valuable Legislator

Also Announces 18 Distinguished Advocate Award Recipients ORLANDO, Fla. (June 20, 2019) – The Florida Chamber of Commerce today awarded Representative Bob Rommel with the 2019 Most Valuable Legislator (MVL) award for his leadership in tackling Florida’s ‘Judicial Hellhole’ label. The MVL presentation was made during the Florida Chamber’s Board of Directors meeting in Orlando. The Florida Chamber’s MVL award is the business community’s premier legislative award honoring a single lawmaker for their outstanding legislative…

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Mark Wilson: Education is the key to economic growth

“Companies go where the talent is, not where the incentive is.” Right now, Florida has the 17th largest economy in the world. The Florida Chamber of Commerce wants to carve a path to the Top 10 by 2030. Getting there will require some work, said Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson at the organization’s Learners to Earners Workforce Summit, and it will take strategies that aren’t typically put under the economic development umbrella. “Companies go where the talent is,…

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Florida Chamber of Commerce Releases 2019 Legislative Report Card

98 Lawmakers Earn A’s and B’s; 59 Earn C’s, D’s, and F’s TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 21, 2019) – Ninety-eight members of the Florida Legislature earned A’s or B’s on the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Legislative Report Card, and helped lower the cost of living and cost of doing business on families and job creators, while also preparing for future growth and protecting Florida’s constitution, the state’s leading voice of business and largest federation of…

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Florida Chamber Bottom Line: Ken Lawson on 2019 Legislative Session: “It’s been great.”

The latest Florida Chamber Bottom Line features Ken Lawson, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) discussing the 2019 Legislative Session’s impact on the DEO and Florida’s overall economic development. “It’s been great. It’s been a fantastic session for DEO and we are being fully funded for our organization,” said Lawson. “I’m also very proud that my partners EFI and VISIT FLORIDA are still here.” Get Involved Join business leaders like DEO…

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Phasing Out VISIT FLORIDA Could Diminish Florida’s Leading Workforce Skills Training Ground Worsening Small Business Owners Access for Employees with Employability Skills

Latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index Survey Shows TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 26, 2019)— If lawmakers phase out Florida’s tourism marketing program VISIT FLORIDA, it could greatly diminish the employability skills training ground the tourism and hospitality industry provide, putting greater strain on small businesses to identify and hire employees with needed workforce skills, the Florida Chamber of Commerce said today. “As the future of VISIT FLORIDA is being debated in the Legislature, job…

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URGENT: Help Save VISIT FLORIDA

The news continues to be grim. Budget conference committee members for the Florida House and Senate have agreed to fund VISIT FLORIDA only through October. That means, without additional legislative action, VISIT FLORIDA will sunset when funding runs out this fall. This Florida Chamber-backed legislative priority needs your help. CLICK HERE to urge lawmakers to fully fund VISIT FLORIDA and Florida’s economic development arm, Enterprise Florida. Visitors to Florida contribute more than $112 billion in…

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New Data Shows County Job Growth, Florida’s Chance of Recession Declines

In the Florida Chamber Foundation’s recent By The Numbers, the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish discusses Florida’s economy. The most recent data finds: Miami-Dade, Orange and Palm Beach Counties topped the list in job growth over the last year, while 17 counties lost jobs.                        Florida’s construction industry had the highest job growth rate at 4.5 percent. Florida’s manufacturing industry has grown jobs at 2.8 times the U.S. rate over the past three…

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