Economic Development

Testimony on the Impacts of Hurricane Irma

  Download a PDF      Fight AOB Fraud    Local Chamber Relief Fund     ON:            Impacts of Hurricane Irma TO:             Senate Commerce Committee BY:             Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce DATE:         October 9, 2017 Chairman Montford, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity today and welcome back. I look forward to working with each of you this session to make Florida more competitive. I’m Mark Wilson, President…

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Florida Chamber Foundation Focuses on Future of Florida At Annual Future of Florida Forum

Orlando, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2017) – The Florida Chamber Foundation this week is gathering business and industry leaders and elected officials from around the state at the 2017 Future of Florida Forum in Orlando to ask, is Florida ready for the future? From conversations on economic prosperity and the future of workforce to discussions on Hurricane Irma recovery efforts and what Florida’s next steps are, this two-day event asks business leaders to lead conversations with…

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Florida Job Numbers: Is Your County On Par With the Rest of Florida?

  Visit The Florida Scorecard   Watch Past “By the Numbers” Videos     In the most recent Florida Chamber Foundation’s By The Numbers, the Florida Chamber Foundation takes a closer look at Florida’s current job numbers found on TheFloridaScorecard.org and the impact of Hurricane Irma on the state’s insurance industry. Overall, job creation year-over-year remains higher than the U.S., with a 2.6 percent increase for Florida vs. 1.4 percent increase for the nation (see attached for county-by-county).

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Register Today for the 2017 Future of Florida Forum

  Register     Agenda     Hotel   By 2030, nearly 26 million Floridians will call Florida home. Is Florida ready to remain globally competitive, create high-wage jobs and economic opportunity, and fuel vibrant and sustainable communities? The Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2017 Future of Florida Forum will bring together Florida’s business leaders, industry experts and elected officials to discuss the opportunities and challenges impacting Florida’s future between now and 2030. Topics such as workforce, education, prosperity, global…

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Welcome Back? Employer Mandates to Kick Off 2018

The Florida Legislature hasn’t even returned to Tallahassee and employer mandates have already been filed – your opinion is needed soon. “Ban the Box” From Job Applications Senator Randolph Bracy (D- Ocoee) filed legislation which prohibits employers from inquiring into an applicant’s criminal history on an initial job application. This is despite studies that show that “ban the box” legislation results in more discrimination in the hiring process. Additionally, employers could be found liable for employees that commit…

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Florida Small Businesses Increasingly Concerned Most About Workforce Quality and Government Regulations Latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Survey Shows

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (July 24, 2017) –  Workforce quality and government regulations are the top issues keeping Florida’s small business leaders up at night, according to the latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index survey. “In the span of two years, workforce quality has climbed from the fifth issue of greatest concern to the top issues of concern,” said DR. JERRY PARRISH, Chief Economist and Director of Research, Florida Chamber Foundation. “The Florida Chamber Foundation’s…

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Florida Chamber Unveils 2017 Legislative Report Card

Releases How They Voted and Highlights 16 Distinguished Advocates Tallahassee, Fla. (July 14, 2017) – Following the 2017 Legislative Session and June’s Special Session 2017-A, the Florida Chamber of Commerce today is releasing grades earned by all members of the House and Senate on the Florida Chamber’s 2017 Legislative Report Card. Disappointingly, lawmakers earned among the lowest grades in recent history for their votes on legislation that would make Florida more competitive. The Florida Chamber’s…

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OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Florida Legislature Votes to Enhance Florida’s Competitiveness

  Download Legislative Summary   Read Our Letter to Legislators   Thanks to your tireless advocacy, the Florida Legislature today voted to make Florida more competitive and sent a strong signal nationwide that Florida remains open for business. Prior to the start of this week’s Special Session, Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson urged legislative leaders to fully fund VISIT FLORIDA’s proven, high-yield tourism marketing efforts with at least $76 million, to provide operational funding for Enterprise…

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SPECIAL SESSION 2017-A: Day Two Recap

The Florida Legislature has completed its second day of the 2017-A Special Session. Below are some of the big takeaways from today:   The House version of the economic development and tourism marketing bill was presented on the House floor this morning. The Senate version of the bill was passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting this morning and was again presented on the Senate floor later this afternoon. Both the House and Senate bills are now…

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SPECIAL SESSION 2017-A: Takeaways From Day One

The Florida Legislature has officially kicked off the 2017-A Special Session. Below are some the big takeaways from day one of Special Session 2017-A: The House Appropriations Committee and Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee passed their respective versions of economic development and tourism marketing bills. Both bills include the three priorities outlined in the letter Mark Wilson sent to members of Legislature yesterday morning. The above Senate bill related to economic programs was scheduled to be heard…

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Florida Chamber Prepares for Special Session 2017-A

VISIT FLORIDA and Economic Development Bill Poised For Legislative Review Wednesday, June 7 the Florida Legislature will officially kickoff Special Session 2017-A, and your Florida Chamber of Commerce will be at the Capitol making sure your voices are heard. The three day Special Session 2017-A was announced last Friday, during a press conference with Governor Rick Scott, House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate President Joe Negron, to address economic development programs and public education. Under the…

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2017 Legislative Summary

  Download Legislative Summary   “Thanks to the thousands of businesses that stood with the Florida Chamber to help make Florida more competitive during the 2017 Florida Legislative Session. While lawmakers did pass important legislation, we look forward to future opportunities to lower costs on families and businesses, and to putting Florida’s 483,000 unemployed Floridians back to work,” said MARK WILSON, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The Florida Chamber’s 2017 Legislative…

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Government Regulations and Workforce Quality Are Top Concerns Of Latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Survey

TALLAHASSEE (April 25, 2017) – The latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index survey shows Florida job creators increasingly concerned about workforce quality and government regulations. The Florida Chamber’s Small Business Index statewide survey shows small businesses are most concerned about: Workforce quality (22 percent), Government regulations (16 percent), Healthcare costs (13 percent), Economic uncertainty (10 percent – tie), Access to capital (10 percent – tie), and Lawsuit abuse (6 percent). But perhaps what’s…

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POLITICO’s Matt Dixon Discusses Legislative Infighting

Conflict Between Republican Lawmakers is Part of Larger Battle “There’s going to be some inherent tension with more traditionally pro-business Republicans and some of the Republicans the trial lawyers have done a pretty good job of getting elected. That’s probably spurring some of what we’re seeing this year specifically, but to a larger context…when there’s one-party rule there is generally going to be some in-fighting.” – Matt Dixon, Senior Reporter, POLITICO Florida Watch Matt Dixon, senior reporter…

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Economist: ‘It’s Getting Harder … to Create Jobs’ in Florida

Originally Published in the Palm Beach Post, April 12, 2017   Jobs aren’t cropping up in Florida quite like they used to, and with public-private partnerships on the chopping block, the tide is unlikely to turn any time soon. That was the message economist Jerry Parrish had for the 1,000 attendees of the Broward Workshop’s “State of the County” forum on Friday. “It’s getting harder and harder to create jobs in this state,” he said,…

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