News

Coke Florida Launches $2.8M Scholarship Program for Students in Underserved Communities Across Florida

Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) announced a ten-year commitment to award graduating high school seniors with scholarships to attend a Florida public four-year university, two-year college, or technical/vocational school. The newly established Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship℠ , a $2.8M partnership with Florida Prepaid College Foundation, will cover tuition and most fees for 250 economically disadvantaged students over the next ten years. This donation is part of the Path to Prosperity Scholarship Program, a partnership our Florida Chamber…

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Florida Experiences Fastest Growth Nationally in Real GDP Among Other Large Economy States

By: Dave Sobush, CEcD, Director of Research, Florida Chamber Foundation Florida continues to make progress not only toward becoming a top 10 global economy but also the largest economy in the nation. As part of the efforts to track the progress on achieving our Florida 2030 Blueprint mission, the Florida Chamber Foundation’s research team has reviewed new information from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and is pleased to provide this deeper dive into Florida’s economic…

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Autonomous Florida Member Spotlight: Blink

    Brendan Jones is President and CEO at Blink Charging, a global leading vertically integrated manufacturer, owner, operator and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services. Blink manufactures NACS and CCS solutions for both Level 2 and Level 3 (DC Fast Charging) solutions. Learn more at blinkcharging.com What is one thing Floridians may not know about your industry? Many are not aware of the importance of Level 2 (L2) chargers and how they…

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Florida Chamber Foundation Unveils 2023 Florida Business & Economic Mid-Year Report

Today, the Florida Chamber Foundation released its 2023 Florida Business & Economic Mid-Year Report, a mid-year analysis of the local and national economic trends impacting the way Florida does business. This first edition will be followed by annual editions to keep Florida businesses in the know about Florida’s economic headwinds and tailwinds, serving as a level set to propel them through the remainder of each year and towards 2030. The 2023 mid-year report covers where Florida stands…

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Half of Florida’s Third Graders Are Reading at Grade Level – The Path to Prosperity at Risk for Nearly 111,000 Third Graders

The Florida Chamber Foundation created the Florida 2030 Blueprint with one goal in mind– outline a path for Florida leaders to help lead the effort in Florida becoming the 10th largest economy in the world by 2030. As part of that effort, it is vital we ensure Florida has a talent development pipeline that produces the workforce necessary to drive those economic outcomes, and no milestone on that educational journey is more important than third-grade…

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State Budget & Tax Package Move Florida Forward

By: Carolyn Johnson, Vice President of Government Affairs, Florida Chamber of Commerce July 1 marks the beginning of Florida’s fiscal year, and the recently signed $116.5 billion budget includes a number of investments that will continue Florida’s momentum toward becoming a top-10 global economy by 2030. Boosted by revenues resulting from Florida’s rapidly growing economy, the FY 2023-2024 budget funds the 5-year Transportation Work Program at a record $13.6 billion and includes an additional $4…

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Healthcare Partnership Spotlight: Lee Health

Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, President & CEO, serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President for Lee Health. Dr. Antonucci was a practicing obstetrician and gynecologist who joined the Lee Health Medical Staff in 1983. He joined Lee Health in 2007 as Chief Administrative Officer for the health system’s Cape Coral Hospital. He was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Hospital Services in 2009 and assumed responsibility for Physician Services in 2010. In October 2011, he…

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Representative Tommy Gregory Named Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Most Valuable Legislator

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has named Representative Tommy Gregory as its 2023 Most Valuable Legislator for his leadership in rebalancing Florida’s civil justice system and strengthening Florida’s competitiveness through historic lawsuit abuse reform. “The Florida Chamber could not have asked for a better partner or more tenacious champion for Floridians to work shoulder-to-shoulder with Florida’s united business community to accomplish the strongest lawsuit abuse reform package in Florida’s history,” said Florida Chamber President &…

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Florida Chamber of Commerce Unveils 2023 How They Voted, Naming Representative Tommy Gregory as Most Valuable Legislator

Today, the Florida Chamber of Commerce unveiled its 2023 How They Voted. A comprehensive review of what passed this legislative session, what didn’t, and what remains unfinished business, How They Voted reveals the Florida Chamber’s 2023 Legislative Report Card, showcasing grades earned by all 159 legislators in the Florida House and Senate based on their votes during the 2023 Legislative Session, and recognizes the Florida Chamber’s Most Valuable Legislator and Distinguished Advocates. “Florida welcomes $4.48M…

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Recently Released Kindergarten Readiness Numbers Show the Importance of Prioritizing Early Learning

By: Dave Sobush, CEcD, Director of Research, Florida Chamber Foundation Across the Sunshine State, end-of-school-year celebrations have largely concluded. For many families, their child’s K-12 experience reached a joyful end with commencement ceremonies. It’s an opportunity for families to not only to embrace the opportunities awaiting their graduate – whether that be post-secondary education, military service, or direct entry to the workforce – but also to reflect on and recall the very beginning of that…

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Small Business Council Spotlight: Florida Nurses Association

Willa Fuller, Executive Director Business Name: Florida Nurses Association What does your business do? We are an advocacy group for nurses and the patients they serve. What is your biggest concern as a small business owner? Membership, which is impacted by people’s perception of how we are doing financially as a community. Right now, our membership is growing. Tell us why you joined the Small Business Council and what you would say to other business leaders…

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Zenani D. Johnson Selected for U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today selected Zenani Johnson, Equality of Opportunity Coordinator of the Florida Chamber Foundation, to participate in the eighth cohort of its premiere business leadership program. The Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips leaders from state and local chambers of commerce, economic development agencies, and trade associations with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing…

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Florida Legislature Passes Top Priorities of the Florida Chamber, Benefiting Floridians, Local Businesses and Florida’s Competitiveness

Florida’s Legislative Session by the Numbers: 1,828 Bills and PCBs filed; over 350 bills passed both chambers Florida Chamber of Commerce testified 181 times on legislation impacting job creators Florida Chamber is analyzing more than 5,700 votes cast by lawmakers and will soon release its annual Legislative Report Card $116 billion budget passed- the largest in state history   TALLAHASSEE, FL (May 5, 2023) — The 2023 Florida Legislative Session saw passage of several Florida…

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Florida Chamber Health Council Launching Statewide, Business-Led Mental Health Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ivette Faulkner ifaulkner@flchamber.com 850-521-1231 TALLAHASSEE, FL (April 27, 2023) – The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Cabinet is making Florida the safest, healthiest, and most sustainable state in America. Florida businesses can’t be their safest and most sustainable unless public awareness is raised regarding mental health outcomes and a commitment to mental well-being. To help advance healthier outcomes in Florida by uniting and aligning businesses, government, and nonprofits to solve Florida’s mental…

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BREAKING NEWS: Florida Continues to Lead the Nation in Net Income Migration, Welcoming $4.48M Per Hour

New income migration figures have been released, showing that Florida maintains its number one spot in leading the nation in net income migration, gaining $39.2 billion over the year. This breaks down to $4.48 million per hour in new net income to Florida. This new figure is an increase of 65.1% from the previous year and is a promising trend as we work to achieve the Florida 2030 Blueprint mission of making Florida a top 10 global…

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