Drew Wilson
Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that Florida’s private-sector job growth rate led all large states last month and used the news to ask the Legislature for $250 million in business incentive funding.
“Florida continues to lead other large states, including our No. 1 competitor, Texas, in job growth because our pro-business, low-tax policies are out-competing other locations as a top place for jobs,” Scott said in a news release.
“Florida’s economy is booming, but we cannot become complacent or slow down our efforts to make Florida first in the world for job creation.”
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Florida gained 8,700 private sector jobs in September, which is behind Texas’ 31,200 jobs and New York’s 11,400. Where Florida leads is in the growth rate over the past year.
The 12 months ending in September 2015 saw the Sunshine State at 234,400 private-sector jobs, which outpaces Texas and New York. California added more jobs during that time, but its rate was below Florida’s.
At 3.4 percent, Florida’s job growth rate was third among all states, behind Utah and South Carolina.
Scott used the job gains to call for a major funding increase to Enterprise Florida, which gives incentives to companies that add jobs or move their businesses to Florida.
This week, Scott said he wanted $250 million in funding for a new Florida Enterprise Fund.
Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development agency, was funded at $43 million last year, or about half of the $85 million Scott requested. The governor has been pushing for more funding ever since.
The $250 million would be Enterprise Florida’s highest funding level yet, if approved. Incentives were funded at $102 million in the 2013 budget and $71 million in 2014.
Scott also wants a faster approval process for getting incentive funds to companies. His plan would require any deal needing more than $1 million in incentive funds to be approved by the Senate president, House speaker and the governor, rather than the whole Legislature.
