Ryan Nicol
Speaking at the mid-year meeting of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted how he believes his legislative victories this past Session will help aid the business community in South Florida and across the state.
DeSantis was the keynote speaker at the event, which was held at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina in Fort Lauderdale. The Governor was introduced by freshman state Rep. Chip LaMarca, who called DeSantis “immensely capable.”
LaMarca has served for years at the local level with both the Lighthouse Point City Commission and the Broward County Commission.
“Gov. DeSantis is the fourth Governor I’ve had the pleasure to work with and I couldn’t give you a better report,” LaMarca said.
After that, it was DeSantis’ turn to address the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance audience. The organization serves as a public-private partnership to boost economic development in Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding Broward County area.
“Obviously we know that if you’re in Florida, you’re going to have a better tax climate than if you’re in Connecticut or Illinois or New York. I think everybody understands that,’ DeSantis said of the state’s ability to create and attract businesses.
“The other thing I think people look to is the legal climate. We have not had the best legal climate in Florida. But I’m happy to report that help is on the way with that.”
DeSantis was referring to his appointment of three new Supreme Court justices shortly after taking office.
“I can tell you they’re dedicated to applying the law as written and not legislating from the bench. And I think that will manifest itself in a much more predictable legal climate.”
DeSantis also turned to the Legislature’s work on education reform as a primary driver of the state’s economy.
“It’s great to have low taxes, it’s great to have a positive economic climate, but people want to know that they have a talented workforce that they can depend on.”
He specifically highlighted efforts to expand vocational training and increase funding for education in technology and computer science.
“The opportunities in Broward are probably different than the opportunities in Orlando or Pensacola,” DeSantis said.
“So we want to really be in touch with the local business leaders throughout our state trying to figure out where the needs are and then crafting programs that will be able to provide a pipeline of folks who are going to be able to work and able to succeed.”
He also highlighted his push for environmental funding, a push which DeSantis argues will help Florida remain a strong choice for people “to not only do business, but to live and enjoy life.”
“I commend the business leaders here for working hard to make Broward a good place to do business,” DeSantis added. “I think that you’re going to continue seeing more and more people look to Florida and say, ‘Why am I not in Florida?’ ”
