Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschFebruary 1, 2018

A group pushing for Florida to adopt anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity said in a Thursday email that lawmakers lack of action on that front could lead Amazon to look elsewhere for its new headquarters. Florida Competes said in a Thursday press release that the failure to update the state’s 1992 Civil […]

Scott PowersJanuary 26, 2018

Illustrating a notion that you can never offer too many options, much of the proposal that Orlando economic officials had put together for the failed bid to win the second headquarters for Amazon pitched numerous properties downtown including near the soccer stadium and the Orlando Sentinel property, along with other prospects in Lake Nona, Sunbridge, […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 19, 2018

Miami made the cut when Amazon announced its top-20 shortlist for its second headquarters Thursday, but Americans for Prosperity Florida says the retail giant shouldn’t get any state incentives if it chooses to set up shop in South Florida. “Miami would be a fantastic choice for Amazon’s HQ2, but not if it means having taxpayers […]

Scott PowersJanuary 19, 2018

Florida’s and Orange County’s economies are projected to grow and wages and salaries are likely to start finally climbing, but now the growing pains will start emerging more as well with tighter labor pools and housing shortages. That was one of the primary messages of Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida Institute […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 19, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott was in Ponte Vedra Friday as the PGA Tour unveiled plans for a new global headquarters — and 300 jobs to go with that build out. Yet one of the topics we broached with the Governor in the gaggle had to do with a potentially bigger future job announcement … if Amazon locates […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerJanuary 18, 2018

After playing the key role in reducing and revamping Florida’s economic development program last year, House Speaker Richard Corcoran said Thursday he has no interest in developing a state incentive plan to bring Amazon’s new headquarters to Florida. Florida suddenly became a contender for the giant online retailer’s second headquarters — dubbed HQ2 by Amazon […]

Scott PowersJanuary 18, 2018

Amazon has announced the shortlist of finalists to host its second headquarters and Miami made the list, while bids from Orlando, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville were scrapped. The internet retail behemoth announced Thursday that it had narrowed a list from 238 proposals to 20 for what will be the company’s second headquarters, a contest that […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 14, 2017

Like many cities, Jacksonville is making a pitch for Amazon’s HQ2. The value add locally per a video from Burdette Ketchum: land on the old Shipyards site downtown. The video, which was first reported by Jenna Bourne of Action News Jax, begins with sprightly acoustic guitars leading into a backing track reminiscent of the Postal Service circa 2003. […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2017

It’s time to deal with privacy in the age of Alexa, Sen. Jeff Brandes says. The St. Petersburg Republican has filed legislation (SB 1256) to protect the expectation of privacy in the use of cell phones and other microphone-enabled household devices. The surge in sales of “smart speakers” like Amazon’s Echo, with its “Alexa” cloud-based voice service, […]

Scott PowersSeptember 28, 2017

Enterprise Florida President Pete Antonacci said Thursday that pursuit of a new east coast headquarters planned by Amazon is his organization’s top priority right now, as the state’s economic development corporation coordinates bids from at least four different Sunshine State cities and encourages them to emphasize tax giveaway incentives. Speaking to the Florida Chamber of […]

Tag: amazon

Email insights: Lack of LGBT protections might spoil Miami’s chances for Amazon HQ2

Orlando Amazon bid pitched Creative Village, Orlando Sentinel, Lake Nona, Tupperware, NeoCity sites

AFP-FL says ‘no way’ to Amazon HQ2 incentives

Growth, growing pains, projected for Central Florida economy

Incentives for Amazon? Richard Corcoran, Rick Scott see it differently

House Speaker rejects state aid for Miami’s Amazon bid

Amazon 2nd HQ shortlist includes Miami, but not Orlando, Tampa Bay or Jax

‘Amazon-centric’: Jacksonville pitch for Amazon HQ2 includes 200 acres downtown

Jeff Brandes wants privacy protection for Echo, Google Home

Pete Antonacci: Amazon proposals to be as ‘incentive-bearing’ as possible