Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineJune 1, 2017

Andrew Gillum endorsed taxpayer funded economic development programs Wednesday to help the state compete for good-paying jobs — but said the state is falling short on training its residents to perform those jobs. “What I’m on board with is a diversified approach, including training incentive money for the training of workers. That piece is missing […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2017

While Senate and House negotiators made progress on many tourism, transportations and economic development budgetary issues Saturday, a slew of line items will be “bumped” up to Appropriations Chairs Jack Latvala and Carlos Trujillo. Most notable was a bump of proviso language on an audit of Tampa International Airport’s master renovation plan. State Sen. Tom Lee, a […]

Jim RosicaApril 29, 2017

Don’t expect any movement in the budgets for Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA at the conference committee level. “I’m authorized to negotiate quite a few things in this budget and there’s a few things I’m not, and those would be among the things I’m not,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, the St. Petersburg Republican chairing the […]

Michael MolineMarch 13, 2017

A Senate committee approved legislation Monday earmarking 75 percent of Florida’s take from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster for the eight worst-affected counties, and ensuring that small counties will be represented on the oversight board. But the Commerce and Tourism Committee delayed a vote on another high-profile bill, SB 236, to dismantle tax subsidies for […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 27, 2017

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In a letter to fellow members, state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz says House leadership now is planning to bifurcate its legislation to eliminate Enterprise Florida and to overhaul VISIT FLORIDA. The Senate, however, so far still intends to keep Enterprise Florida as part of its economic development tool chest. On Monday, Diaz – the Miami-Dade Republican who chairs the House […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 21, 2017

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A House bill that would abolish the Enterprise Florida economic development organization, eliminate a throng of business incentive programs, and strip the VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency down to a barebones $25 million budget cleared its second and final panel Tuesday. That means the measure (HB 7005), OK’d by the House Appropriations Committee on an 18-12 vote, is ready to […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 17, 2017

Gov. Rick Scott will focus on jobs during a summit in Orlando next month. Scott is scheduled to host a jobs summit on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, according to an online invitation. The event, which was first reported by POLITICO Florida, appears to be similar to an education […]

Larry GriffinJanuary 11, 2017

Tim Giuliani has been tapped as the new head of Central Florida’s soon-to-be-announced economic development/chamber group. The organization will be officially named in March, and its purpose will be to oversee “strategic efforts to bring more high-wage jobs to Central Florida while promoting and enhancing the region’s dynamic business climate and quality of life,” according to […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 16, 2016

The presidential search committee for Enterprise Florida (EFI) on Friday decided on five finalists to lead the state’s public-private economic development organization. They are: — Christine L. Adamow, formerly with the Ringling College of Art & Design’s Department of Business and Art Design. — Richard M. Biter, a retired assistant secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 12, 2016

Enterprise Florida (EFI) is sticking to its plan to hire its next president and CEO by the next board meeting on Sept. 28-29. The public-private economic development organization’s presidential search committee held a conference call Monday. Stan Connally, head of Gulf Power Company in Pensacola and chair of the search committee, said the group had received over 100 resumes for […]

Tag: economic development

Andrew Gillum talks policy, disses opponents during Tiger Bay appearance

Proviso language on Tampa airport audit ‘bumped’ to budget chairs

Top line tourism, economic development money closed out, chair says

Vote on stadium-subsidies bill delayed, but panel votes aid to rural counties

House splitting legislation on incentives, tourism funding

Bill to kill business incentives, Enterprise Florida cleared for House floor

Rick Scott to host jobs summit in Orlando

New Central Florida economic development and chamber group names Tim Giuliani as CEO

Enterprise Florida president search down to five names

Enterprise Florida holding firm to hire new head this month