Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonOctober 2, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott highlighted a state-commissioned report Friday that shows the defense industry had a $79.8 billion impact on the Florida economy last year. Commissioned by Enterprise Florida and CareerSource Florida, the report ranks defense as the fourth-largest industry in the state behind only agriculture, health care and tourism. The $79.8 billion figure accounts for […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 23, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott has certainly been proactive when it comes to criss-crossing the globe in his efforts to relocate businesses and resulting jobs to Florida. But because millions of taxpayer dollars are spent annually to lure various corporations to the Sunshine State through agencies such as Enterprise Florida, it’s hard to fathom why our elected […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 16, 2015

The head of the state’s economic development agency told lawmakers Wednesday he was on the cusp of a big deal with a certain “genius.” Bill Johnson, who leads Enterprise Florida, said he’s talking to a technology guru who lives in London, but also has a house in Florida, about doing a big project here. He didn’t […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 16, 2015

There was a battle of arithmetic Wednesday between state senators and the head of the state’s economic development agency as he argued for millions in new funding. Bill Johnson, president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, appeared before the Senate’s Commerce and Tourism committee. It was his first appearance since Senate President Andy Gardiner took his […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 15, 2015

Enterprise Florida is finally hanging up the tie. The state’s public-private economic development organization raised hackles a couple of years ago when it debuted a new logo that used a tie in place of the “i” in Florida. A slew of commenters took to the agency’s Facebook page to lambaste the logo as sexist. “I think […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 14, 2015

Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner on Monday defended his chamber’s position on funding the state’s business incentives, three months after Florida’s economic development czar complained lawmakers were starving him of money. “(W)e need to change how we fund economic development,” Gardner said in a memo to senators. “A business would not set aside the total funds needed […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 9, 2015

Bluegrass State, beware: Florida Gov. Rick Scott is coming for you next. Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development organization, on Wednesday released a radio spot to air on Kentucky stations, cajoling businesses to move to Florida. The ad is in advance of Scott’s “economic development trade mission” to Kentucky later this month, according to a press release. Scott said […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 4, 2015

At a ribbon cutting for a new Boeing facility at the Kennedy Space Center, Gov. Rick Scott announced the multi-billion dollar aviation company will add 550 jobs on the Space Coast. “Leaders in the aerospace and aviation industry like Boeing are choosing Florida over other states because of our world-class facilities, advanced infrastructure and commitment […]

Phil AmmannAugust 24, 2015

Former Senate President Don Gaetz is endorsing Panama City Republican urologist Neal Dunn in his bid for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District seat. An endorsement from the longtime Niceville Republican should surprise few in North Florida. In 2014, Gaetz appointed Dunn in 2014 as the Senate’s representative on the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors, the public-private […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 20, 2015

The conference room at the high-end Sawgrass Marriott at Ponte Vedra Beach where Enterprise Florida held its presentation Thursday morning is, appropriately enough, called the Champions Room. That’s appropriate given that those attending were among of the best and brightest in the Sunshine State’s business community. It was also appropriate given that the speakers were […]

Tag: Enterprise Florida

Report: Defense industry had $79.8B impact in Florida, despite decline in Fed funding

Bill White: Florida could “decouple” horse racing, breeding right out of business

Bill Johnson won’t identify his “genius”

Enterprise Florida and lawmakers still disagree over funding

Enterprise Florida drops tie from logo

Andy Gardiner defends decision on economic development funding

Radio ad precedes Rick Scott Kentucky visit

Rick Scott hypes new Boeing facility, jobs at Kennedy Space Center

Don Gaetz endorses Neal Dunn in North Florida congressional bid

Rick Scott, Lenny Curry, Shad Khan make case for Enterprise Florida funding