Florida Chamber-backed Bill Supporting Manufacturing and International Trade Passes Senate Committee

February 17, 2012 | Important Updates Print

The Florida Chamber of Commerce strongly supports efforts to increase commerce at Florida seaports as part of our goal to double Florida-origin exports over the next five years.  The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Trade and Logistics Study in 2010 makes recommendations for the state to position itself as a global hub for exports, trade and logistics activity.  The recommendations contained in the Florida Trade and Logistics Study could create over 130,000 private-sector jobs.

A Florida Chamber-backed bill relating to freight mobility incentives passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee.  SB 1168, sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Ring, takes important steps to improve the business climate for Florida manufacturers and induce more activity in our ports by creating a trade and logistics facility credit for businesses engaged in port-related activities such as warehousing, distribution and freight movement.

This legislation also provides an important incentive for businesses that create jobs and directs the Department of Transportation to develop a Statewide Seaport and Waterways System Plan with 5-year, 10-year and 20-year benchmarks.  Specifically, this bill is a priority for the Florida Chamber and Florida’s business community because:

• Manufacturing is an underutilized industry sector in Florida and improving the business climate at Florida seaports could reduce the cost-of-business for some manufacturers and induce private-sector job creation;
• SB 1168 takes important steps toward fulfilling recommendations of the Florida Trade and Logistics Study by increasing commerce at Florida seaports; and
• Creates the Strategic Port Investment Initiative to develop and implement a plan to prioritize investments in Florida seaports.

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Six Pillars Caucus System™ has determined that international trade is also a long-term focus to secure Florida’s future. Florida’s vast opportunities as a global hub is referenced in the Six Pillars 20-year Strategic Plan™ within the Innovation and Economic Development Pillar. Click here to learn more about this visionary process and how you can get involved.

For more information on the Florida Chamber’s international trade efforts, visit our international business issues page at www.FloridaChamber.com.  To sign-up for more grassroots alerts and updates on issues that matter most to your business including manufacturing, please visit www.FloridaChamber.com/grassroots.