Toward our efforts to secure Florida’s future, the Florida Chamber of Commerce has taken a proactive approach toward preparing for the new economy. We’ve called for the doubling of Florida-origin exports over the next five years, have helped position Florida as an economic development leader in targeted research and development industries and aided in the streamlining of Florida’s economic development processes. A great deal of these overall successes is dependent on a strong manufacturing base.
Currently, Florida’s manufacturing industry plays a strong role in the overall health of our state’s economy – over 17,000 manufacturing company’s employee more than 300,000 Floridians. And perhaps even more importantly, Florida’s manufacturing industry pays 122 percent of the average annual state wage.
Looking at the horizon, Florida’s manufacturing industry is ripe for positive economic growth – one that continues our state’s efforts to diversify the economy and create additional private sector jobs.
American manufacturing output hits a new high almost every year and has grown steadily over the past 30 years. Our country manufactured more goods in 2009 than the Japanese, Germans, British and Italians combined. Yet Florida is at a competitive disadvantage – our manufacturing output as a percentage of gross state product is nearly a third less than neighboring states.
We can and must do better. To that end, the Florida Chamber looks forward to partnering with the Manufacturers Association of Florida and the National Association of Manufactures to encourage policy makers to implement strategies that would expedited growth and create a climate rich for expansion of Florida’s manufacturing base.
Building on an aggressive multi-year jobs agenda, the Florida Legislature supported 25 Florida Chamber-backed pro-business, pro-jobs bills – further reducing the cost of doing business, the number of burdensome regulations for Florida’s job creators and reforming Florida’s fraudulent auto insurance (PIP) system.
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 [...]
The Florida Chamber of Commerce sponsored the 8th Annual Manufacturers Summit & Marketplace hosted by the Manufacturers Association of Florida and Enterprise Florida on November 30 – December 1, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. Florida’s top manufacturers discussed the future of Florida’s manufacturing industry and heard from a panel of leaders which [...]
