News

Florida Chamber of Commerce Leads Delegation of Job Creators to Washington, D.C.

Advocacy Efforts Focus on Trade, Private Sector Job Growth and Economic Prosperity WASHINGTON D.C. (May 14, 2019) — The Florida Chamber of Commerce is taking its advocacy efforts to Washington, D.C. this week, in support of private-sector job creation, international trade, and creating more opportunities for economic prosperity. The Florida Chamber’s delegation includes business leaders from across Florida, representing small businesses and the state’s largest employers, and will include meetings with Florida’s Congressional Delegation, federal agencies…

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Florida Legislature Takes Steps to Make Florida More Competitive

Lowers Cost of Living, Reduces Cost of Doing Business, Prepares for Future Growth and Protects Florida’s Constitution TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (May 4, 2019) – Six months after the launch of Florida’s next strategic plan, commonly known as the Florida 2030 blueprint, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature took steps during the 2019 Legislative Session to make Florida more competitive. Lawmakers passed 20 Florida Chamber-backed bills that will help lower the cost of living on families, reduce…

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Phasing Out VISIT FLORIDA Could Diminish Florida’s Leading Workforce Skills Training Ground Worsening Small Business Owners Access for Employees with Employability Skills

Latest Florida Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index Survey Shows TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 26, 2019)— If lawmakers phase out Florida’s tourism marketing program VISIT FLORIDA, it could greatly diminish the employability skills training ground the tourism and hospitality industry provide, putting greater strain on small businesses to identify and hire employees with needed workforce skills, the Florida Chamber of Commerce said today. “As the future of VISIT FLORIDA is being debated in the Legislature, job…

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Florida House Passes Bill Putting Florida Citizens Back in Charge of Florida’s Constitution

“Florida’s constitution is under attack by out-of-state and special interests trying to buy their way onto Florida’s ballot. This is an important step to put Floridians back in control of Florida’s constitution, and reduce the influence of well-funded special interests that advance their own agendas at the expense of Floridians.” Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce TALLAHASSEE, FL (April 25, 2019) – The Florida House of Representatives today passed a bill that will help ensure…

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Infrastructure Bill Poised For Final Passage

Smart Infrastructure Investment Bill Prepares for Growing Population Demands and Provides Economic Development Opportunities for Rural Communities TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 23, 2019) – An infrastructure bill now poised for final passage in the Florida Senate will help ensure Florida is prepared to meet its growing population, and invigorate rural communities with jobs and economic development opportunities, the Florida Chamber of Commerce said today. “With an additional 5.5 million residents in Florida by 2030, and annual…

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House Bill Putting Floridians Back in Charge of the Florida Constitution Advances

“Florida’s constitution is under attack by out-of-state and special interests trying to buy their way onto Florida’s ballot. It’s time to put Floridians back in control of Florida’s constitution, and reduce the influence of well-funded special interests that advance their own agendas at the expense of Floridians.” – Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce TALLAHASSEE, FL (April 18, 2019) – The Florida Chamber of Commerce applauds the House State Affairs Committee for advancing a bill…

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Florida Chamber of Commerce Agrees with Attorney General Ashley Moody

Florida Supreme Court Should Strike Down Unconstitutional Proposal That Would Raise Electricity Prices DOWNLOAD APPENDIX DOWNLOAD BRIEF Florida Chamber Files Legal Brief With Supreme Court TALLAHASSEE, FL (April 18, 2019) – Today the Florida Chamber of Commerce, in its ongoing efforts to ensure policies aren’t put in place that would make Florida less competitive and electricity more expensive, filed a legal brief opposing a proposed energy regulation amendment. “We cannot secure Florida’s future with regulatory…

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Florida Chamber of Commerce Disagrees With State Estimating Conference’s Indeterminate Findings on Proposed Energy Regulation

“We cannot secure Florida’s future with regulatory policies that will make our state less competitive and electricity more expensive.” – Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce   TALLAHASSEE, FL (March 15, 2019) – Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson today released the below statement following news that the Financial Impact Estimating Conference (FIEC) did not determine the impact an effort to drastically change Florida’s electricity market would have on Florida’s…

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Latest Florida Chamber Statewide Poll Shows Governor Ron DeSantis Earns Strong Approval from Florida Voters

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 19, 2019) – Governor Ron DeSantis is earning strong approval ratings from likely Florida voters, according to the latest Florida Chamber of Commerce statewide poll. Results show 58 percent of likely voters approve of the job that Governor Ron DeSantis is doing and 54 percent believe Florida is headed in the right direction. Florida Chamber of Commerce Statewide Poll Approve Disapprove Unsure Ron DeSantis 58 13 29 +45   Florida Chamber of Commerce…

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Mark Trowbridge Named Inaugural Recipient of Florida Chamber of Commerce’s International Champion Award

MIAMI (January 31, 2019) — Mark Trowbridge, President and CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce was presented the inaugural edition of the Florida Chamber’s International Champion Award. The Florida Chamber of Commerce presented Trowbridge with this award during its Miami Area Business Leaders Meeting held at Bacardi USA in Coral Gables. The award recognizes Trowbridge’s partnership, support and direct engagement with the Florida Chamber’s recent Business Development & Trade Mission to Ireland and…

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Florida Chamber of Commerce Opposes Effort to Increase Energy Prices in Florida

  “This proposal is a false promise wrapped in a too-good-to-be-true wrapper that has no place in our state’s constitution. Floridians would be wise to reject it if its financial backers spend enough to put it on the ballot.” – Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce   TALLAHASSEE, FL (January 24, 2019) — With media reporting that enough signatures have been acquired to trigger a Supreme Court review, Florida Chamber of Commerce…

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First Quarter Small Business Index Survey Shows Florida’s Small Businesses Feeling Uncertain

Potential Trade War, Expansion of Tariffs, Slowing Growth in Other Economies Leave Florida’s Small Businesses Feeling Uncertain Latest Florida Chamber Small Business Index Survey Shows   TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 23, 2019)—While Florida’s economic outlook for 2019 is strong, the threat of a trade war, expansion of tariffs and slowing growth in other economies has Florida’s small business owners uncertain about the economy. The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s First Quarter Small Business Index Survey shows economic uncertainty…

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BREAKING: Governor DeSantis Announces 21,900 New Jobs and Low 3.3 Percent Uemployment

Numbers Reflect Continuing Momentum in Florida TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 18, 2018) — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the latest statewide unemployment data and jobs numbers which show continued positive momentum. The current unemployment rate is 3.3 percent – dropping 0.6 percentage points during 2018. In December alone, 21,900 private sector jobs were created totaling 241,000 for all of 2018. “Thanks to Florida’s job creators and Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida continues demonstrating positive economic momentum,” said…

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New Florida Chamber Foundation Report Shows More Floridians with Disabilities Are Employed

Challenges and Opportunities Remain to Create Opportunities for Economic Prosperity   Tallahassee, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2019) – The Florida Chamber Foundation today released their Study of Employment of Floridians with a Disability Report, which shows more Floridians with a disability were employed in 2017- with the unemployment rate for Floridians with a disability falling nearly 7 percentage points from 2013 to 2017.   The report, which also includes county data for several metrics, shows that:…

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Florida to Create 150,000 Jobs in 2019, Low Chance of Recession Predicted

Bullish on Florida Stock: Chamber Foundation Economist Predicts 150,000 Jobs in 2019 & Low Chance of Recession Economic Development Leaders Double Down on Florida “Stock”   ORLANDO, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2019) – The Florida Chamber Foundation is bullish on Florida, and if it were a stock, would double down and buy all that’s available. The Chief Economist for the Chamber Foundation estimates Florida is expected to create 150,000 new jobs in 2019, and tells Florida’s leaders…

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