News
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Sep- 2023 -26 September
Small Business Council Member Spotlight: ARM Institute
We sat down with Suzy Teele, Chief Strategy Officer with ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Institute to ask a few important questions: What does the ARM Institute do? The ARM Institute is the nation’s leading manufacturing innovation institute for robotics and artificial intelligence, funded by the federal government. As a national consortium, we accelerate the development and adoption of innovative robotics technologies that are the foundation of every advanced manufacturing activity today and in the…
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22 September
Florida Now Top 10 in the Nation for Manufacturing Jobs, Surpassing New York
Manufacturing is a big deal in Florida. Most recent job numbers show that Florida is now #10 in the nation for manufacturing employment. In fact, Florida manufacturers employed 426,000 Floridians in August 2023, advancing Florida ahead of New York for employment in this sector. Florida’s manufacturing industry plays a vital role in growing and diversifying Florida’s economy, and this month’s figures are a move in the right direction towards achieving our Florida 2030 Blueprint goal…
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13 September
Florida Chamber Foundation Report Shows Florida’s Economy Loses Nearly $5.4 billion Annually Due to Childcare Crisis
The Florida Chamber Foundation released a new report examining the impact of childcare challenges on Florida’s economy. This report is part of a national “Untapped Potential in FL” research effort that reveals the cost of childcare challenges and opportunities to unlock economic potential for states, employers, and working parents. “Increases in costs of housing, food, and daily necessities have changed the landscape of the U.S. economy and, by nature, America’s workforce,” said Florida Chamber Foundation…
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12 September
Leading Voices: Three Questions with Karen Moore, CEO & Founder, Moore, Inc.
We sat down with Florida Chamber Board of Directors Member and Foundation Trustee Karen Moore, CEO & Founder of Moore, Inc. to answer three important questions. Karen serves as Regional Advancement Chair for the Tallahassee region and is a champion of the Florida Prosperity Project, working to cut childhood poverty in half by 2030. Q: What is one piece of advice you would share with your peers? A: Every organization should have…
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6 September
After The Storm: Hurricane Resources & Ways to Help Florida’s Communities
Hurricane Idalia made landfall last Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 3 storm, hitting near Keaton Beach in Florida’s Big Bend region. However, our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, Florida’s business community always stands ready to support one another. Thank you to all our members who are on the front lines as well as those in communities not directly impacted who are helping other Florida communities…
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2 September
“Insuring” a Strong Future: Property Insurance Reforms Aim to Stabilize and Add Competition to Florida’s Market
With this week’s landfall of Category 3 Hurricane Idalia in the Big Bend area, we are reminded that we are at the peak of Florida’s annual hurricane season. Part of being a Floridian is knowing we must personally prepare for the worst and hope for the best, mitigate potential damage by hardening our homes and businesses, and have a plan for the worst-case scenario. As those directly affected by the storm recover and rebuild, thankfully,…
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Aug- 2023 -29 August
Small Business Council Member Spotlight: Align Business Advisory Services
We sat down with Dena Jalbert, Founder/CEO, Align Business Advisory Services, to ask a few important questions: What is Align? Align Business Advisory Services is a leading mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) advisory firm serving small and mid-sized businesses. Headquartered in Winter Park, FL, AlignBA completed more than $2B in transaction volume in the past six years with more than $1B in the past twelve months. Align was named the Best Mid-Market M&A Consultancy in 2022…
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28 August
Before The Storm: Hurricane Resources & Ways to Prepare Florida’s Communities
Tropical Storm Idalia is rapidly gaining strength and is expected to escalate into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane as it approaches the Florida coast. With projected landfall near the Big Bend of Florida on Wednesday morning, this storm poses a significant threat with its mix of heavy rains, high winds, and potential storm surge. We encourage you to take immediate action to safeguard yourself, your property, and your loved ones. To assist you in these…
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24 August
New Florida Chamber Statewide Poll Shows Florida Voters Say Florida’s Economy is Better Off than Other States
The latest Florida Chamber statewide poll finds more than half (53%) of Florida voters believe the Florida economy is better off than other states while only 24% believe it is worse off than other states. Florida has created 44,500 jobs in the last month and 300,600 jobs in the past year. The Sunshine State’s rolling annual growth rate of 3.2% is a full percentage point higher than the national level and July’s 0.5% increase in…
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9 August
Coke Florida Launches $2.8M Scholarship Program for Students in Underserved Communities Across Florida
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) announced a ten-year commitment to award graduating high school seniors with scholarships to attend a Florida public four-year university, two-year college, or technical/vocational school. The newly established Coke Florida Refreshing Minds Scholarship℠ , a $2.8M partnership with Florida Prepaid College Foundation, will cover tuition and most fees for 250 economically disadvantaged students over the next ten years. This donation is part of the Path to Prosperity Scholarship Program, a partnership our Florida Chamber…
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Jul- 2023 -31 July
Florida Experiences Fastest Growth Nationally in Real GDP Among Other Large Economy States
By: Dave Sobush, CEcD, Director of Research, Florida Chamber Foundation Florida continues to make progress not only toward becoming a top 10 global economy but also the largest economy in the nation. As part of the efforts to track the progress on achieving our Florida 2030 Blueprint mission, the Florida Chamber Foundation’s research team has reviewed new information from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and is pleased to provide this deeper dive into Florida’s economic…
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20 July
Autonomous Florida Member Spotlight: Blink
Brendan Jones is President and CEO at Blink Charging, a global leading vertically integrated manufacturer, owner, operator and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services. Blink manufactures NACS and CCS solutions for both Level 2 and Level 3 (DC Fast Charging) solutions. Learn more at blinkcharging.com What is one thing Floridians may not know about your industry? Many are not aware of the importance of Level 2 (L2) chargers and how they…
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7 July
Florida Chamber Foundation Unveils 2023 Florida Business & Economic Mid-Year Report
Today, the Florida Chamber Foundation released its 2023 Florida Business & Economic Mid-Year Report, a mid-year analysis of the local and national economic trends impacting the way Florida does business. This first edition will be followed by annual editions to keep Florida businesses in the know about Florida’s economic headwinds and tailwinds, serving as a level set to propel them through the remainder of each year and towards 2030. The 2023 mid-year report covers where Florida stands…
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Jun- 2023 -29 June
Half of Florida’s Third Graders Are Reading at Grade Level – The Path to Prosperity at Risk for Nearly 111,000 Third Graders
The Florida Chamber Foundation created the Florida 2030 Blueprint with one goal in mind– outline a path for Florida leaders to help lead the effort in Florida becoming the 10th largest economy in the world by 2030. As part of that effort, it is vital we ensure Florida has a talent development pipeline that produces the workforce necessary to drive those economic outcomes, and no milestone on that educational journey is more important than third-grade…
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29 June
State Budget & Tax Package Move Florida Forward
By: Carolyn Johnson, Vice President of Government Affairs, Florida Chamber of Commerce July 1 marks the beginning of Florida’s fiscal year, and the recently signed $116.5 billion budget includes a number of investments that will continue Florida’s momentum toward becoming a top-10 global economy by 2030. Boosted by revenues resulting from Florida’s rapidly growing economy, the FY 2023-2024 budget funds the 5-year Transportation Work Program at a record $13.6 billion and includes an additional $4…
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