CEO Guide to Site Selection

Florida

JOBS IN PARADISE

Florida remains the fastest-growing state in the nation. The influx of companies, low cost of living and quality of life are attracting many residents from the Northeast in search of “job opportunities and paradise,” said Craig Richard, president and CEO of Tampa Bay EDC. “There are a number of headquarters moving here. It’s not that difficult to persuade people to move to Tampa,” said Richard. Suzuki Motor of America, Opswat and AFC Transport recently moved headquarters and division operations to Tampa. In April 2023, Global shipping and mailing company Pitney Bowes also announced plans to open a new Global Business Services Center in the city.

“For the last four years, Florida has led the nation with more than 2.5 million new businesses formations and over 1 million Floridians joining the workforce.... Florida’s success is the direct result of freedom first policies that support business owners and job seekers along with record investments in workforce education and infrastructure that spur economic growth."
Ron DeSantis
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index ranking

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2010 and 2020

KEY INCENTIVES

Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC): Offers an annual corporate income tax credit, for up to 20 years, for projects that create a minimum of 100 jobs and invest at least $25 million in eligible capital costs.

High Impact Performance Incentive: Offers a grant for projects in clean energy, life sciences, financial services, corporate headquarters and other sectors that invest $50 million and create 50 new jobs over a three-year period.

Research and Development Tax Credit: Offers a credit of up to 10 percent of the excess qualified research expenses.

Urban Job Tax Credit Program: Offers between $500 and $2,000 per qualified job for eligible businesses located in one of 13 designated urban areas.

Veterans Florida Business Training Grant: Offers matching grants of up to $8,000 per veteran employee trained in high-demand fields.

EDCs

Enterprise Florida
enterpriseflorida.com

Miami-Dade Beacon Council
beaconcouncil.com

Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation
tampaedc.com

Orlando Economic Partnership
orlando.org

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

The Enterprise Florida Minority and Small Business Bootcamp educates minority and small businesses on information and practices integral to growth and success. The program is run in partnership with Florida SBDC Network, Florida Department of Management Services and Florida A&M University School of Business and Industry. Topics have included networking, certifications, generational wealth building and the basics of exporting.

BIG DEALS

  • Global system integrator LeverX announced in February 2023 the relocation of its corporate headquarters from California to Miami.
  • Global IT management software firm Kaseya announced in March 2023 it will invest $16 million and create 3,400 direct jobs in Miami over the next three years.
  • BAE Systems broke ground in April 2023 on a $200 million expansion at its shipyard in Jacksonville.
  • Global shipping and mailing company Pitney Bowes announced in April 2023 it will open a new Global Business Service Center and create 100 jobs in Tampa.
  • Spanish company Cosentino Group announced in May2023 a $270 million investment and 180 new jobs at a manufacturing facility in Jacksonville.
  • Amazon announced in July 2023 it will locate a $120 million payload integration and processing facility and create 50 jobs at Kenney Space Center in Brevard County.
  • Israeli cybersecurity company Cybecs announced in September 2023 it will establish its regional headquarters and create 150 new jobs in Tampa.
  • Lynx Automation announced in September 2023 it will relocate its headquarters from California to the Tampa Bay area.

BIG COMPANIES

22 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state, including:

  • Publix Super Markets
  • World Fuel Services
  • Jabil
  • Lennar
  • AutoNation
  • Carrier Global
  • L3Harris Technologies
  • NextEra Energy
  • Fidelity National Financial
  • Fidelity National Information Services

No 3: Florida

No. 3

Florida

Taxation and Regulations
Workforce Quality
Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
Taxation and Regulations

  • State Corporate Income Tax Rate: 5.50%
  • Highest Personal Income Tax Rate: None

Workforce Quality

  • % with High School diploma or more: 85.2
  • % with Bachelor’s degree or more: 25.8
  • % with Advanced degree or more: 9.0
  • Patents per 100K: 16.06
  • % of Employed Represented by Unions: 6.9

Quality of Life

  • Hopsitals per 10K: 0.114
  • Elementary/Secondary Schools per 1000 people: 0.198
  • Violent Crimes per 100K: 694.76
Key Companies
    Office Depot Inc.

  • NextEra Energy, Inc.
  • Tech Data
  • Carnival Corp.
  • CSX
  • Jabil Circuit
  • World Fuel Services
Other Highlights
  • Florida moved back up to #3 after falling to #6 in 2010 — the Sunshine state was #3 in 2009 as well
  • Florida ranks 40th in state debt per capita with $2104

Sources:
TaxFoundation.org
Statemaster.com
Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education


Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.