CEO Guide to Site Selection

Florida

Looking Bright in the Sunshine State

Florida’s growth is fueled by innovation, advanced manufacturing and aerospace. Manufacturing employment has surged since 2002. Lockheed Martin continues to expand on the Space Coast, positioning the region as a critical hub for next-gen space technologies. Meanwhile, tech employment in Orlando is near 80,000 and ranks among the fastest-growing innovation markets in the nation. Over the past eight years, regional leaders have tracked more than 30,000 new jobs and $3.5 billion in capital investment tied to transformative projects in advanced industries

“For the past two years, Florida’s economy has ranked No. 1 in the U.S. We also rank No. 1 in entrepreneurship, No. 1 in new business formations, No. 1 in GDP growth among large states, and have an unemployment rate that is lower than the national average for more than 50 months straight.”
Ron DeSantis
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index

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 2020 and 2024

KEY INCENTIVES

Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund: Offers up to $3,000 for each job created, through refunds on state corporate, sales and other taxes.

Capital Investment Tax Credit: Offers a corporate income tax credit worth 5 percent of eligible capital costs annually for up to 20 years for companies planning
large capital projects of $25 million or more.

EDCs

Select Florida
selectflorida.com

Miami-Dade Beacon Council
beaconcouncil.com

Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation
tampaedc.com

Orlando Economic Partnership
orlando.org

BIG DEALS

  • Georgia-Pacific announced in April 2025 an $83 million expansion and 20 new jobs in Palatka.
  • OrderlyMeds announced in April 2025 an expansion and 100 new jobs in Hillsborough County.
  • United Airlines broke ground in April 2025 on a $315 million Technical Operations Maintenance Complex at Orlando International Airport.
  • NXTPoint Logistics announced in May 2025 a $20 million distribution center and 62 new jobs in Tampa.
  • Siemens Energy announced in August 2025 that it will relocate its headquarters to Orlando.

BIG COMPANIES

Twenty-two Fortune 500 company HQs in the state.

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.