CEO Guide to Site Selection

Florida

A GROWING GLOBAL ECONOMY

The Florida Chamber Foundation notes the Sunshine State is now home to the world’s 15th-largest economy and is poised for strong continued growth in the coming years. Tampa and Orlando retain some of the highest population growth rates in the nation. The tech sector is experiencing particularly strong growth in Orlando, reaching 74,000 in 2023, and the second-highest tech workforce growth rate in the nation. Some of the biggest gains have been in IT and custom software services. Aviation, aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies also continue to eye new investments on the “Space Coast” and in Pensacola.

“Florida has started off the year strong by growing jobs at twice the national average…. Florida continuously outperforms the national economy with fiscal stewardship, growth-friendly policies, limited government spending and one of the lowest tax burdens per capita in the nation.”
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 2023

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

Select Florida
selectflorida.com

Miami-Dade Beacon Council
beaconcouncil.com

Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation
tampaedc.com

Orlando Economic Partnership
orlando.org

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

Florida is now the third most populous state and continues to grow, anticipating an estimated population of 26 million by 2030. The Florida Chamber Foundation released Florida 2030, a blueprint to help prepare for the state’s future that includes key trends, factors and opportunities in all 67 counties.

BIG DEALS

  • RareMed Solutions announced in January 2024 an expansion, choosing Orlando as the strategic hub for its latest operations.
  • MSC Group announced in January 2024 a $100 million investment and 250 new jobs at a new state of-the-art facility in downtown Miami.
  • Global innovation platform Plug and Play established a new office in Orlando in February 2024.
  • Aviation services provider AAR Corp. broke ground in March 2024 on a new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Miami.
  • LIFT, a national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute, announced in May 2024 it would establish a technology accelerator in Pensacola.
  • Cadmus Dental Lab announced in August 2024 an expansion and 50 new jobs at its facility in Hillsborough County.
  • IRadimed announced in September 2024 a $20 million expansion and 160 new jobs in Orlando

BIG COMPANIES

Twenty-two Fortune 500 companies headquartered in state, including:

  • AutoNation
  • Carrier Global
  • CSX
  • Fidelity National Information Services
  • Jabil
  • L3Harris Technologies
  • Lennar
  • NextEra Energy
  • Publix Supermarkets
  • World Kinect
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.