Florida has been ranked number one in the nation for its workforce on CNBC's fourth annual America's Top States for Business rankings. The workforce rankings in CNBC's annual study are based on several indicators, including the education level of the workforce, the number of available workers, union membership and the relative success of each state's worker training programs in placing participants in jobs. (Read more)

FDi Magazine has ranked Jacksonville's Foreign Trade Zone the best port zone in the United States and the third best in the world. Shanghai, China and Tangier, Morocco ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively. (Read more)

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation have ranked Florida a national leader in infrastructure (#1) and workforce development & training (#2). Read the full report or view Florida's Profile to learn more.

With 119 ranked companies, Florida was the No. 1 state on the 2010 HispanicBusiness 500. (Read more)

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council ranks Florida's state tax system among the nation's Top 10 on its "Business Tax Index 2010: Best to Worst State Tax Systems for Entrepreneurship and Small Business." The index ranks the 50 states and District of Columbia according to the costs of their tax systems for entrepreneurship and small business. (Read more)

The Port of Jacksonville was one of only five North American ports that experienced container trade growth in 2009. In 2009, Jacksonville ranked 14th in the nation, followed by Miami at 15th. (Read more)

Florida ranked among the Top 10 states on Chief Executive's annual survey of best and worst states for business. More than 600 CEOs rated states on a wide range of criteria from taxation and regulation to workforce quality and living environment. (Read more)

Florida is home to three of the nation's top 20 metros for the creation and development of small businesses. (Read more)

Very competitive labor costs along with moderately-low office/industrial leasing and sales tax costs help make Tampa the least-costly place to do business among 22 U.S. cities/locations with populations exceeding 2 million. (Read more)

Seven Florida companies were named to Fortune Magazine's global list of "most admired" companies, earning top marks in their respective industry categories. (Read more)

Florida ranked 6th on the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council's 14th annual "Small Business Survival Index 2009: Ranking the Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship Across the Nation." (Read more)

Florida's Tampa International Airport and Orlando International Airport placed among Zagat's Top 5 Best on the Ground category for highest overall airport quality. (Read more)

Four Florida companies were among the twenty-one companies honored as recipients of the prestigious 2009 Presidential "E" and "E Star" Awards during a ceremony at the National District Export Council Conference at the Department of Commerce. The "E" Award is the highest U.S. government recognition any U.S. entity may receive for supporting export activity. (Read more)

Three of Florida's metro areas ranked among the Top 20 in the Fastest Small Business Growth category of CNNMoney.com's Best Places to Launch a Small Business 2009.  (Read more)

Florida has one of the most "business-friendly" tax systems in the nation, according to the Tax Foundation's 2010 State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index measures the competitiveness of the 50 states' tax systems and ranks them accordingly based on the taxes that matter most to businesses and business investment: corporate income, individual income, sales, property and unemployment insurance taxes. (Read more)

Tallahassee made the Top 10 list of cities considered "America's Best Places to Find a Job" in a first ever research project by U.S. News & World Report. Tallahassee has seen job growth in education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and in the government sector. (Read more)

One out of five companies named to the HispanicBusiness Magazine 100 Fastest-Growing companies list, are located in Florida.  With 20 companies each in the Top 100, Florida and Texas are the geographic powerhouse hubs for Hispanic entrepreneurs in 2009. (Read more)

CNN Money Magazine ranks 5 Florida counties (Lake, St. Johns, Pasco, Hernando & Lee) among the nation's best places to live in terms of plentiful job opportunites.  (CNNMoney.com)

Florida is one of the most pro-business states in the nation, ranking 9th in Pollina Corporate Real Estate’s Top 10 Pro Business States study. The rankings are based on 33 measurements including taxes, human resources, right-to-work legislation, energy costs and job growth study. (Pollina Corporate Real Estate, June 2009)

Florida continues to shine as one of the nation’s best states for business, ranking No. 1 in the nation for Workforce, among the Top 10 in Technology & Innovation and Access to Capital, and moving up to rank 3rd overall in this year’s Chief Executive survey of the best places for jobs and business growth. (Chief Executive)  

Three Florida cities (Orlando, Miami, and Tampa) are among the nation’s “most wired”, according to Forbes’ rankings based on high-speed connections, Internet access options, and Wi-Fi availability. (Forbes)

Florida earned top spots on Site Selection's 2008 Top State Business Climate rankings.  The state's business climate ranked 4th among executives and 6th overall.   (Site Selection, November 2008)

Florida is home to 12 of America’'s Most Admired Companies - all of which ranked among the top 5 in their respective industry group categories. These annual rankings are determined by a survey of industry peers and are based on qualities such as innovation, social responsibility, financial soundness, quality of products/service, and use of corporate assets. (Fortune Magazine, March 2008)

Florida is 4th in the nation, with 22 and 263 of the fastest growing privately-held companies, respectively, on this year's Inc. 500/5000 rankings. (Inc. Magazine, August 2008)

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Florida is among the top 5 states for best tax climates for business. Florida has remained among the top 5 U.S. states since the survey’s inception. (The Tax Foundation, Oct '08)

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Florida has the 2nd highest number (tied with Washington) of leading metropolitan areas on the Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities 2008 - 200 Largest Metros Index. Florida consistently ranks among the top states in this annual report which measures economic growth, job creation, and technology growth. (Milken Institute, September 2008)

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Florida's Economic Climate ranks No.1 in the U.S., according to Forbes' Best States for Business. Ranking 8th overall, Florida also scored among the Top 5 in Labor and in Growth Prospects. (Forbes, August 2008)

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Florida has the #1 Workforce in the nation, according to CNBC's America's Top States for Business. Florida also ranked high in technology & Innovation and Access to Capital. (CNBC, July 2008)

With 8 deals and $115.5 million invested, Florida was the 10th most popular state for venture capital investments in Q1 2008. (PwC/NVCA, Apr '08)
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Florida is among the nation’s top entrepreneurial states, ranking 11th on the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, a study that measures business startup activity across the United States. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach metro continued to rank high (5th) among large MSAs in terms of its rate of entrepreneurial activity. (Kauffman Foundation, April 2008)
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Florida continues to receive high marks for its business tax structure, ranking as the 5th Best State Tax System for Entrepreneurship and Small Business. (Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, April 2008)
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Florida is the 2nd most business-friendly state in the nation, according to the 2008 Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States study. (Pollina, Apr '08)
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South Florida has been designated a mega region of the future and a driver of U.S. economic growth in Richard Florida's new book, "Who's Your City?" Noted strengths include considerable capability in arts and entertainment technology, an up-and-coming biotech and marine biology research center, and its status as a gateway for Latin American banking and investments.
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Florida posted phenomenal gains in venture capital in 2007, nearly doubling over the year to reach $608.3 million. More on this story
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