Florida: News

This local family-owned business is expanding to a new, $6.5 million, 65,000-square-foot state-of-the-art production facility in East Naples. (Read more)

The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County announces expansion of Parametric Solutions and Client First Settlement Funding. (Read more)

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation, announced the establishment of HSS Spine & Sport in Jupiter -- the first HSS expansion beyond the New York region. (Read more)

Enterprise Florida chosen as World Bank’s 7th Private Sector Liaison Officer

Contact:  Stuart W. Doyle

(407) 956-5689

sdoyle@eflorida.com

Enterprise Florida chosen as World Bank’s 7^th Private Sector Liaison Officer

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 22, 2011) – Enterprise Florida Inc. has been selected by the World Bank to serve as the state’s Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO).  This post will help Florida companies gain access to billions of dollars in annual World Bank contracts, be a resource for the private sector, and increase awareness of private sector-led growth in developing countries. 

“This could be a real boost to our business expansion efforts,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope, who is president & CEO of Enterprise Florida.  “Through the knowledge of World Bank funding and purchasing opportunities we’ll gain as a PSLO, we’ll be able to offer more business leads to Florida companies, resulting in increased exports.  This will strengthen our competitive position in global trade and for new jobs in varied industries."

The World Bank invests in projects to improve living conditions in developing countries, with the goal of promoting economic growth and helping people overcome poverty.  These projects – building health clinics or schools; investing in roads so farmers can get goods to market; or improving telecommunications or sanitation, for example – frequently involve International Competitive Bidding under guidelines established by the World Bank.  These guidelines help level the playing field for U.S. companies.  The PSLO will guide Florida companies through the procurement process, creating better understanding and more opportunities to bid on these projects.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that nearly half of all U.S. exports go to developing countries.  Out of the top 25 to which Florida exports, 15– more than half -- are developing nations where the World Bank has lending programs that help to open these economies.

With a focus on six industries for economic development – aviation/aerospace, cleantech, financial/professional services, homeland security/defense, information technology and life sciences – Florida has been ranked as the nation’s third largest state for high-tech companies and third largest exporter of high-tech goods and services.  Florida also is the strategic and economic center of Latin America and the Caribbean because of its geographic proximity, economic and political stability, and multicultural and multilingual workforce.  These attributes position Florida entities well for securing World Bank procurement opportunities.

The other states that have received World Bank’s PSLO endorsement are Alabama (Alabama Development Office), Illinois (Chicago Global Mid-West Alliance), Maryland (World

Trade Center Institute in Baltimore), Texas (Greater Houston Partnership), Utah (Salt Lake Chamber) and Washington (Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle).  

About the PSLO Program
The PSLO initiative is a network of business advocacy organizations that promote trade and investment between countries in conjunction with World Bank Group activities.  It serves as a key access point to the World Bank Group, which works to foster trade and investment between countries with the support of the World Bank Group's products and services. Currently, there is a global network of 114 PSLOs in 83 countries.

About the World Bank
The World Bank is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Their mission is to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors, with the goals of promoting economic growth and overcoming poverty.

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (www.eflorida.com) is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  Headquartered in Orlando, Enterprise Florida’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create globally competitive businesses in innovative, high-growth industries.  In pursuit of its mission, Enterprise Florida works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

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Gov. Rick Scott and Time Warner CFO John Martin announced that the media company will create 500 jobs for a new shared resource center in Hillsborough County over five years. (Read more)

U.S. corporate executives rank Florida's business climate among the Top 5 in America. (Read more)

Sarasota Medical Products Inc., an early-stage company specializing in ostomy and advanced wound care products, has secured $3.56 million in private and public funding to begin manufacturing at a new Sarasota facility. (Read more)

Construction Journal, headquartered in Stuart, has purchased a new building and has plans to add 50 new jobs in the next 36 months. (Read more)

Business Facilities has ranked Florida's education climate #3 in the United States. (Read more)

Trade events offer Florida businesses global opportunities

Contact:  Stuart W. Doyle

(407) 956-5689

sdoyle@eflorida.com

Trade events offer Florida businesses global opportunities  

                ORLANDO, FL (September 19, 2011) – Enterprise Florida annually coordinates and hosts international trade events for a range of industry sectors including, aviation and aerospace, life sciences and information technology (IT). These activities enable Florida businesses to showcase their products and services to a global audience. 

During the next year, Florida IT businesses seeking entry into international markets can do so in Barcelona, Spain; Hanover, Germany; London; and Shenzhen, China.  Enterprise Florida invites these companies to reserve booth space at each site’s Florida Pavilion.

The Florida Pavilion offer several choices for booth space and amenities based on cost.  (See options in the event listings below.)  Space is limited and sold on a first-come/first-served basis.

To help offset costs, a Target Sector Trade Grants are available to eligible companies.  Enterprise Florida provides this funding, which aims to help smaller businesses (fewer than 500 employees) expand and diversify their market potential.  Awarded on a reimbursable basis, the funds are given to a company following its participation in an Enterprise Florida-sponsored trade event.

Upcoming trade events

China Hi-Tech Fair 2011 (Nov. 16-21, 2011) 

Florida companies can take advantage of the no-travel-required “catalog show” format in Shenzhen, China.  This option allows companies to have their brochures/catalogs displayed and distributed in the Florida Pavilion for a nominal fee.  Last year’s China Hi-Tech Fair featured almost 3,000 exhibitors and more than 500,000 visitors. Companies also can attend the fair and exhibit, but at their own expense.  Participation in the catalog show is limited to the first 15 qualified applications.  Application deadline:  October 14, 2011.

Reservations for China Hi Tech 2012 Fair can be made by contacting:

John Diep

Manager, Asia

 Enterprise Florida Inc.
(561) 832-8339 or jdiep@eflorida.com

2012 trade events (listed by registration deadline)

CeBIT 2012 (March 6-10, 2012)

Florida’s IT can promote their offerings to an international audience in Hanover, Germany at the world’s largest information technology expo.  In 2011, CeBIT drew 340,000 visitors from 90 countries, and more than 4,200 companies from at least 70 countries participated.  Among those participants were Xerox, Canon, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard.  Registration deadline:  September 23, 2011.

GSMA Mobile World Congress 2012 (Feb. 27- March 1, 2012) 

GSMA will unite mobile operators, vendors and content owners worldwide in Barcelona, Spain, to exhibit new technology and innovative products.  Annually, more than 50,000 visitors from 200 countries see what integrated solutions providers, hardware and device manufacturers, software developers and others are offering.  Registration deadline:  October 1, 2011.

Infosecurity Europe 2012 (April 24-26, 2012) 

Infosecurity 2012 in London will give Florida’s IT companies a chance to connect with the European infosecurity industry.  Infosecurity 2012 is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which will work with show organizers to link U.S. companies to international buyers by providing leads, trade counseling and market research.  Last year’s event featured more than 300 exhibitors and 10,000-plus visitors.  Registration deadline:  October 1, 2011.

Reservations for CeBit 2012, 2012 Mobile World Congress, and Infosecurity Europe 2012 can be made by contacting:                             

Andrea Moore

Regional Manager, Pensacola

ICT Computer Industry Specialist

Enterprise Florida Inc.

(850) 375-8255 or amoore@eflorida.com

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (www.eflorida.com) is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  Headquartered in Orlando, Enterprise Florida’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create globally competitive businesses in innovative, high-growth industries. In pursuit of its mission, Enterprise Florida works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

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Registration waived for South Africa mission Gold Key registrants

Contact:  Stuart W. Doyle

(407) 956-5689

sdoyle@eflorida.com

Registration waived for South Africa mission Gold Key registrants

ORLANDO, FL (September 15, 2011) – To enable more smaller to mid-size businesses to participate in the upcoming export sales mission to South Africa, Enterprise Florida is offering to waive the registration fee for the Gold Key option for eligible participants, through their Market Diversification Grants program.

This Team Florida mission, to be led by Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll, is scheduled for November 4-13.

Gold Key service will include prescheduled one-to-one appointments with pre-qualified South African businesses that have expressed interest in products and services offered by the participating Florida companies.   The Gold Key package also will offer:

- Targeted promotional campaign throughout South Africa to attract prospects.

- Admission to all official Team Florida networking events.

- Country briefing by U.S. Embassy officials.

- Airport transfers in country when traveling on official mission flights.

- Ground transportation in-country to all official mission events, originating at the official mission hotels.

The Gold Key package has an estimated value of $2,500.

The registration deadline is September 28.  Companies can register by contacting:

- Ivan Barrios (305) 808-3390 or  ibarrios@eflorida.com

- Bryant Salter (305) 808-3386 or bjsalter@eflorida.com

South Africa, the world’s 26^th largest economy, is one of the most stable markets in Africa.  It’s also a top destination for Florida-origin exports and one of the state’s largest merchandise export destinations.

Enterprise Florida and the U.S. Department of Commerce have partnered with the South African Department of Trade and Industry to provide the Team Florida mission-goers with an itinerary of business appointments, in-depth briefing sessions and networking events.  The delegation will be able to interact with top level corporate and government leaders of South Africa who represent a variety of industry sectors such as financial, legal, communications, energy and transportation.

Florida exporters are well positioned to benefit from the South African market.  Several Florida cities, air and sea ports, and universities already have sister-city and sister-port relationships or longstanding exchange programs with counterparts in Africa.

Florida exports many products and services to South Africa, a sampling of which are:

- Civilian aircraft engines & parts

- Machines for assembly

- Earth moving equipment

- Coin

- Telecommunications equipment

- Petroleum, oils & products

- Medical & surgical equipment

- Plastic products

- Waters & other beverages

- Motor vehicle parts

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (www.eflorida.com) is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida.  Headquartered in Orlando, Enterprise Florida’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create globally competitive businesses in innovative, high-growth industries. In pursuit of its mission, Enterprise Florida works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

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Florida cities dominated the top spots on Forbes' list of Cities with the Happiest Young Professionals with Fort Lauderdale ranking 2nd and Orlando 3rd. (Read more)

University of Central Florida (#4) and the University of South Florida (#8) for being ranked among America's Up-and-Coming Schools by U.S. News. (Read more)

Rollins College ranks number one among 127 regional universities in the South in the annual rankings of "America's Best Colleges," released today by U.S. News & World Report. This is the seventh consecutive year that Rollins has been named to the top spot in this category. (Read more)

Business Facilities has ranked Florida's transportation infrastructure #2 in the United States. (Read more)

Global Components Inc., a division of U.K.-based plastic component manufacturer TCB-Arrow, has selected Manatee County for its U.S. operations and plans to create 50 jobs over three years. (Read more)

Aero Engineering Support, an Indiana Company that repairs and overhauls high-end electronics, weapon systems and accessories for military operators worldwide and Prime Contractors, is establishing its world headquarters in Osceola County. (Read more)

Barn Light Electric Company, a lighting manufacturer offering a wide range of lighting, ceiling fans and industrial furniture, is investing $1.1 million expand into a 10,000 sq. ft. facility in Mims. (Read more)

Business Facilities has ranked Florida's business climate #4 in the nation. (Read more)

The Port of Miami has given the greenlight to begin reinforcements of its cargo port -- work required before its deep dredge project begins next year. (Read more)

The Innovation Monthly is your source for the latest news and insights on Florida's Innovation Economy.       

September 2011 Highlights:

·     Convergys Corporation Creates Nearly 1,400 Florida Jobs

·     Humana Cares Expands in St. Petersburg, Adds 300 Jobs

·     Florida' s Business Climate Ranks Among the Nation's Top 5

·     In Motion:  Gov. Scott and Secretary Swoope Say Florida is Open for Business

Read Full Newsletter

The Broward County Board of County Commissioners today unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Florida East Coast Railway to construct and operate an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility on 42.5 acres of land at Port Everglades. (Read more)

C Products Defense Inc. has moved its manufacturing operation and distribution arm from Connecticut to Manatee County where the company plans to add 100 employees in the next five years. (Read more)