Florida Business Smarts

CAMACOL’s Hemispheric Congress: the way to celebrate International Trade Month in Florida

May is International Trade Month in Florida! As Governor Scott points out, international trade is very important to our state’s economic development because it supports more than a million jobs in the state and because companies engaged in international trade grow faster, earn more profits, pay higher wages and weather economic crises better than their domestically focused peers.

Amid the many organizations and events celebrating international trade this month, we want to highlight the activities of the Latin Chamber of Commerce of the United States, CAMACOL. CAMACOL is the largest Hispanic business organization in the State of Florida and one of the most influential minority business groups in the United States.

For nearly four decades, CAMACOL has fostered the entrepreneurial spirit of Florida’s Hispanic and minority communities. It conducts programs to strengthen local business activity, promote economic development, facilitate international commerce, and serve the civic needs of the community and state.

Supporting Florida's small businesses - one website at a time

Enterprise Florida recently joined Florida Get Your Business Online, a Google-led program dedicated to helping to drive economic growth by providing Florida businesses the tools and resources to get online and succeed.

At Enterprise Florida, we believe the web is an essential platform for all businesses. That’s why we’ve joined Florida Get Your Business Online, a Google-led program that provides the tools and resources for Florida businesses to get online and succeed online.  

The program includes:

●    A free, easy-to-build, professional website
●    A free customized domain name and hosting for one year
●    A free local business listing on Google
●    Free tools, resources, and local events

While 97% of Americans look online for local products and services, 63% of America’s small businesses do not have a website or online presence. These businesses are virtually invisible to many potential customers.

Looking to Grow Your Business? Export from Florida!

Exporting and its many economic benefits seem to be on everybody’s mind lately, so we wanted to reflect on Florida’s recent accomplishments in this area.

Florida’s natural advantages for international trade, such as its central location in the Americas, its long coastline and globally connected population, are well known.  But our state has actively continued to grow and refine its “living” assets, including its infrastructure, workforce skills, trade promotion initiatives, education networks and others. For example, Florida’s many seaports and international airports are investing heavily in upgrades and expansions. Just see the recent news on the Port of Tampa's modernization project which follows other major infrastructure investments underway at the ports of Miami, Jacksonville and others, as well as work on an inland port. Florida’s major international airports are similarly investing in infrastructure upgrades.

Florida’s businesses are actively taking advantage of the global trade opportunities and the local resources available to them. One of these resources is Enterprise

Florida’s ABC: Art + Business = Creative (Economy)

 

Just in time for the Holidays, we want to highlight the wonderful ways in which science, business and art can come together to enrich their communities and collectively boost Florida’s creative economy.

From the ribbon-cutting ceremony of a unique Facility for Arts Research at Florida State University, to the opening of a special exhibit celebrating Max Planck Florida Institute's  Images of Science in West Palm Beach and the festive Noel Cells “discovered” by Sanford-Burnham scientists in Orlando (see pics on the left, courtesy of Sanford-Burnham Institute), it seems that Florida’s business and scientific communities are determined to show their creative side this Holiday season.

And Enterprise Florida is happy to cheer them on! As Florida’s secretary of state, Kurt Browning, noted at the launch of the Culture Builds Florida campaign, arts and culture rake in $3 billion a year and sustain 88,000 jobs.

Unique and Successful Small Businesses That Call Miami Home

We love it when Florida's small businesses get the credit they deserve! In this guest post, Tim Eyre, who manages over 70 self-storage locations around Florida, gives us his impressions of Miami's entrepreneurial landscape.

I've spent a lot of time in the greater Miami area, a place where the climate is so mild that orchids and other house plants with a long sunny season often grow into trees. The business climate is warm, sunny and growth-oriented, too. I notice new stores, new restaurants, new office buildings on almost every trip. Because I cater to a lot of people who are relocating, I also check out new neighborhoods and new homes.

On a recent trip, I thought I'd look into some small businesses that have not only survived the recession but thrived. I found eight. There are many more successful, recession-proof small businesses in south Florida. This is only a small sample but it's fun and instructive to look into what these eight companies are doing right in order to survive and grow. In no particular order, here are 8 Unique and Thriving Small Businesses That Call Miami Home...

Celebrating Florida's Entrepreneurs

During Global Entrepreneurship Week, we take pride in Florida's entrepreneurial spirit and note the many valuable resources for those looking to start or grow their business in Florida.

Florida is one of the friendliest states for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The state’s various rankings reflect that, as well as our own guest bloggers here and here. But probably the best way to gauge Florida’s commitment to entrepreneurship is to be reminded of the many great resources available to the brave men and women willing to take the leap and launch their own business.  

Free Workshops, Tips Part of Celebrating Women’s Small Business Month in Florida

Florida is a leading state for small businesses and women own a significant portion of them. Here's just one of the ways that Florida supports small business owners.

In today’s challenging economy, female business owners need to do more with less while expecting greater outcomes from their company finances.  Florida's CFO Jeff Atwater is focusing on these real issues by providing financial education for female business owners during the month of October, which is Women’s Small Business Month.

CFO Jeff Atwater believes these workshops will have a positive impact on the financial success of the participants, which in turn will have a positive effect on their bottom line, as well as the overall economy in Florida.  

Florida businesses recognized at 2011 Governor's Business Diversification Awards

The winners demonstrate that businesses of every size, industry and location can prosper in Florida.

EFI President and CEO Gray Swoope recently joined Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll in Tallahassee at the Florida Governor’s Mansion to honor businesses at the 2011 Governor’s Business Diversification Awards. From a pool of 107 organizations, 18 companies representing nine counties were recognized.

The awards recognize outstanding contributions toward improving and diversifying Florida’s economy plus distinctive community investment efforts, particularly relating to industries targeted for economic development and high wage job growth.

Biotech and Business Climate

Wonder how Florida got to be the 2^nd fastest growing biotech market in the U.S.?  Read on (or, better yet, watch).

At the recent 2011 BIO International Convention – the largest global event for the biotechnology industry – Florida focused on two of the most important issues for biotech businesses: the science and the business climate for the industry. Through speeches, testimonials, media interviews, panel discussions and one-on-one meetings, Florida showcased the state’s world-class biotech research and development efforts and its unbeatable business advantages for life sciences businesses of any size.

The highlight of the Florida program of events was Governor Rick Scott’s BIO Breakfast Briefing,

Florida & Foreign Direct Investment: Fitting!

Mr. Ricardo Schneider, president and CEO of the Dutch company Danfoss Turbocor, shares how Florida's favorable business climate has helped his company grow in the Sunshine state.
	You have probably heard that international trade is booming in Florida. But did you know that foreign direct investment (FDI) is another good way to measure Florida's integration into the global economy? Although no annual data are published on FDI levels for individual U.S. states, one way to measure Florida's achievements is by hearing from successful foreign-affiliated companies that have invested and prospered in our state. Danfoss Turbocor is one such company from The Netherlands.