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Enterprise Florida - page 4

From Argentina, Rick Scott keeps up the chatter for economic incentives

in Statewide by

Gov. Rick Scott, while on a trade mission to Argentina, urged the Florida Legislature to include his economic incentives  programs when finalizing the next state budget. “Lawmakers cannot be shortsighted at the expense of Florida families by cutting funds for tourism marketing and economic development,” Scott said in a written statement distributed by his office. “I would be absolutely shocked if politicians in the Florida Legislature put their self-interests before the interests of our families and small businesses,” he wrote. “Let’s remember, fully…

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Rick Scott pushes ahead for VISIT FLORIDA funding

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Gov. Rick Scott went once more unto the breach Tuesday, pressing his case for full funding of the state’s VISIT FLORIDA tourism marketing agency. The Republican governor—surrounded by VISIT FLORIDA’s CEO Ken Lawson, board chairman William Talbert, and others—spoke with reporters outside his Capitol office. The GOP-majority House of Representatives, which at first wanted to eliminate the agency, instead reduced its budget to $25 million for next year. Scott wants $100 million to market the state to visitors, saying every dollar…

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AFP-FL releases digital ad calling on Senate to ‘end corporate welfare’

in Statewide by

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is continuing its efforts to try to put an end to economic incentives in Florida. The organization launched a 60-second digital ad campaign Thursday, urging Floridians to “contact (their) legislator and tell them the game’s over: end this corporate welfare.” The release comes one day after the Florida Senate approved its 2017-18 budget, which included money for Enterprise Florida and economic incentive programs. The House budget does not include funding for Enterprise Florida, and the House earlier…

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Rick Scott won’t end fight for economic development, tourism funding

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

With the House seemingly intent on gutting VISIT FLORIDA and eliminating Enterprise Florida, Gov. Rick Scott suggested he won’t stop counterpunching. The governor, who spoke to reporters after Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, has been openly warring with House Speaker Richard Corcoran. He’s been out to kill state government’s business incentives programs. Corcoran counts Enterprise Florida (EFI), the state’s economic development organization, and VISIT FLORIDA, its tourism marketing arm, as dispensers of “corporate welfare.” Scott says they help create jobs. Though both are public-private…

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St. Pete officials make the case for Enterprise Florida

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

With less than a month to go for the Florida Legislature Regular Session, several major issues remain unresolved. No issue is more entertaining — on a purely political basis — than the debate among Republicans on the viability of Enterprise Florida. That’s the public-private partnership between Florida’s business and government leaders where recent records show has spent a lot more public than private money. And that’s a major reason Enterprise Florida has spent an entire year in the crosshairs of House…

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House speaker’s ‘corporate welfare’ crackdown runs into Senate roadblock

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Enterprise Florida Inc. could survive 2017 after all. Established in 1996, the taxpayer-funded organization has awarded nearly $2 billion in economic incentives to private businesses to create jobs and boost the state economy. Its record is mixed, and its reputation has been scarred by exorbitant executive pay, high-profile taxpayer losses and a failure to match private funding with public appropriations — a statutory requirement. As a result, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, is spearheading an effort to put the…

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Mark Wilson, Dominic Calabro: Strangling Enterprise Florida, VISIT FLORIDA costly to Sunshine State future

in Statewide/Top Headlines by

Right now, jobs and the future of Florida’s economy are in jeopardy. That’s because some politicians in Tallahassee want to eliminate Florida’s economic development programs and slash the state’s tourism marketing efforts. Enterprise Florida and VISIT FLORIDA, Florida’s economic development and tourism marketing programs, are essential to the economic well-being of our state. Eliminating Florida’s targeted and proven economic development programs is not the way forward, and will slam the brakes on the amazing job creation success Florida has seen…

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