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Enterprise Florida - page 9

Carol Dover still fighting for tourism marketing money

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When it comes to supporting the state’s hospitality industry, Carol Dover won’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Despite the Florida House’s opposition to spending money on tourism marketing in the state budget, herĀ Florida Restaurant and Lodging AssociationĀ is seeking $1 million to do just that. And the funding request is being sponsored by GOP state Rep. Jay Trumbull of Panama City, who already voted for a bill to killĀ VISIT FLORIDA, the public-private tourism marketing agency. On Feb. 7, Dover ā€“Ā the association’s…

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In op-ed, Rick Scott still swinging against GOP opposition to incentives

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Gov. Rick Scott has released an opinion column on the “Florida House playing politics with Florida jobs” one day before a House panel discussesĀ killingĀ Enterprise Florida, VISIT FLORIDA and many business incentive programs. Scott’s office emailed the Op-Ed to news media Monday afternoon. The House Appropriations Committee meets Tuesday to consider Ā a bill that would eliminate the agencies. The email calls out by name Republican House members “who just last year supported Gov. Scottā€™s efforts to increase funding at Enterprise Florida,”…

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Richard Corcoran sues Florida Lottery over ‘improper spending’

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In what one lobbyist privately compared to ā€œthe bombing of Pearl Harbor,ā€ House Speaker Richard Corcoran Friday dropped a blockbuster lawsuit on the Florida Lottery, which reports to Gov. Rick Scott, saying it was guilty of “wasteful and improper spending” for signing aĀ $700 million deal for new equipment.Ā  The legal action caps off weeks of tension and sniping between the Republican governor and Corcoranā€™s GOP House majority after the speaker said he was out to kill state governmentā€™s business incentives…

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Subliminal message no help in Enterprise Florida fight

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I was watching the fascinating video from the Florida House of Representatives in its escalating war with Gov. Rick Scott over state subsidies for private businesses and tourism when an image caught my eye as it streaked by quickly. It was the logo for Enterprise Florida, the public-private partnership that is supposed to create jobs. Scott loves the concept so much he included $85 million in his budget request for the endeavor. Therein lies the battle line with House Speaker…

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Randy Fine letter warns Rick Scott to stop badmouthing his incentives vote

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Freshman Republican Rep. Randy Fine warned Gov. Rick Scott not to badmouth him in his district in a sternly written letter sent Wednesday. The letter comes after Fine and eight other Republicans on the House Careers and Competition Committee voted for a bill that would dismantle Enterprise Florida, the stateā€™s economic development arm, and Visit Florida, the agency responsible for promoting tourism in the Sunshine state. Since then, Scott has made stops in the districts of lawmakers who voted for…

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Assessing Visit Florida beneficiariesā€™ assertions, predictions and anecdotes

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As the debate over whether to fund or eliminate Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida escalates at the Florida Capitol, itā€™s important to consider that those who directly benefit from the mostly taxpayer-funded organizations are among their most vocal supporters. Itā€™s natural, and predictable. Itā€™s also entirely appropriate that incentives and tourism marketing recipients have the opportunity to make their case for continued funding. But their appeals shouldnā€™t always be taken at face value. Take Amy Lukasik, director of tourism marketing…

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Jack Latvala says evidence doesn’t support House on job incentives

in Statewide by

The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee defended state spending on economic incentives Thursday by pointing to evidence the effort produces solid returns on investment. Visit Florida, for example, returns $3.20 cents for every dollar spent on advertising, according to figures (here; scroll down) from Amy Baker, state government’s top economist. Enterprise Florida’s international offices program, meanwhile, returns $4. And its export assistance program returns $1.90. That’s as measured in tax revenue. Not counting spending on beaches, transportation, and aviation,…

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