The international global community and the Florida Chamber believes Florida faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fundamentally transform our economy by becoming a global hub for trade, logistics and export-oriented manufacturing activities. On the eve of Florida’s 500^th anniversary in 2013 commemorating our state’s rich heritage and diverse cultural history, and in celebration of Florida World Trade Month, it’s important to reflect on our state’s important historical role in trade, as well as how international business is revolutionizing Florida’s future economy.

Florida has long been an important consumer market and gateway for trade between the United States, Latin America and Caribbean nations. Over the next decade, Florida should be positioned for a larger leadership role as a trade hub.

Consider the facts:

• Florida is located in the fastest growing U.S. business and consumer market – the arc of southern states from Texas to Virginia.
• Florida is also located at the crossroads of growth in north-south and east-west trade lanes with access to more than 1.1 billion consumers in the Western Hemisphere by 2035.
• The widening of the Panama Canal, combined with growth in Latin America and Caribbean markets, will realign global trade lanes and increase flows through this region in the coming decades.

To secure Florida’s future, the Florida Chamber has called for the doubling of Florida-origin exports over a five-year period – from 2010-2015. Last year, Florida-origin exports reached $64.8 billion – a 17 percent increase over 2010. While there are challenges that require the business communities action, we are on our way to fulfilling this important goal.

If Florida were a country, we would have the 20^th largest economy on the planet. More than 55,000 Florida companies export and, incredibly, that equates to 20 percent of all U.S. exporters. This is the second largest number of exporters in the United States.

The number of Florida exporters has grown 76 percent since 2003.  More than 95 percent of Florida exporters are small- and medium-size businesses with 500 or fewer employees.  These small- and medium-size companies accounted for 67 percent of Florida’s exports in 2009 – the highest figure of any state in the United States.

Last year, international business, trade and foreign direct investment in Florida sustained nearly one in six jobs in Florida and accounted for one-sixth of the state’s economic output.  Approximately 1.3 million jobs in Florida depend on international business.

Growing international commerce is a rallying cry for the Florida Chamber’s International Business Committee. To help us grow Florida and your business, join our International Business Committee by contacting Frank Ryll, Director of Global Outreach at 850-521-1205 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Florida Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice of business and provides insight and leadership on growing our economy. For more information about this and other issues in Florida’s 2012 Business Agenda, visit www.FloridaChamber.com or contact Lance Pierce at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This morning, Governor Scott continued his efforts to highlight the benefits of his Florida Chamber-backed jobs package by traveling to Longwood to meet with Al Stimac. Al is the Owner and President of the manufacturing firm Metal Essence, serves as chairman of the Manufacturing Association of Florida and is a member of the Florida Chamber Board of Directors.

You may recall that several months ago Governor Scott took his first tour of Metal Essence and, while there, announced a major component of his 2012 legislative priorities would be targeted incentives for Florida manufacturers. Today, the Governor's efforts came full circle when he once again joined with Al and Metal Essence employees to ceremoniously sign his jobs package into law.

"Small businesses in Florida will create four out of five new jobs in Florida, so the Governor's focus on growing the private-sector is welcomed news and a sign of confidence for job creators," Al said this morning during the bill signing ceremony. "What business needs most is predictability and stability and this bill is another example that our state government is open for business."

The Governor's timing couldn't have been more perfect for Florida's business community. Many of you may have seen today's Florida Trend Daily Pulse or even Governor Scott's tweet highlighting that 40 percent of Florida's small business owners plan to hire more employees during the next six months, according to the Florida Chamber's Small Business Council Survey.

At a time when other states are adding taxes and regulations, Florida is sending a strong message that we are a state where making investments in machinery and employees is a good investment.

"The passage of these important bills is a tremendous victory for Florida's families and businesses and will ensure private-sector jobs can continue to grow," said Governor Rick Scott. "My jobs package, combined with an additional $1 billion for K-12 education, will have an important impact on all Floridians, and I thank the Florida Legislature for recognizing the valuable contributions this legislation will make toward growing businesses and jobs in our state."

Congratulations to Al Stimac and the employees of Metal Essence and to Florida's entrepreneurs who are securing Florida's future.

My best,

Mark

Dear Jan,

If you have not done so already, we encourage you to use our Chamber Views survey tool to distribute our Small Business Index Survey to your members by Friday, March 23rd..  Thank you to those that have already sent out the survey.  For directions on how to use the survey tool, please read the message below.

To view the live survey, click here.

The Florida Chamber is in need of your support with distributing our recent Small Business Index Survey to your membership.  The purpose of this survey is to obtain the most accurate information about the business climate in Florida with efforts to wrap up the 2012 Legislative Session and plan for the 2012 Election Cycle.

Over the last year, the state of Florida created more jobs than all but two other states.  We would like to take this time to receive feedback from the businesses of Florida, and we need your help!

This survey allows you the flexibility to add specific questions that you would like to survey your membership on, as well as rebrand the survey with your chamber's logo or header. Please help us increase our response rate to this survey by distributing it to your membership database with any additional questions you feel are necessary.  The deadline to respond to the online survey is Friday, March 23rd. All results will be shared and available for your use by the end of March.  You will be able to access those results through your Chamber Views webpage that is available to all local chambers.

Our Chamber Views survey system allows you to do three things:

1)      Use our existing survey to ask your membership about key issues facing their business

2)      Add questions to the existing survey that relate to issues your Chamber may be facing locally

3)      Brand the survey using your ChamberÂ’s heading so that your membership know the survey is coming from their local chamber

If you are interested in surveying your membership using Chamber Views, please log on to the website (www.Chamberviews.com) and enter your username and password.  You can distribute the survey to your database or post the link to your website.  After you have signed in, you should be able to view our survey under the "global surveys" header.  Please upload the most recent survey into your account.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me at 850-521-1243.

Your answers to our surveys over the past year indicated that the tax burden was one obstacle facing your business.  During the 2012 legislative session, the Florida Chamber worked with Governor Rick Scott and legislative leaders to lessen that burden.

In our effort to Secure FloridaÂ’s Future, it is critical that we know what issues are most important to you and your member businesses!  Your membersÂ’ personal information will not be shared.  We will also provide you with the results of the survey and any policies that come from the results of the survey.  Our message is more powerful in Tallahassee when you voice your opinion.

Please take five minutes to complete this 15 question Small Business Index Survey and provide feedback on what you believe are the important issues facing small businesses.  Also, we would appreciate it if you took a few more minutes to pass this survey along to your membership.

Thank you for your help and support of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Florida's small businesses!