FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 20, 2026
CONTACT: Christina Johnson
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released its 2025 MakeMore Manufacturing Summit: Summary Report and was honored to participate in, and summarize, the discussions at the seventh annual MakeMore Manufacturing Summit. Launched in 2018, the MakeMore Summit is an annual platform that brings together thought leaders from all segments of Florida’s manufacturing industry to discuss industry challenges and to offer solutions that will improve the competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance of Florida’s manufacturers.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO, Jeff Kottkamp said, “Florida TaxWatch has long recognized the importance of manufacturing as one of Florida’s leading industries, and as a key driver of future job growth and economic strength. The manufacturing sector contributes more than $80 billion to our annual Gross Domestic Product. With more than 27,000 manufacturers, 80 percent of which have fewer than 20 employees, Florida’s manufacturing sector provides high-wage, high value jobs to more than 430,000 Floridians, with average salaries in excess of $78,000. Manufacturing is the key, not only to Florida’s economic growth, but also the economic growth and vitality of our great nation.”
FloridaCommerce Deputy Secretary of Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer, Jason Mahon said, “The MakeMore Manufacturing Summit showcases the strength of collaboration across Florida’s manufacturing ecosystem. Under Governor DeSantis, Florida has been ranked the #1 Economy in the nation for three consecutive years with the fastest growing manufacturing sector in the nation. This report captures the insights and strategies shared by industry leaders on workforce, supply chain and industry awareness, offering a roadmap that supports existing manufacturers while investing high demand job creation and life-changing opportunities for Florida’s families.”
The MakeMore initiative is a platform to share best practices and exchange ideas about how state resources are addressing the impact of market dynamics, economic trends and policies, and new technologies available for the manufacturing sector. The following discussions were held during the October 2025 summit, and key takeaways may be found here.
- Employer of Choice: What It Takes to Build a Great Place to Work
- Manufacturing: Perhaps Florida’s Most Important Industry Today and For Tomorrow
- Insights from Industry Sectors
- The State of Florida’s Marine Industries
- Life Sciences
- Semiconductors: Building the Future, One Wafer at a Time
- Building the Global Hub for Sustainable Aerospace Commerce
- The State of the Florida Medical Device Industry
- Forging Florida’s Future: The Defense Industrial Base at a Time of Transition
- Manufacturing Growth in Rural Florida
- Florida’s Manufacturing Ecosystem: Strategies for Supporting Florida’s Manufacturing Growth
- From Local to Global: Opportunities and Challenges in Manufacturing, Trade & Logistics
To read more about this report, and to access the FTW research library, please click here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute, and the trusted “eyes and ears” of Florida taxpayers for more than 45 years, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the taxpayers it has served since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.
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