Florida TaxWatch Releases From Grease & Grime to Technology & Talent, Details Opportunities, Challenges Facing Manufacturing
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida TaxWatch (FTW), joined by Senator Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne), CareerSource Florida, the Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Chamber Foundation, and the Florida Manufacturing & Logistics Council, today released its latest report, From Grease & Grime to Technology & Talent, summarizing the findings of the second annual FloridaMakes 2019 Florida MakeMore Manufacturing Summit which was held on May 31 in Orlando, Florida. The report highlights the state’s manufacturing industry and its impact on the economy, details industry challenges and strategies proposed to confront them, and presents policy and business recommendations for continued manufacturing growth and prosperity in Florida.
“With more than 20,000 manufacturing companies providing 381,000 high-wage jobs to Floridians across our state, it is clear that manufacturing is not only a driver of Florida’s economy, but critically essential to the continued economic growth and success of business throughout our state,” said Robert Weissert, Executive Vice President and Counsel to the President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. “Today, Florida TaxWatch is proud to be joined by Florida’s business and manufacturing leaders to announce the release of From Grease & Grime to Technology & Talent which presents valuable analysis of the strategic challenges facing Florida’s manufacturers, and lays out the constructive strategies proposed by participating industry leaders and experts to overcome them.”
“In Brevard and Indian River counties, and throughout the Space Coast, manufacturers are not only major employers for our families, but also incredible community partners,” said State Senator Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne). “I’d like to thank Florida TaxWatch for this insightful report and thank the organizations who joined us today for taking the lead on this important issue. As Florida continues its record-breaking economic growth, we know that manufacturing is one of the key drivers behind much of our success, and I am proud to support these job creators and innovators.”
“Among the top challenges faced by Florida’s manufacturers today are employee recruitment and retention, and CareerSource Florida is working closely with our partners addressing these issues. To help close the skills gap and build a talent pipeline that connects Floridians with high-wage manufacturing jobs, we are collaborating with businesses and our education system to introduce students to apprenticeship opportunities and provide Floridians the training needed to stay competitive in an evolving skilled labor market,” said Michelle Dennard, President and CEO of CareerSource Florida. “We thank Florida TaxWatch for this comprehensive report and our partners for their continued focus on this important issue.”
“At FloridaMakes, we work every day to strengthen Florida’s high-wage manufacturing sector by addressing the unique needs facing firms across our state,” said Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes. “Today, while Florida’s manufacturing sector is continuing to see growth, we also know that significant strategic challenges exist that must be identified and addressed. We hope that through this report, Florida’s policymakers and elected leaders will be provided a helpful outline of the needs of our industry and continue their good work to support business and job growth in our great state.”
“To create additional quality jobs, Florida must focus on the manufacturing sector. With 4.5 million more people expected to call Florida home by 2030, the Florida Chamber is uniting Florida’s business community to grow our state’s economy from the 17th largest to the 10th largest on the planet. And Florida’s manufacturing industry will help lead the way.” -- Dr. Jerry Parrish, Chief Economist and Director of Research for the Florida Chamber Foundation.
“As the Voice of Florida Business, the Associated Industries of Florida understands well the massive impact of manufacturing throughout the Sunshine State and is proud to be a member of this group advocating for continued growth for this important sector,” said Brewster Bevis, Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs of Associated Industries of Florida. “Today’s exciting release of the Florida TaxWatch report, From Grease & Grime to Technology & Talent, shows Florida’s clear vision for the future of manufacturing in our state. We hope that policymakers take advantage of this helpful resource and use the expertise within to build a strong road forward for manufacturing in Florida.”
“Manufacturing is a huge driver of business and economic success in Florida and now is the time to secure future success for this industry with proper funding for the work of our great partner, FloridaMakes,” said former State Representative Lake Ray, President of the Florida Manufacturing & Logistics Council. “Programs like FloridaMakes generate thousands of high-paying new jobs and are absolutely critical to the state’s efforts to diversify the economy and to the continued growth of Florida’s manufacturing sector. With federal matching dollars on the line, lawmakers have a great opportunity this session to provide proper funding to FloridaMakes and make a key investment in the future of manufacturing in Florida.”
Jamal Sowell, Florida Secretary of Commerce and Enterprise Florida President & CEO, who was unable to attend the press conference, shared that “Florida manufacturers produce a wide variety of goods from aerospace products and communications equipment to medical devices and boats. Enterprise Florida will continue to market the Sunshine State as the premier destination for advanced manufacturing.”
The full From Grease & Grime to Technology & Talent report is available online here. A Florida TaxWatch video about the report may be found here, and information on the 2020 MakeMore Summit may be found here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute for forty years, the trusted eyes and ears of Florida taxpayers, Florida TaxWatch, 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 citizens and businesses. Florida TaxWatch is supported by voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants, and does not accept government funding. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled Florida TaxWatch to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the citizens it serves since 1979. For more information, please visit http://www.floridataxwatch.org.