Dear Friend,

 

This morning I visited Johnson and Johnson Vision Care in Jacksonville to announce my commitment to Building Up Florida Manufacturing Jobs during the upcoming legislative session.  Manufacturing is a vital part of Florida’s economy, and companies just like Johnson and Johnson play a vital role in our economy. For families to succeed, Florida manufacturers must succeed.

 

In order to build up Florida manufacturing jobs, we must get rid of the barriers on manufacturing investment in our state. To do this, we will to fully eliminate the taxes on the purchase of equipment to encourage manufacturing companies to grow in Florida and strengthen our economy. By making it easier for Florida’s manufacturers to do business in our state, we can create more opportunities for our economy and our families.

 

Today, there are 17,500 manufacturing companies in Florida that employ over 300,000 Florida families. Yet, Florida’s current policy puts our state at a competitive disadvantage because most states do not force manufacturers to pay taxes on the purchase of equipment or require them to adhere to regulations for tax exemptions. In order to build up our manufacturing jobs in Florida, we will remove these barriers to investment.

 

We know that when manufacturers purchase equipment in our state, they are investing in Florida workers for years to come. We want more manufacturers to move to Florida and our existing manufacturing companies to buy the equipment they need to grow and create more jobs to support Florida families.

 

Building up Florida manufacturing is about building up Florida jobs all across our state. My proposal will also benefit our ports and the many small businesses that support manufacturers.

 

Manufacturing accounts for almost 90 percent of Florida's exports.  With Florida’s recent investments in our ports, Florida manufacturers and exporters are a powerful combination for the state’s economy.

 

Small businesses are also key in Florida’s manufacturing and exporting. They make up nearly 96 percent of the state’s exporting firms and are responsible for producing 67 percent of the state’s total exports.  My proposal will ensure Florida’s small manufacturing businesses and start-ups can succeed.

 

If you would like to continue to receive updates and information about Building Up Florida Manufacturing Jobs, please let me know by emailing me at Rick.Scott@eog.myflorida.com. 

 

Thank you for interest in keeping Florida moving in the right direction.

 

Rick Scott
Governor