Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

10. Visionary Development

While many states today struggle to maintain the status quo, Florida's economic engine keeps moving forward. To put Florida's size and momentum into focus, consider this: If Florida was a country, it would have the 20th largest economy in the world.

Florida has the 4th largest Gross State Product and is the 8th largest economy in the Western Hemisphere. Florida has a higher standard of living, too. With a per capita income of $39,893 (2008 data), Florida ranks second among all Southeastern states.

Florida remains a strong force in today's innovation economy in large part because of its sustained efforts to create the right conditions for creative, knowledge-based businesses to thrive. The state is strategic about its economic development activities, which include funding research and development, attracting venture capital, building state-of-the-art infrastructure, fostering innovative high-tech firms and growing a qualified workforce.

Over the course of 2009, hundreds of Floridians came together in small groups throughout the state to develop the 2010-2015 Roadmap to Florida's Future, the statewide strategic plan for economic development. More than 1,500 Floridians — representing business, industry/trade associations, international commerce, education and workforce, transportation, arts and culture, government, economic development organizations, and others — provided input to help shape Florida's economic future. For more information, visit www.eflorida.com/roadmap.