March 29, 2024

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Top 10 Reasons To Do Business in Florida

From tech leadership to workforce talent, Florida offers every advantage.

Janet Ware | 9/24/2008

Harmony Development
Harmony Development’s “environmentally intelligent” community in Osceola County is an example of a growing commitment to sustainability and investment in Florida’s future. [Photo courtesy of Harmony Development Company]

8 World-Renowned Quality of Life

The combination of sunshine, outstanding amenities and economic opportunity has helped put Florida at the top of Harris Poll’s “most desirable places to live” since the survey’s inception. And this year, Florida can boast the largest number of cities on Relocate-America’s 2008 “100 Top Places to Live,” the only list determined by statistics and feedback from people who live, work and play in these communities.

Already one of the world’s top travel destinations, Florida is a natural choice for permanent residence by visitors who subscribe to a “play here, stay here” philosophy. Climate is a huge draw with average annual temperatures hovering between 81 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Florida has 1,370-plus golf courses — more than any other state — and, with 1,350 miles of sandy coastal shoreline, plus 11,761 square miles of inland waterways, there are plenty of opportunities for boating, fishing, snorkeling and other water-based activities.


9 Economic Development Partnerships

More than any other state, Florida’s economic development goals and initiatives have been created and embraced as a statewide vision. Economic development organizations throughout the state work together to help existing and prospective businesses find the right location(s) to match their needs.

Florida is one of the emerging forces in the innovation economy in large part because officials have made a concerted effort 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.


10 Growth Economy

While many regions struggle to maintain the status quo, Florida’s economic engine keeps surging forward. To put things in perspective, consider this: if Florida were a country, it would have the 19th largest economy in the world.

Florida has the 4th largest Gross State Product and is the 8th largest economy in the Western Hemisphere. And with 12 cities named to Economy.com’s “Business Vitality Index,” Florida has more than double the number of any other state.

In terms of personal income, Florida tops the Southeast, and its 2007 per capita income of $38,444 places it at No. 2 in the Southeast and No. 20 nationwide.


 For More Information
To learn more about how the right talent, facilities and can-do attitude are coming together to fuel the innovation economy in Florida, see the special report Florida Innovation.

Tags: Dining & Travel, Business Services, Business Florida

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