FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BUSINESS LEADERS PRESENT PLAN FOR FLORIDA’S ECONOMIC TRANSITION
Leading Florida Business Groups United behind "Road Map" for Jobs and Prosperity

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (January 13, 2009) Top leaders from Florida’s business community united today to present job creation proposals to the Senate Select Committee on Florida’s Economy.

The presenters were: Former House Speaker Allan Bense, now a partner with GAC Contractors and vice chairman of Enterprise Florida Inc.; Marshall Criser III, president of AT&T Florida and chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce; and Susan Story, president and CEO of Gulf Power and chair of The Florida Council of 100.

The group’s recommendations focused on what government could do or stop doing to help Florida’s employers create jobs and transition the economy to the future. Proposals included:

• providing maximum flexibility for the implementation of the class size amendment;
• an emergency lifting of permitting restrictions that obstruct growth;
• using Florida-based employers to immediately begin $7 billion of "shovel ready" projects; and
• increased research and development incentives.

"What we're talking about is a jump-start for Florida’s economy," said Allan Bense, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and incoming vice chair of Enterprise Florida. "For us, we're looking at a short-term system where we inject the capital, remove the obstructions, and shock this economy into moving forward."

"Florida employers and government need to work together from one agenda for our economic future," said Susan Story, president & CEO of Gulf Power and chair of The Florida Council of 100. "We’ve outlined several actionable job creation proposals for the legislature to consider."

The panel presented thorough recommendations highlighting each sector of job creation and economic development, based upon six key drivers of the state’s economy: talent, infrastructure, business climate, governance and government systems, innovation and economic development and quality of life.

"Florida’s business leaders have developed a change management system for our economic transition to higher paying jobs and to stimulate growth within our small businesses, the backbone of our economy," said Marshall Criser, president of AT&T Florida and chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. "We should measure our performance in all six drivers constantly to make Florida more prosperous and globally competitive."

The three business leaders stated an express goal of creating higher paying jobs in the short-term while improving Florida’s long-term competitiveness as the state adds 7 million more residents by 2030. The panel presented at the special request of the Committee’s Chairman Senator Don Gaetz (R – Niceville).

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