Enterprise Florida’s (EFI) retention and recruitment efforts are targeted to specific industry sectors that offer the greatest growth potential, high-wage job opportunities and overall economic impact to the state. Not only are these sectors specifically targeted in EFI’s sales and marketing efforts, many of Florida’s policies and programs are geared toward retaining and expanding these key sectors. The sectors include:
Clean Energy
Led by Governor Charlie Crist, Florida is at the forefront of environmentally responsible policies and clean energy industry growth. Florida has a strong foundation when it comes to clean energy. The state’s universities are engaged in significant R&D in biomass and biofuels, solar energy, ocean energy, and fuel cells and hydrogen technologies while a growing number of small and large companies, as well as leading utilities are also at the forefront of innovation. For instance, Florida is home to two of the world’s top power generation equipment manufacturers—Mitsubishi Power Systems and Siemens Energy—and to a number of emerging leaders such as fuel cell producer EnerFuel and energy producer FPL Group.
Information Technology
The information technology (IT) industry – encompassing digital media, software and computer systems design and integration, modeling/simulation/training, photonics/optics, computer products, microelectronic and precision device manufacturing, and telecommunication - has exploded in the last decade and Florida is on the leading edge of the wave. With multiple hubs capable of high-speed data transmission and its emerging status as the “Internet Gateway” to Latin America, Florida is wired and ready to support these lucrative industries.
Life Sciences
Rapid growth, high value-added manufacturing and a healthy export market characterize Florida’s life sciences industry. The state is home to multiple firms that manufacture medical devices and ophthalmic goods, develop applications of various biotechnologies, and discover and produce new pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and diagnostic tests. In 2007, Florida exported approximately $1.63 billion in medical equipment, pharmaceuticals and related products. With the Scripps Research Institute opening a facility in Florida, several major universities nationally ranked for their research expertise in this area, and the infrastructure in place to support technology transfer, Florida is well positioned as a potential high-growth center for the industry.
Aviation/Aerospace
Since the establishment of NASA’s space center at Cape Canaveral in the 1960s, Florida has become a global leader in the aviation and aerospace industries. Today, Florida is home to well-known aviation and aerospace companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Harris, Raytheon, Embraer, Bombardier, BAE Systems and United Technologies. Florida is a leader in both business and general aviation and has one of the largest concentrations of aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) firms in the nation. Home to prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a number of specialized flight schools, Florida is a hub for aviation training and advanced degrees in aerospace.
Homeland Security/Defense
The defense industry – which helped spawn the state’s aviation/aerospace industry and today remains its largest customer – is strong and growing in Florida. There are 21 active military bases stretching horizontally from Pensacola to Jacksonville and vertically from Jacksonville to Key West that represent all five branches of the U.S. military. Combined with the hundreds of homeland security and defense-related companies and organizations in the state, these military installations have a $52 billion annual economic impact on Florida.
Financial/Professional Services
Florida has a more service-intensive economy than the United States as a whole, with more than 70% of its total economic output (and about 86% of its private-sector output) coming from service-producing sectors, which have in recent years accounted for a large share of total job growth in the state. Florida has nearly 900,000 workers in the financial/professional services sector. This sector includes more than 117,000 companies, ranging from the financial and insurance services, to those in engineering, accounting and law. Continuous growth in this sector will allow Florida to maintain its competitive edge as a knowledge-based state in this New Economy.