ORLANDO, Fla. – July 2, 2009 – As the Sunshine State, Florida’s warm and sunny weather draws residents and visitors eager to experience all the state has to offer, including the many opportunities and strong support it provides for business and industry.
“Not only is Florida a great place to call home, it’s a great place to do business,” says Cynthia Shelton, 2009 president of the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR). “Our state has made it a priority to not only encourage new businesses and industries to come to Florida, but to provide the kind of supportive climate that entrepreneurs and businesses need to succeed and prosper. Florida is the fourth most populous state in the U.S., with a large and diverse population fueling innovation in industry, and providing a creative and highly skilled workforce.”
A broker/salesperson with Colliers Arnold Associates Inc. in Orlando, Shelton has more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, including residential, ownership, management, development and commercial sectors. With her extensive business background, Shelton understands the state’s appeal to business owners and entrepreneurs. With no state income tax and a favorable tax environment for corporations, she points out that Florida is an attractive location for people who want to own their own business and raise their families in a desirable place close to their livelihood.
Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership devoted to statewide economic development, notes Florida’s business strengths on its Web site (http://www.eflorida.com) along with a list of recent accolades the state has received.
For example, did you know:
• Florida continues to be one of the best states for business, ranking No. 1 in the nation for workforce; among the top 10 for technology, innovation and access to capital; and third overall in Chief Executive’s survey of the best places for jobs and business growth. (Chief Executive, March 2009)
• Four Florida metros, Orlando, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Jacksonville, are among the nation’s best places to start a small business. (Bizjournals, Feb 2009)
• Florida has the second highest number (tied with Washington) of leading metropolitan areas on the Milken Institute/Greenstreet Real Estate Partners Best Performing Cities 2008 - 2009 Largest Metros Index. Florida consistently ranks among the top states in this annual report, which measures economic growth, job creation and technology growth. (Milken Institute, September 2008)
• Florida continues to gain ground among the nation’s top states for entrepreneurship, moving up to rank fourth overall in the 2008 Small Business Survival Index. Florida’s low tax rates have helped improve its ranking from sixth in 2006 and fifth in 2007. (Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, December 2008)
• Florida earned top spots on Site Selection’s 2008 Top State Business Climate rankings. The state’s business climate ranked fourth among executives and sixth overall. (Site Selection, November 2008)
• Florida continues to rank among the top five states for best tax climates for business, according to a Tax Foundation survey. With no state income tax, low corporate taxes, a low unemployment insurance tax rate and sales tax exemptions for certain business transactions, Florida has remained among the top five U.S. states since the survey’s inception. (The Tax Foundation, October 2008)
• Florida’s economic climate ranks No. 1 in the U.S., according to Forbes’ Best States for Business. Ranking eighth overall, Florida also scored among the top five in the Labor and Growth Prospects categories. (Forbes, August 2008)
© 2009 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
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