Nestle USA will shift a majority of its U.S. to Puerto Rico shipments from the Port of New York and New Jersey to JaxPort, Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday from California. Nestle USA’s volume to Puerto Rico is expected to grow by at least 400 percent over the course of the next six months, making it the fourth highest volume export for Nestle. “On top of Florida’s great business climate and low taxes, Florida has 15 seaports that we have invested over $850 million in to ensure we are … [Read more...]

When great minds come together to solve real-world problems, everyone benefits. Florida Atlantic University, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and The Scripps Research Institute recently entered into a “game-changing” agreement that will bring to life a vision deeply rooted in solving serious societal health issues, enhancing economic development and accelerating scientific discovery. Bringing together a leading public research university and two premier research institutions will … [Read more...]

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam recently announced that international exports of “Fresh From Florida” products increased last year to $4.2 billion, an all-time record. This is the third year in a row that Florida exports have exceeded $4 billion. “International demand continues to rise for 'Fresh From Florida' fruits, vegetables and other commodities, and we reached an all-time high in 2014,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Our export successes support more … [Read more...]

Restaurant chain Ruby Tuesday is opening a regional administrative office in Orlando, Gov. Rick Scott's office said Monday. The Maryville, Tenn.-based chain plans to employee about 45 people and spend $250,000 on the new space. The new office, which officials said they did not have the address for, will include positions in marketing, finance, development and IT. According to documents from the city of Orlando, the state has approved $315,000 for the potential move and Orlando offered $63,000 … [Read more...]

Miami is the home of yet another major hemispheric gathering. The International Economic Forum of the Americas has moved one of its biggest events here - from a South Florida neighbor. The International Economic Forum of the Americas, or IEFA, has become a key platform for issues affecting the Western Hemisphere. The Montreal-based group used to hold its annual World Strategic Forum in Palm Beach County. But it aims to raise its profile now by taking advantage of Miami-Dade’s more Latin … [Read more...]

The Tampa Bay region tops all others when it comes to job creation in the South. According to ZipRecruiter, an online job posting service, Tampa Bay's Hiring Demand Index sits at 140+ or two times that of Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, which landed at the number two spot. The site describes the region this way: "Port to Florida’s ‘High Tech Corridor,’ Tampa supports multiple IT firms as well as business service providers. The region is also home to BayCare Health System, a network of major … [Read more...]

Lake County is hosting an international volleyball tournament in September featuring representatives from 35 nations at Hickory Point Beach sand volleyball complex in Tavares. In the spring of 2014, the county entered into a partnership with the Florida Region of USA Volleyball to hold regional and national volleyball events at the facility. “Our overall vision is to create a destination volleyball venue that would hold up to international competitions,” said Steve Bishop, executive director … [Read more...]

Talk about winning the space race: Vology, a technology solutions company in Oldsmar, has been awarded a 10-year contract — and a potential slice of a $20 billion to $30 billion pie — to provide NASA with the latest in IT innovation. Vology, a $180 million company specializing in virtualization and Cloud-based technology — in other words, swapping out old tech with new tech, something the federal government is trying to do — was one of more than 60 companies to share in the government … [Read more...]

CareerSource Chipola, Chipola College, and the Northwest Florida Manufacturers Council are teaming up with state partners Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida TRADE Consortium, and the Manufacturers Association of Florida to connect the local workforce with careers in advanced manufacturing. Along with other regional workforce boards across the state, CareerSource Chipola will host the Florida Manufacturing Career Fair on April 22, to give those seeking employment the opportunity … [Read more...]

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and U.S. Congressman Bill Posey today joined the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), hundreds of manufacturing employees, aviation enthusiasts, and local leaders at a jobs rally celebrating the significant economic impact of general aviation in Florida. The event, held at Piper Aircraft in Vero Beach, is GAMA’s thirteenth jobs rally throughout the United States. “General aviation has been a big part of Florida’s history and economy,” said U.S. Senator … [Read more...]