Tag: enterprise florida

Enterprise Florida Leads Small Businesses to 2018 Farnborough International Airshow

Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI), the principal economic development organization for the State of Florida, led a delegation of 12 Florida-based aviation and aerospace businesses, partners and organizations to the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow from July 16-20.

The international business development and trade mission provided Florida with a unique opportunity to demonstrate its competitive advantages in the aviation, aerospace and defense sectors. Over two days of meetings, EFI leadership talked with nearly 40 aviation and aerospace industry leaders about what makes Florida a leading business location.

“Events like the Farnborough Airshow allow us not only to help small and medium-sized Florida businesses expand their international footprint, but also to meet with leadership and decision-makers for some of the world’s leading aviation and aerospace companies.” said Tim Vanderhoof, senior vice president of business development for EFI. “The Florida Pavilion demonstrates the state’s leadership in the industry in a way no other state can match.”

In addition to the business development meetings, Enterprise Florida hosted the Florida Pavilion located in Hall 3-190, showcasing 12 Florida-based aviation and aerospace companies and economic development partner organizations marketing their products and services to a top-level international audience. The pavilion allowed small and mid-sized Florida companies to cost-effectively exhibit at the show.

The Florida companies and organizations exhibiting in the Florida Pavilion included:

Florida is home to more than 2,200 aerospace and aviation companies employing more than 93,800 skilled workers. Florida is also a major hub for flight training; a leader in maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) operations; and home to leading manufacturers of all types of aircraft and components. Florida’s manufacturing sector has more than 20,290 companies that employ more than 354,000 Floridians.

Last year, leading Florida-origin exports reached $6.3 billion in civilian aircraft, engines and parts. Another $678 million in turbojets, turbo propellers and parts was exported to countries around the globe.

EFI maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. Last year, merchandise trade valued at $147.7 billion flowed through Florida’s ports with Florida-origin exports reaching $55 billion. Florida exported more goods than 190 countries in 2017, making the state one of the world’s leaders in international trade.

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida | The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.

Israel-Florida Innovation Alliance Announces Call for Proposals

StartUp Nation Ventures (“SUNV”) in partnership with the Israel Innovation Authority (“IIA”) recently announced a Call for Proposals through the Israel-Florida Innovation Alliance (“Innovation Alliance”).

The Innovation Alliance was created to support Israeli innovation companies in the discovery and selection of Florida as their destination to establish U.S. headquarters—a gateway for expansion into the U.S., and Latin America markets.

The joint collaboration between SUNV and the IIA establishes a scalable platform to support Israeli companies that have proven the feasibility of their technologies and have a minimal viable product or working prototypes for the U.S and Latin America markets in the following areas:

Financial Technologies (FinTech), Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) Entertainment, Cryptocurrency, Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs); and
Tech Innovation related to smart contracts, supply chain, asset verification, certification, identity, health and financial transactions, digital and mobile payments; capital markets & investing, banking & corporate finance, financial platforms, crowdfunding & peer-to-peer lending, and personal financial management.
“This Innovation Alliance was established to catalyze the growth of Israeli tech into US markets by leveraging greater collaboration and synergies between Florida’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem and Israeli innovative companies,” says StartUp Nation Ventures founder and CEO, Vicki Rabenou, MD. “StartUp Nation Ventures, with its partners, is poised to take advantage of the unique utility within Blockchain and application development to expedite go-to-market processes through our platform that provides not only Financial but also professional-Intellectual and human-network capital investments.”

The Israel Innovation Authority may approve a grant of up to 50% of eligible R&D costs of the Israeli companies that are selected by and receive investment from SUNV. These grants support the R&D pilot and validation costs for companies expanding their solution into new markets. Applicable companies should be in a stage following proof of concepts and ready for demonstration, commercialization; or at ready to market.

The partnership between StartUp Nation Ventures and the Israel Innovation Alliance was memorialized in Tel Aviv, Israelin December 2017 as part of Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Business Development Mission to Israel.

“We are committed to supporting Israeli tech innovation companies in selecting Florida as their entry point into the United States and Latin America markets,” adds Peter Antonacci, CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc., Florida Secretary of Commerce.

More information about the call for proposals is available online.

Virgin Voyages to Create 300 Jobs at New Headquarters in Florida

 

Florida Governor Rick Scott recently announced that Virgin Voyages, a new cruise company by the global Virgin brands, has selected Plantation, Florida, for its new headquarters, which will create 300 new jobs. The company will also invest $15.9 million in the local community.

Governor Scott said, “I am proud to announce that Virgin Voyages has selected Florida to locate their new headquarters, which will create more than 300 new jobs for families in South Florida. As a top tourism destination, the gateway to Latin America and one of the most business-friendly states, Florida is the best place for Virgin Voyages’ new headquarters.”

Thomas McAlpin, President and CEO of Virgin Voyages said, “Virgin brands have a long history of raising the bar in every industry we enter. We are proud to bring that mindset to the South Florida community and introduce new jobs and business opportunities to the area.”

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin said, “We basically decided, ‘Let’s have a blank sheet of paper, let’s create the kind of voyage company that we would like to go on,’ and that’s what we’ve done.”

Virgin Voyages cited the strength of Broward County’s diverse, educated and multicultural workforce, infrastructure, quality of life, proximity to major seaports and a competitive tax and business environment as strategic reasons for headquarters location. Virgin Voyages will be hiring a range of roles in different departments from Finance to Customer Care.

This project was made possible through partnerships between the State of Florida, the City of Plantation, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and Broward County.

Peter Antonacci, CEO of Enterprise Florida, Inc., said, “Broward County is the ideal location for Virgin to launch its new cruise line Virgin Voyages. Enterprise Florida’s Board of Directors are enthusiastic that Florida won this exciting new project.”

VISIT FLORIDA President & CEO Ken Lawson said, “Virgin Voyages decision to open headquarters in South Florida is fantastic news for tourism in our state. At VISIT FLORIDA, we are marketing the diversity and beauty of our state to the rest of the world. By creating more opportunities for travelers from around the world to experience Florida, Virgin Voyages is helping us make Florida the number one global destination, and I look forward to their continued success.”

Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, said, “Congratulations to Virgin Voyages on locating their new headquarters in the Sunshine State. South Florida is an excellent choice for growing a company, with its strong business community and robust workforce. We look forward to your success.”

Bob Swindell, President and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance said, “Congratulations Virgin Voyages, we are thrilled to be home to a company with the great potential to reinvent the cruise industry under the iconic Virgin flag.”

Mayor Diane Veltri Bendekovic of the City of Plantation said, “Plantation has a long reputation as a location of choice for game-changing companies like Virgin Voyages. We look forward to their success and are proud to be home to the newest Virgin brand.”

Mayor Beam Furr of Broward County said, “We’re glad that Virgin Voyages and other major global companies continue to choose Broward County for their headquarters operations. We look forward to the company’s continued growth as part of an important targeted industry for our community.”

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Virgin Voyages’ first ship, of about 110,000 gross tons, will arrive at PortMiami in 2020. The ship will host more than 2,700 sailors and 1,150 spirited crew members. The first ship in the fleet will offer a range of Caribbean itineraries to ports that deliver Virgin styled and deeply social experiences. Future sailors are invited to check out Virgin Voyages by visiting www.virginvoyages.com or follow @virginvoyages on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.

Enterprise Florida: Making International Business Your Priority

 

By Manny Mencia

Enterprise Florida is one of America’s leading trade, export development, and foreign direct investment organizations. International is big business in our state and we know what it takes to make it happen.

As North America’s principal gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, billions of dollars in goods flowed through our airports and seaports last year, making Florida the seventh largest exporting state in the U.S., and a leading international business hub. Since 1996, Florida exports have more than doubled, growing from $21 billion to $52 billion in 2016.

Florida’s 60,000 exporters are second only to California and keep goods moving through the state 24 hours a day, while services exports of more than $38 billion rank Florida fourth in the U.S.

The state has significant advantages as a destination for foreign direct investment, ranking sixth in the U.S.in employment and first in the Southeast. Just ask the 260,000 workers who are employed by foreign-owned companies how important that is to them.

Ready to learn more about expanding, relocating, or exporting? Start by contacting Enterprise Florida’s International Trade & Development Division at 305-808-3660 or visiting www.enterpriseflorida.com.

Manny Mencia is Senior Vice President for International Trade & Development at Enterprise Florida Inc.