The Florida Council of 100 announced an economic development strategy to leverage the private sector and propel Florida into a new era of success by creating around 200,000 high-paying jobs by 2030, according to a statement accessed by Funds Society.
The initiative includes several industries in its strategy, such as aerospace, financial services, e-commerce, clean technology, biotechnology, and manufacturing, to promote regional economic specialization and expansion.
The “Beyond Sunshine” Initiative
The strategy, named “Beyond Sunshine,” outlines a path to sustain and accelerate Florida’s economic growth by concentrating resources to foster higher-wage economic clusters in the state’s six main regional economies and three rural areas of opportunity.
Research by the Florida Council of 100 indicates that investment in these clusters and regions could add up to 200,000 new high-wage jobs in Florida by 2030, contributing nearly $100 billion in added GDP to the fourth largest economy in the country.
The Beyond Sunshine strategy outlines three priorities to build on this solid foundation and ensure continued economic growth:
- Foster Existing Higher-Wage Economic Clusters: Focus investment on regional clusters of opportunity in sectors poised for additional growth, such as aerospace, financial services, e-commerce, clean technology, biotechnology, and manufacturing, to drive regional economic specialization and expansion.
- Creation of Higher-Wage Jobs: Coordinate with universities, state colleges, career and technical education (CTE) programs, and industry partners to align education and workforce development with higher-paying job opportunities and to catalyze economic activity across all sectors.
- Elevating Florida’s Economic Success Story: Change perceptions both nationally and internationally to highlight Florida as the best place to start a career, generate wealth, and raise a family.
The Florida Council of 100, a group of over 150 business leaders dedicated to fostering economic growth and improving the quality of life in Florida, will coordinate the implementation of the Beyond Sunshine strategy. They will work in partnership with regional economic development organizations, educational partners, and the state to direct investment into higher-wage sectors, align talent with opportunities, and address challenges for sustained expansion.
