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The Florida Chamber Foundation released its Florida Trade and Logistics Study, identifying the potential to create 143,000 jobs.
“This comprehensive study highlights the importance of investing in Florida’s trade and logistics future,” said Al Stimac, president of the Manufacturers Association of Florida.
“This investment is essential to Florida becoming a major global competitor and job creator,” he said.
The study was commissioned by the foundation in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation and other public and private organizations.
The Florida chamber advocates taking action to double Florida-origin exports in five years and achieving economic diversification.
The chamber said the study shows Florida can emerge from a trailing position to become the leader for a new economy.
The study assessed the statewide multimodal transportation assets and made recommendations aligning those assets with the projections of increased freight movement both domestically and globally.
According to the study, with Florida located in the center of the hemisphere and with the shift in U.S. population to the south, the Panama Canal widening, the resurgence of Latin American and Caribbean trade, and the continued revolution in logistics practices, the state has an opportunity to become a global trade and logistics
hub.
“Florida’s population is expected to grow by 5 million people by the year 2030, and will need 1.52 million more jobs in the next 10 years,” said Dale A. Brill, president of the Florida Chamber Foundation.
“The Florida Trade and Logistics Study demonstrates how Florida can create up to 143,000 jobs and be on its way to the No. 1 job-creating state in the nation, which is closely aligned with Gov.-elect Scott’s economic plan.”
The study identified seven near-term action items that will involve a coordinated effort by economic development, transportation, land use, workforce and related investment stakeholders. The items identified are:
• Support the leadership of the governor as Florida’s economic development officer and trade ambassador to market Florida as a trade and logistics hub and to attract business investment to the state.
• Expedite plans to create at least one seaport with 50 feet of channel depth and with an on-dock or near-dock rail connection by 2014, the scheduled completion of the Panama Canal expansion. The investment should be coordinated with a focused trade mission to help Florida pursue first call services from Asian container lines, as well as strategic investments in international distribution centers.
• Identify global trade and logistics as a statewide targeted industry and a focus area for Enterprise Florida, Workforce Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation and other state agencies.
• Continue efforts to double the value of Florida-origin exports over the next five years by pursuing opportunities to place Florida goods in the many containers and other vehicles which currently enter Florida full and leave
empty.
• Identify investments needed to maintain and expand Miami International Airport’s role as a global hub, as well as the potential benefits of creating a second-tier air cargo hub elsewhere in Florida.
• Advance planning for an integrated statewide network of trade gateways, logistics centers and transportation corridors.
• Provide sufficient and reliable funding for future state investments in Florida’s trade, transportation and economic development systems.
The study builds on past foundation research, including the International and Transportation Cornerstones (1998/1999) and other statewide initiatives, such as the Florida Department of Transportation’s Florida Transportation Plan 2060.
The study also uses the Florida Chamber Foundation’s “six pillars” framework to identify essential areas for strategic development tied to creating jobs, advancing economic growth and diversifying the state’s economy.