Description
Lets Keep Small Business Working
Nearly four years after Governor Scott’s election, Florida is a much friendlier state to small businesses and the men and
women who run them. But, there is still much that can be done to ensure Floridians can pursue their dreams of a great
career and success in the Sunshine State. Throughout his time in of?ce, Governor Rick Scott has worked every day to
make Florida the premier destination to open, grow or relocate a small business. This is possible because he has focused
on creating an environment that:
• Welcomes and encourages small business innovation,
• Reduces burdensome taxes and regulations that
impede good ideas and jobs, and
• Helps small businesses expand into new markets.
Florida’s growing economy has become a model for success.
To continue our efforts to help Florida families live their
American dream, Governor Scott has proposed implementing
the Let’s Keep Small Business Working Plan to aid job growth
and innovation in small businesses.
1
Rewarding the Risk Takers and the Innovators
ESTABLI SH T HE RI SK TAKER REWARD TO CELEBRAT E I NNOVAT I ON
I N CRI T I CAL AREAS FOR FLORI DA’ S FUT URE
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh ?ew across the Atlantic
for the $25,000 Orteig Prize, paving the way for
transoceanic ?ight. Recently, the X-Prize Foundation
created an incentive to push private companies
to achieve something government agencies and
military contractors were unable to: cheaper, reusable
space ?ight. In order to bring the next generation of
entrepreneurs and industries to the state, Governor
Scott proposes the State of Florida partner with private
entities to create the Risk Taker Reward. The concept
is simple and time tested: there are problems facing
society that could be solved with technology that does
not yet exist, but is not far from creation. For issues
presenting Florida with generational challenges,
a smart incentive can ensure that the private
market handles a public problem.
3.5
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m
p
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R
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Date
Florida Unemployment Rate
Florida Unemployment Rate
3.5
11.4
6.2
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
J
a
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U
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m
p
l
o
y
m
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R
a
t
e
Date
Florida Unemployment Rate
Florida Unemployment Rate
After identifying such an opportunity for innovation, Florida can jumpstart enterprise by offering a $10 million award
—half from private sector funding—to the Florida-based entity that invents the solution, thus motivating citizens to
tackle problems facing the state. The Risk Taker Reward would push both non-pro?t and for-pro?t entities to tackle
speci?c issues with private capital, and would only be paid out if the goal was successfully accomplished. Risk Taker
Reward would only reward success, while also creating new markets and new jobs. These new markets would focus on
the challenges that Florida needs to tackle in the future, such as water supply and quality issues, transportation and
infrastructure, and medical breakthroughs in cancer and other diseases.
HOST ANNUAL BUSI NESS PLAN START- UP COMPET I T I ONS
WI T H COLLEGES & UNI VERSI T I ES T HROUGHOUT T HE STAT E
Working with Florida colleges and universities, Governor Scott proposes creating a State Matching Grant Program
to fund prizes for annual business-plan competitions throughout the state. Colleges and universities could match
state funding with private funds up to $100,000 that would be awarded to the Floridian with the winning business
plan at each institution.
These annual competitions would incentivize start-ups and innovative businesses to grow around our colleges and
universities. Working in partnership with entrepreneurship programs and business incubators would help to ensure
groundbreaking research and development happens at our universities, while also marketing and helping to create jobs
for Floridians. Competitions like these serve as a starting point for many successful entrepreneurs, and will facilitate the
meeting of great Florida ideas with the capital and expertise to make them successful, job-creating businesses.
2
Cutting Red Tape on Job Creators
REDUCE GOVERNMENT FEES ON J OB CREATORS
Governor Scott recognizes costs imposed on small
businesses from government are a signi?cant barrier for
entrepreneurs when considering opening or growing their
business. One fee that is paid annually by nearly every
small business is the corporate ?ling fee. Reducing
corporate ?ling fees and streamlining the process for
?ling not only makes Florida more welcoming to those
wishing to achieve their American Dream, but would inject
an additional $33 million into private sector job growth.
Governor Scott knows that every reduction to the cost of
doing business means more capital for investment and
growth. More money in the private sector means more job
opportunities for Floridians.
Under Charlie Crist, the state of Florida increased efforts
to collect ?nes for businesses due to late ?lings. These
?nes can be almost three times the cost of the annual
fee, even if the business was only one day late. That
approach was focused solely on generating revenue for
the state. Instead, Governor Scott believes Florida should
generate revenue by rolling out a welcome mat to new
entrepreneurs, making state ?ling fees lower and more
competitive than other states.
GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS
CUT TAXES 40 TIMES
IN 4 YEARS INCLUDING THESE
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Reduced Property Taxes for Homeowners and
Businesses by $210.5 million in 2011
Doubled Tax Exemption for Business Income
Now over 70% of Businesses are Exempt
from Paying the Business Tax
Eliminated Sales Tax on Manufacturing Equipment
SUPPORT COMMUNI T I ES I N EXPEDI T I NG
SMALL BUSI NESS PERMI T T I NG
AND LI CENSI NG
Since Governor Scott was elected, Florida’s regulatory climate
for small business has dramatically improved. Customer
service at Florida agencies is an at all-time high, duplicative
government agencies and regulations have been eliminated,
and a mission to foster, rather than red tape, the creation
of small businesses and jobs runs throughout our state.
Immediately upon his election, Governor Scott created the
Of?ce of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform, which
has worked to ensure proposed and existing agency rules and
regulations do not impede the growth of small businesses
and jobs in Florida. Because of these efforts, Floridians have
nearly 3,000 fewer burdensome regulations today than they
did four years ago. Additionally, agencies like the Department
of Business and Professional Regulation that interact with
small businesses each day have improved their operations
and cut bureaucratic red tape to achieve average license
turnaround times as low as 1.74 days.
Given this experience, Governor Scott proposes creating
a Florida Small Business Ready Team to assist local
governments that want to follow the state’s efforts in
becoming friendlier to new and existing businesses. This team
would be available to cities and counties looking to eliminate
duplicative requirements on small businesses, share process
improvements to speed up the turnaround time for local
permits, and help to develop analytical tools to evaluate the
cost-bene?t implications of potential new regulations.
3
Going Global – Moving Florida Products All Over the World
HELP FLORI DA BUSI NESS EXPAND I NTO NEW MARKET S T HROUGH EDUCAT I ON
AND I NCREASED EXPORT MARKET I NG
Over the past quarter century, the world has become smaller
and more connected. The same is true for the potential of
small businesses. Today, Florida small businesses are not just
shipping their products to New York, but also to New Delhi, and
are able to connect with customers in California as easily as
those in Calcutta. This drastic change in the global economy
has given Floridians opportunities in new markets across the
world. The challenge for many small businesses is ?nding and
entering into agreements within these new markets. Throughout
his time in of?ce, Governor Scott has been on the cutting edge
of marketing Florida, and its small businesses,
to new customers.
www.RickScottforFlorida.com
Political Advertisement Paid For
and Approved By Rick Scott,
Republican, For Governor.
Governor Scott knows that businesses need information and resources to help them grow, and he supports empowering
small businesses in Florida to compete internationally by increasing the state’s investment in export marketing programs.
Currently, through Enterprise Florida, the state offers businesses the opportunity to grow into new markets through export
counseling, grants to small businesses to participate in export trade missions, and offers international trade leads to
Florida companies. Governor Scott proposes doubling funding from the current year budget for these programs to help
more small businesses expand internationally. The increased funding would require a return on investment for all Florida
taxpayers in increased job creation and economic activity.
Additionally, the Governor proposes the creation of an annual New Markets Expo. This Expo would bring together experts
to offer advice and assistance to small businesses interested in learning how to grow into new markets around the world.
Many international consulates and businesses have already seen the opportunity in Florida ports. Our goal is to bring
together these players to help the state’s small businesses grow and create new jobs.
MARKET T HE STAT E’ S BUSI NESS BRAND TO ENCOURAGE
RELOCAT I ON OF ADDI T I ONAL SMALL BUSI NESSES
Florida offers the perfect climate for business, and
Governor Scott has worked tirelessly to expand
that message to business communities across
the globe. Capitalizing on the success of Florida’s
?rst-ever business marketing plan, Governor Scott
will continue his aggressive efforts to encourage job
creators to relocate their operations to Florida.
Over the last four years, Governor Scott’s approach
to recruiting businesses, large and small, has
yielded thousands of job opportunities, and there is
room for even greater small business growth.
During the ?rst quarter of 2014, Florida welcomed
its highest number of visitors in a quarter ever.
Learning from Florida’s record-breaking tourism
marketing programs, the state needs to employ
similar strategies to ensure that not only tourists
think of Florida, but anyone looking to build a small
business. By leveraging the expertise of Visit Florida
and Enterprise Florida, Governor Scott proposes
advertising the state all over the world as a willing
partner to facilitate opportunities to open and grow a small business. This approach will bolster our efforts to become
a haven for new enterprise and jobs and change the way people think about Florida by supplementing our efforts with
a robust marketing plan built around Florida’s small business strengths.
doc_242951157.pdf
Lets Keep Small Business Working
Nearly four years after Governor Scott’s election, Florida is a much friendlier state to small businesses and the men and
women who run them. But, there is still much that can be done to ensure Floridians can pursue their dreams of a great
career and success in the Sunshine State. Throughout his time in of?ce, Governor Rick Scott has worked every day to
make Florida the premier destination to open, grow or relocate a small business. This is possible because he has focused
on creating an environment that:
• Welcomes and encourages small business innovation,
• Reduces burdensome taxes and regulations that
impede good ideas and jobs, and
• Helps small businesses expand into new markets.
Florida’s growing economy has become a model for success.
To continue our efforts to help Florida families live their
American dream, Governor Scott has proposed implementing
the Let’s Keep Small Business Working Plan to aid job growth
and innovation in small businesses.
1
Rewarding the Risk Takers and the Innovators
ESTABLI SH T HE RI SK TAKER REWARD TO CELEBRAT E I NNOVAT I ON
I N CRI T I CAL AREAS FOR FLORI DA’ S FUT URE
In 1927, Charles Lindbergh ?ew across the Atlantic
for the $25,000 Orteig Prize, paving the way for
transoceanic ?ight. Recently, the X-Prize Foundation
created an incentive to push private companies
to achieve something government agencies and
military contractors were unable to: cheaper, reusable
space ?ight. In order to bring the next generation of
entrepreneurs and industries to the state, Governor
Scott proposes the State of Florida partner with private
entities to create the Risk Taker Reward. The concept
is simple and time tested: there are problems facing
society that could be solved with technology that does
not yet exist, but is not far from creation. For issues
presenting Florida with generational challenges,
a smart incentive can ensure that the private
market handles a public problem.
3.5
11.4
6.2
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
J
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4
U
n
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m
p
l
o
y
m
e
n
t
R
a
t
e
Date
Florida Unemployment Rate
Florida Unemployment Rate
3.5
11.4
6.2
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
J
a
n
-
0
7
A
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4
U
n
e
m
p
l
o
y
m
e
n
t
R
a
t
e
Date
Florida Unemployment Rate
Florida Unemployment Rate
3.5
11.4
6.2
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
J
a
n
-
0
7
A
p
r
-
0
7
J
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l
-
0
7
O
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1
4
U
n
e
m
p
l
o
y
m
e
n
t
R
a
t
e
Date
Florida Unemployment Rate
Florida Unemployment Rate
After identifying such an opportunity for innovation, Florida can jumpstart enterprise by offering a $10 million award
—half from private sector funding—to the Florida-based entity that invents the solution, thus motivating citizens to
tackle problems facing the state. The Risk Taker Reward would push both non-pro?t and for-pro?t entities to tackle
speci?c issues with private capital, and would only be paid out if the goal was successfully accomplished. Risk Taker
Reward would only reward success, while also creating new markets and new jobs. These new markets would focus on
the challenges that Florida needs to tackle in the future, such as water supply and quality issues, transportation and
infrastructure, and medical breakthroughs in cancer and other diseases.
HOST ANNUAL BUSI NESS PLAN START- UP COMPET I T I ONS
WI T H COLLEGES & UNI VERSI T I ES T HROUGHOUT T HE STAT E
Working with Florida colleges and universities, Governor Scott proposes creating a State Matching Grant Program
to fund prizes for annual business-plan competitions throughout the state. Colleges and universities could match
state funding with private funds up to $100,000 that would be awarded to the Floridian with the winning business
plan at each institution.
These annual competitions would incentivize start-ups and innovative businesses to grow around our colleges and
universities. Working in partnership with entrepreneurship programs and business incubators would help to ensure
groundbreaking research and development happens at our universities, while also marketing and helping to create jobs
for Floridians. Competitions like these serve as a starting point for many successful entrepreneurs, and will facilitate the
meeting of great Florida ideas with the capital and expertise to make them successful, job-creating businesses.
2
Cutting Red Tape on Job Creators
REDUCE GOVERNMENT FEES ON J OB CREATORS
Governor Scott recognizes costs imposed on small
businesses from government are a signi?cant barrier for
entrepreneurs when considering opening or growing their
business. One fee that is paid annually by nearly every
small business is the corporate ?ling fee. Reducing
corporate ?ling fees and streamlining the process for
?ling not only makes Florida more welcoming to those
wishing to achieve their American Dream, but would inject
an additional $33 million into private sector job growth.
Governor Scott knows that every reduction to the cost of
doing business means more capital for investment and
growth. More money in the private sector means more job
opportunities for Floridians.
Under Charlie Crist, the state of Florida increased efforts
to collect ?nes for businesses due to late ?lings. These
?nes can be almost three times the cost of the annual
fee, even if the business was only one day late. That
approach was focused solely on generating revenue for
the state. Instead, Governor Scott believes Florida should
generate revenue by rolling out a welcome mat to new
entrepreneurs, making state ?ling fees lower and more
competitive than other states.
GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS
CUT TAXES 40 TIMES
IN 4 YEARS INCLUDING THESE
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Reduced Property Taxes for Homeowners and
Businesses by $210.5 million in 2011
Doubled Tax Exemption for Business Income
Now over 70% of Businesses are Exempt
from Paying the Business Tax
Eliminated Sales Tax on Manufacturing Equipment
SUPPORT COMMUNI T I ES I N EXPEDI T I NG
SMALL BUSI NESS PERMI T T I NG
AND LI CENSI NG
Since Governor Scott was elected, Florida’s regulatory climate
for small business has dramatically improved. Customer
service at Florida agencies is an at all-time high, duplicative
government agencies and regulations have been eliminated,
and a mission to foster, rather than red tape, the creation
of small businesses and jobs runs throughout our state.
Immediately upon his election, Governor Scott created the
Of?ce of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform, which
has worked to ensure proposed and existing agency rules and
regulations do not impede the growth of small businesses
and jobs in Florida. Because of these efforts, Floridians have
nearly 3,000 fewer burdensome regulations today than they
did four years ago. Additionally, agencies like the Department
of Business and Professional Regulation that interact with
small businesses each day have improved their operations
and cut bureaucratic red tape to achieve average license
turnaround times as low as 1.74 days.
Given this experience, Governor Scott proposes creating
a Florida Small Business Ready Team to assist local
governments that want to follow the state’s efforts in
becoming friendlier to new and existing businesses. This team
would be available to cities and counties looking to eliminate
duplicative requirements on small businesses, share process
improvements to speed up the turnaround time for local
permits, and help to develop analytical tools to evaluate the
cost-bene?t implications of potential new regulations.
3
Going Global – Moving Florida Products All Over the World
HELP FLORI DA BUSI NESS EXPAND I NTO NEW MARKET S T HROUGH EDUCAT I ON
AND I NCREASED EXPORT MARKET I NG
Over the past quarter century, the world has become smaller
and more connected. The same is true for the potential of
small businesses. Today, Florida small businesses are not just
shipping their products to New York, but also to New Delhi, and
are able to connect with customers in California as easily as
those in Calcutta. This drastic change in the global economy
has given Floridians opportunities in new markets across the
world. The challenge for many small businesses is ?nding and
entering into agreements within these new markets. Throughout
his time in of?ce, Governor Scott has been on the cutting edge
of marketing Florida, and its small businesses,
to new customers.
www.RickScottforFlorida.com
Political Advertisement Paid For
and Approved By Rick Scott,
Republican, For Governor.
Governor Scott knows that businesses need information and resources to help them grow, and he supports empowering
small businesses in Florida to compete internationally by increasing the state’s investment in export marketing programs.
Currently, through Enterprise Florida, the state offers businesses the opportunity to grow into new markets through export
counseling, grants to small businesses to participate in export trade missions, and offers international trade leads to
Florida companies. Governor Scott proposes doubling funding from the current year budget for these programs to help
more small businesses expand internationally. The increased funding would require a return on investment for all Florida
taxpayers in increased job creation and economic activity.
Additionally, the Governor proposes the creation of an annual New Markets Expo. This Expo would bring together experts
to offer advice and assistance to small businesses interested in learning how to grow into new markets around the world.
Many international consulates and businesses have already seen the opportunity in Florida ports. Our goal is to bring
together these players to help the state’s small businesses grow and create new jobs.
MARKET T HE STAT E’ S BUSI NESS BRAND TO ENCOURAGE
RELOCAT I ON OF ADDI T I ONAL SMALL BUSI NESSES
Florida offers the perfect climate for business, and
Governor Scott has worked tirelessly to expand
that message to business communities across
the globe. Capitalizing on the success of Florida’s
?rst-ever business marketing plan, Governor Scott
will continue his aggressive efforts to encourage job
creators to relocate their operations to Florida.
Over the last four years, Governor Scott’s approach
to recruiting businesses, large and small, has
yielded thousands of job opportunities, and there is
room for even greater small business growth.
During the ?rst quarter of 2014, Florida welcomed
its highest number of visitors in a quarter ever.
Learning from Florida’s record-breaking tourism
marketing programs, the state needs to employ
similar strategies to ensure that not only tourists
think of Florida, but anyone looking to build a small
business. By leveraging the expertise of Visit Florida
and Enterprise Florida, Governor Scott proposes
advertising the state all over the world as a willing
partner to facilitate opportunities to open and grow a small business. This approach will bolster our efforts to become
a haven for new enterprise and jobs and change the way people think about Florida by supplementing our efforts with
a robust marketing plan built around Florida’s small business strengths.
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