Economic Development Priorities:  Immediate Needs

1. Life Science Funding: Support legislation that will foster a favorable environment for bio tech and other life science companies, including: full funding in the 2010-11 budget, and as needed going forward in future budgets, for the University of Central Florida (UCF) and Florida International University (FIU) Colleges of Medicine; full funding for the Facilities Matching Grants Program; and UCF’s request for funding for life science academic programs and research.
   
   
2. Enterprise Florida Funding, Incentives: Support Enterprise Florida (EFI) funding, including key incentive programs that focus on attracting and retaining businesses, such as:  EFI operations, including marketing; Florida’s Economic Development Transportation Fund (Road Fund); Florida’s Economic Development TOOL KIT, including funding the Innovation Incentive, Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program (QTI), and Qualified Defense Contractors Tax Refund Program (QDC); incentives and programs targeted to developers or manufacturers of alternative energy/green building technology and equipment; Florida’s Quick Action Closing Fund (QAC); the Urban Job Tax Credit program; and the Quick Response Training Program (QRT).   Other support items:  Support Space Florida’s retention and development efforts; efforts to secure sustainable funding for economic development operations statewide; and the economic development legislative efforts of Enterprise Florida, the Florida Chamber, the Florida Economic Development Council, and BioFlorida.
   
   
3. Research & Development Funding and Retention: Support a strategy that advances the investment in universities as the foundation for Florida's economic recovery.  This includes investments in technology transfer, incubation, life sciences research and development, graduate support and targeted degree production.
   
   
4. Economic Gardening: Building on recent efforts, support legislation funding and enhancing state-wide economic gardening efforts, including technical assistance and business loans.
   
   
5. Medical Device Pedigree Fix: Support legislation that will eliminate the duplication of effort and potentially conflicting permitting and regulation requirements for medical device manufacturers currently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Economic Development Priority Items – Additional Needs

1. Research & Development Tax Credit: Through formal alliances with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, and others, endorse the creation of a Florida R&D Tax Credit to improve the state’s business climate for growth-generating R&D activity.
   
   
2. Florida Research Commercialization Matching Grant Program: Through formal alliances with the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, and others, support the Florida Research Commercialization Matching Grant program to accelerate the commercialization of advanced technologies and create successful start-up companies in Florida.  

Further Building Florida’s Future

1. Workforce Initiatives, Incentives:  Support legislation that will provide funding for the enrollment growth of the Florida College System in order to ensure student access and meet workforce needs.  Also, support the 2+2 Direct Connect program between the University of Central Florida and Brevard Community College, Lake-Sumter Community College, Seminole State College, and Valencia Community College, including funding for joint use facilities.  Support matching programs for the Florida College System, including the Florida College System’s Facilities Enhancement Challenge Grant Program and the Philip Benjamin Matching Program.
   
   
2. Cost and Benefit Analysis of Legislation: Support legislation that authorizes the presiding officers of the House and Senate to request special impact sessions of the Revenue Estimating Conference to consider cost and benefit analysis of legislation.
   
   
3. Trauma Center Funding:  Support legislation providing funding for Level One Trauma Centers via citations from camera-based traffic enforcement programs, consistent with what is already in place from fines collected for red light running violations through other mediums, providing that the operating entity first receives sufficient revenue to cover the cost of the program.