Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Hires New Chief

Former Miami banking executive is now the new Chief at the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). He is charged with establishing and promoting the State of Florida as the top business climate in the south. Click on the link to read the full afrticle http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/120426/story3.shtml

Marlynn Consulting Group - Finalist for The Chamber Awards Start Up Business of the Year Award

Chamber Awards Finalists Announced During its Thursday night reception, hosted by Capital City Bank, the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce announced the following finalists for the 2012 Chamber Awards. Awards Finalists: Health & Wellness Business of the Year Award North Florida Women's Care Premier Health & Fitness Center Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic Manufacturing Business of the Year Award Danfoss Turbocor Compressors, Inc. Syn-Tech Systems, Inc. TeligentEMS, LLC Non Profit/Association of the Year Award Sponsored By: Thomas Howell Ferguson, PA 2-1-1- Big Bend, Inc. Big Bend Hospice Goodwill Industries of the Big Bend, Inc. Service Industry Business of the Year Award Hopping Green & Sams, P.A. Redwire, LLC Rogers, Gunter, Vaughn Insurance, Inc. Start Up Business of the Year Award Kind Intelligence Marlynn Consulting Group, LLC Tallahassee Grapevine Marketing, LLC Technology Business of the Year Award Electronet Broadband Communications Taproot Creative Technology Service Group Chamber Awards Luncheon Support your clients, local business and Chamber members by attending The Chamber Awards, on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the University Center Club. Individual tickets are $45 or tables can be purchased for $500. REGISTER HERE Presented By:

Darden gets approval for its first QTI payment

Congratulations Darden!!

Thanks to the Economic Recovery Extension (ERE), Darden was able to extend its QTI job requirements until the economy picked up.  As a result of the extension, Darden's QTI project agreement was not terminated.  The State allowed them to extend the job creation portion of the agreement by two years.  Today, Darden's 2011 QTI claim hass been approved for a $210,187 QTI refund payment.  Had the State not granted the ERE, Darden may not have had the incentive to begin hiring again.  With Florida's unemployment still at a high rate, it is awesome news when an existing Florida business is given an opportunity to reduce some of its costs.  If you think of it, this payment should encourage Darden to begin hiring its next phase of employees.

Click on the link below to see the full article in the Orlando Sentinel.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-05/business/os-darden-new-jobs-20120405_1_darden-restaurants-tax-incentives-olive-garden

Gov. Rick Scott signs billion-dollar business incentives plan into law - Tampa Bay Times

Gov. Rick Scott signs billion-dollar business incentives plan into law - Tampa Bay Times

Get Up to $50,000 While Improving Your Staff's Work skills

I recently read an article entitled, "Economic experts recommend nurturing homegrown businesses" (http://bit.ly/zStIbN) written by Jeff Burlow, highlighting the Economic Development Forum in Tallahassee.

The Tallahassee Economic Development Council (EC) hosted a panel of experts Marty Reid, Thomas Henry and Dean Barber who discussed a number of issues related to economic development. A major topic was ways to focus on and meet the needs of local businsses already operating in the Tallahassee community. One suggestion for retaining and growing existing local businesses was training. Beth Kirkland of the (EDC) indicated that the major takeaway from the meeting was the importance of a skilled workforce. Jim Murdaugh of Tallahassee Community College (TCC) highlighted that there are jobs available and people who need those jobs, but he admitted that there is somehow a huge gap between the two. This gap, he believes exists because of the need to provide appropriate skills to Florida's workforce.

With that said, it should also be noted that Florida's businesses have numerous opportunties to improve their employees' work skills. Through the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grant, a for-profit business may recoup up to 75% of its training costs within a 12 month period. For example, an IT company that provides continuing education for its employees may qualify for an IWT award up to $50,000. This is GREAT news for businesses who need to train their employees.

Other benefits of participating in skills upgrade training are:

• Increased productivity
• Reduced employee turnovers
• Increase revenues

I understand that many companies are not taking advantage of these training grants, because they are unaware that these grants exist. If you have a client or know of a colleague who actively trains its employees, please pass along this information. You could potentially save them 50 -75 percent of their training costs.