Economic development

A Florida House of Representatives committee considered House Bill 7005 and just voted to kill Enterprise Florida and substantially reduce funding for Visit Florida. I appeared before the committee to testify against the legislation as both entities are critical to the future growth and economic success of Florida.

It is true that both programs have had made some serious mistakes and used poor judgment in the past in some matters, but that does not mean that the programs are not worthwhile.

We need Enterprise Florida to compete with other states for attracting new businesses to bring high-paying manufacturing and technology jobs. We cannot build a strong economy with low-paying service jobs.

We also need Visit Florida to help promote Florida as a destination to help many small businesses that do not have the funds to advertise in other states.

The shame of all this is that the proposed budget for Enterprise Florida is less than fourtenths of a percent of the budget and even before reducing the proposed budget for Visit Florida it is less than onetenth of a percent of the entire state budget. Rather than addressing the issues, which were partially caused by loosely written legislation years ago, the current approach seems to be a knee-jerk reaction, rather than a thoughtful analysis and better legislation and proper funding.

We should not be throwing the baby out with the bath water. We also cannot afford national news that says: “Florida is closed for business.” Jerry E. Pierce

Chairman of Restaurant Equipment World Orlando

Former chairman of National Federation of Independent Business of Florida