New state law kills Enterprise Florida

Contracts, programs will move to renamed commerce agency

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday signed a bill that will eliminate Enterprise Florida, the state's business-recruitment agency, and announced that J. Alex Kelly will serve as the new commerce secretary.

The bill (HB 5), a priority of House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, will shift contracts and more than 20 programs to the Department of Economic Opportunity, which will be renamed the Department of Commerce.

Efforts to kill Enterprise by leaders of the Florida House go back several years. In 2017, the agency drew fire for signing a $1 million contract with Miami rapper Pitbull to promote the state.

A news release from DeSantis' office described the changes as an effort “to streamline and modernize Florida's economic development agencies.” DeSantis was in Iowa on Wednesday campaigning for the GOP nomination for president.

Kelly, who has served as deputy chief of staff to DeSantis, will lead the revamped Department of Commerce. Kelly has worked in DeSantis' office since April 2021 after two years as chief of staff at the Florida Department of Education.

Meredith Ivey has been acting secretary of the Department of Economic Opportunity since Dane Eagle stepped down on Dec. 30. Ivey had been chief of staff at the department, following stints as deputy director of communications for DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida.

The bill signed Wednesday also will repeal other incentive-related programs, including the Office of Film and Entertainment. The renamed Department of Commerce will pick up 20 positions and $10 million a year as part of the shift.

The bill also will designate the Visit Florida tourism-marketing agency and the Florida Sports Foundation as “direct-support organizations” under the Department of Commerce.

The two agencies will have to enter agreements with the department to continue existing programs.