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Dubai Airshow Produces More Than $17 million in Export Sales for Florida

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Enterprise Florida’s (EFI) staff-led trade mission to the Dubai Airshow last year produced more than $17 million in export commitments for the seven small and mid-sized companies in attendance. The show, held November 12-16 in Dubai, is the leading aerospace event in the Middle East.

“Florida’s strong foundation of aviation and aerospace companies continues to make the state a world leader,” said Manny Mencia, EFI’s VP for International Trade. “The state is home to nearly 2,200 companies in this sector; most are small and medium-sized businesses. Trade shows like the Dubai event allow those companies to exhibit their products and services to a global audience and, ultimately, grow through export sales.”

Florida has long been the world’s premier gateway to space; a hub for flight training; the global leader in maintenance, repair and overhaul; and home to leading manufacturers of all types of aircraft and aircraft components. The state has a robust supply chain and talent pool benefiting industry leaders like Boeing, Embraer, Harris Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and many more that have major operations here.

Seven aerospace and aviation companies exhibited their products and services at EFI’s Florida Pavilion including:

Phil Cox, sales director for Loos & Co., Inc. said, “This was the first time Loos & Co could exhibit in Dubai. We are a relatively small company and, without the trade grant, we would not have been able to exhibit. Thanks to our excellent location provided by Enterprise Florida, we were able to contact new customers and new markets previously unavailable to us. We have several promising new prospects who are very interested in distributing our products in the Middle East.” 

“Participating in events such as the Dubai Airshow gives us an opportunity to meet with both current customers as well as potential new customers in a controlled business environment,” said Dennis Zalupski, CEO of Associated Aircraft Manufacturing & Sales, Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale. “Rather than having to travel to each and every country, this gives us a cost-effective way to meet with a large number of potential clients in a short period of time. If it weren’t for Enterprise Florida and the support we get from them, I doubt we could afford to participate in most of the big aviation shows.”

EFI maintains an extensive schedule of overseas trade missions and exhibitions worldwide. In fiscal year 2016-17, more than 500 small and mid-sized Florida businesses reported $738 million in total export sales following international events. 

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Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) is a partnership between Florida’s businesses and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for Florida. EFI facilitates job growth through recruitment and retention, international trade and exporting, promotion of sporting events, and capital funding programs to assist small and minority businesses. EFI launched “Florida – The Future is Here” to promote the state as the nation’s premier business destination.

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Governor’s SB 106 Veto a Win for Small Business

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Statement on Gov. Scott’s veto of SB106 by Tim Nungesser, National Federation of Independent Business/Florida’s Legislative Director:
“This bill would have decimated small locally owned liquor stores. Though proponents claimed this was a free market bill, it was nothing more than an attempt to use the statute to corner the market on liquor.
“Governor Scott stood up for small business tonight by vetoing the Whiskey and Wheaties bill.”

Small Business Announces 2017 Legislative Agenda

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The National Federation of Independent Business/Florida today announced its 2017 Legislative Priorities, with workers’ comp reform, business tax relief, tort reform and modernizing healthcare leading the agenda.

“Remedying the broken workers’ comp system is our top legislative priority,” said Bill Herrle, NFIB/Florida Executive Director. “When the Florida Supreme Court invalidated the cap on attorneys’ fees in workers’ comp cases, small business owners’ rates went through the roof, along with trial attorneys’ returns. The proposal we’ve brought forth along with our friends in the business community will require each party to pay their own attorneys’ fees, and it creates a public records exemption for injured workers’ to limit trial attorneys from preying on injured workers. This heeds the Court’s guidance while stemming the skyrocketing rates.”

NFIB is also focusing on cutting the business rent tax for small business owners.

“It’s time to give small business owners some tax relief on their business leases,” Herrle said. “Florida is the only state that charges this tax, and it directly impedes business owners’ abilities to hire more employees, offer more benefits, or grow their business.”

Among NFIB’s other top priorities is passing direct primary care legislation, which will lower healthcare costs and increase healthcare access for businesses and their employees. Small business will also be addressing the oppressive lawsuit abuse that plagues the small business community.

“The threat of increased liability exposure has never been greater for small business owners,” Herrle said. “We’re seeing a surge in pro-trial lawyer legislation, and we’ll be fighting to protect small business owners from everything from the increased litigation costs that will result from prejudgment interest legislation, to the creation of even more new causes of action through which business owners can be sued.”

Click here for NFIB’s full 2017 Legislative Agenda.

NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C., and all 50 states. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists sends their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. http://www.nfib.com/florida/

Governor Scott Awards Small Business Javi’s Salsa with Business Ambassador Award

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During a meeting of the Florida Cabinet today, Governor Rick Scott recognized Javi’s Salsa with the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award. President and founder, Javier Nava, started the family owned business with his wife and children in the Tampa Bay area. Javi’s Salsa is now distributed to stores throughout Florida.

Governor Scott said, “I’m proud to recognize Javi’s Salsa with the Business Ambassador Award. We work hard to cut taxes so we can make Florida a great place for small businesses like Javi’s Salsa to succeed.”

President and Founder of Javi’s Salsa, Javier Nava, said, “It’s an honor to be receive the Business Ambassador Award from Governor Scott. My family and I started Javi’s Salsa based on my mother’s recipe, and it’s great to carry on a family tradition and share with others throughout the state. I’m grateful for our success so far, and I look forward to continuing our growth in Florida.”

For more information on Javi’s Salsa, click HERE.