GOVERNOR CRIST TOURS PORT, WORKFORCE CENTER IN TAMPA
~~ ~Highlights Port of Tampa’s success, Florida’s international trade~ ~~
January 29, 2009
Contact:
GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394
TAMPA – Continuing his focus on strengthening Florida’s economy, Governor Charlie Crist today toured the Port of Tampa and visited the Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance, the workforce center serving Hillsborough County. Governor Crist highlighted the port’s success as an example of Florida’s growing strength in international trade and continued tourism success.
“Florida’s international trade has remained strong, in spite of challenges in other business sectors,” Governor Crist said. “Now, more than ever, we are focused on creating an atmosphere where both new and established business ventures have the opportunity to grow here in Florida and internationally and create more jobs for Floridians.”
One of Florida’s 14 public deepwater seaports and its largest steel port, the Port of Tampa has developed into a major steel-processing and distribution center for products such as pipe, coils, wire rod and scrap. Automobiles, as well as high and heavy construction equipment, are handled at the port. Refrigerated cargoes such as citrus and melons move through dockside cold-storage facilities. Forest products, project-specific cargoes and heavy-lift pieces are among the port’s specialties.
While visiting the Tampa Bay WorkForce Alliance, the Governor applauded the workforce center for its efforts in helping Tampa Bay Area residents find jobs and get job training. The Governor also encouraged businesses, organizations and educational institutions seeking to hire talented workers to list available positions on the Employ Florida Marketplace at EmployFlorida.com, the state’s powerful job matching and talent bank tool. There is no charge to businesses or job seekers for the services available on the Marketplace.
Governor Crist recently visited workforce centers in Leon, Brevard and Osceola counties. Earlier this week, Governor Crist signed a balanced 2008-09 budget that preserves the state’s $28.9-million investment in education, including $15 million in general revenue for career education programs that lead to employment.
Florida’s International Trade
International trade was Florida’s strongest economic sector in 2008 and continued to drive the United States and Florida economy in spite of an economic downturn. Specifically, Florida-origin exports increased 23.6 percent through November 2008, far exceeding the nation’s export growth of 14.1 percent. Florida ranks fifth among the states in exports, yet Florida’s export growth outpaced the four top states (Texas, California, New York and Washington).
Other indicators of Florida’s international trade success include the following:
• Florida trade reached $114.9 billion in 2007, with waterborne international trade accounting for nearly two-thirds of it. Through November 2008, trade was $121.2 billion, up 15.5 percent over previous year.
• Of the 2007 $114.9-billion total, 48.7 percent were imports and 51.3 percent were exports, creating a $3 billion trading surplus. Florida’s strong waterborne export trade with its neighbors to the south is the primary reason for a more balanced import-export proportion than the national picture of 62.7 percent imports to 37.3 percent exports.
• Florida-origin exports were $50.4 billion through November 2008, which exceeds 2007’s year-end total of $44.8 billion and is a 23.6-percent growth over the previous year.
• Florida is the third largest exporter of high-tech goods in the United States, at more than $13.3 billion in 2007. High-tech goods include motor cars and vehicles; turbojets, turbopropellers, turbines and parts; medical, surgical and dental instruments; and electronic integrated circuits.
Florida’s Tourism Industry
The balanced budget signed by Governor Crist earlier this week also preserved the state’s $22.2-million investment in programs essential to job creation and protecting Florida’s tourism industry, including $4.6 million in general revenue for VISIT FLORIDA’s promotion of Florida as a vacation and business travel destination.
“The Sunshine State continues to be a destination for millions of vacationers, who come from around the globe to enjoy our beaches, recreation parks and natural beauty,” said Governor Crist. “An investment in marketing and other efforts to promote Florida to visitors is a wise one that will have long-term benefits for our economy.”
• According to Cruise Lines International Association, Florida accounted for 54 percent of all cruise embarkations from the United States in 2007. Four of the top 10 United States cruise ports were in Florida, with Port of Tampa ranking tenth and 367,000 passengers embarking.
• In 2007, 84.5 million visitors traveled to Florida. Tourism generated $65.5 billion in direct economic impact in 2007, comprised 19 percent of Florida’s total taxable sales, and returned $3.9 billion to state government in the form of sales taxes in 2007.
For more information about Florida’s workforce-system partners including Workforce Florida, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, 24 regional workforce boards and more than 80 One-Stop Centers that provide employment and training services and resources to businesses, workers and job seekers, go to www.EmployFlorida.com.