EXCLUSIVE: If you build it, they will come.
That very sentiment is taking root across Florida’s sun-drenched landscape, as a calculated collaboration between private enterprise and state leadership pushes the Sunshine State towards a modern manufacturing boom.
“We now know Florida is the 14th largest economy in the world. And everyone thinks that Florida is agriculture, tourism and construction. And we’re fortunate to have those industries, but Florida started diversifying its economy about 25 years ago, into life sciences, aerospace, rockets, and of course, manufacturing,” Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson exclusively told Fox News Digital. “Manufacturing is a non-negotiable key component.”
“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has really been at the forefront of re-shoring and on-shoring manufacturing,” FloridaCommerce Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer Jason Mahon also told Fox News Digital.
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“We’ve actually had larger gains than any of the traditional manufacturing states, which mostly have declined. We’ve become a top 10 manufacturing state. We’ve actually grown in terms of our GDP in manufacturing by 60%. So we’ve gone from $54.4 billion to $87.4 billion in manufacturing output,” Mahon said. “So really, I think the tale is in the numbers that the free state of Florida, we’re bringing in manufacturers, they’re finding great opportunities here, great workforce here, and we’re really thriving as a result.”
Florida’s gross domestic product (GDP) now exceeds $1.8 trillion, surpassing countries like Spain, Mexico and Australia. State business leadership is executing a targeted campaign to break into the global top 10 economies by 2030, while simultaneously reaching a top five national ranking in manufacturing employment, requiring 750,000 net new jobs.
Two of those private sector businesses hoping to help Florida reach those goals are Naples-based medical device company Arthrex and St. Augustine-based aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman. Both are the finalists for the Florida Chamber and FloridaCommerce’s annual “Coolest Thing Made in Florida” competition, for which the winner will be announced Oct. 28.
“What makes the state of Florida so unique, and for developing and manufacturing military products, is that we have a great infrastructure. We have the resources available, we have the skills available, and then we have the partnership with the state to allow us to continue to develop and grow,” Northrop Grumman Vice President and site leader Randy Bradley told Fox News Digital while detailing their E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft used primarily by the U.S. Navy. “For Northrop Grumman, for example, we have over 8,000 employees in the state of Florida, and we have three primary locations.”
“The TightRope PRO is a great example of advanced manufacturing happening right here in Florida. The product was designed, prototyped, tested and manufactured in our state. It takes highly skilled engineers, machinists, manufacturing professionals and operating teams to bring a device like this to market,” Arthrex director of foot, ankle and trauma product management Michael Karnes said of the company’s finalist product.
“These are not traditional tourism or hospitality jobs. These are high-tech, high-skill careers that support innovation and manufacturing growth,” Karnes continued. “The success of Florida’s economy depends on having a diverse mix of industries, and advanced manufacturing is an important part of that future.”
Part of what makes Florida attractive to new residents and companies is that it’s one of nine states in the U.S. that does not impose individual state income tax, and according to the Florida Policy Institute, between 99% and 99.9% of businesses anchored there owe zero state corporate income tax. Even for C-corporations that are subject to the tax, Florida offers a standard $50,000 exemption on net income.
Additionally, state leaders have passed tax-cutting measures every year since 2011 that include phasing out and repealing the business rent tax, expanding corporate exemptions and enacting permanent sales tax holidays. Mahon noted how industrial projects can move from groundbreaking to production in under six months — a timeline virtually unattainable in higher-tax, traditional manufacturing hubs in the Rust Belt or on the West Coast.
“Our main goal here is to support those manufacturers,” Mahon said. “So what we do is we try to help them go through that process at the local level, at the state level, what they need and help them get there.”
Mahon argued that Florida’s approach allows manufacturers to get operations off the ground much faster than in states with more regulatory hurdles, pointing to projects that have gone from the planning stages to production in just six months or less.
“And we’ve worked on projects that are up and running within that timeframe, sometimes even faster, right? From nothing, to, they’re producing something here in Florida.”
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Wilson echoed that sentiment, arguing that businesses and wealthy individuals are increasingly gravitating toward states with lower taxes and fewer regulations, rather than remaining in states like New York, California and Illinois.
“And so capital goes where capital’s loved and where capital is welcomed,” Wilson said.
He pointed to billionaire Ken Griffin and a recently announced $3 billion investment as examples of how Florida’s business-friendly policies are attracting major investors.
“These are the kinds of things that happen when entrepreneurs and investors know that Florida is open for business, and we want people here.”
“I relocated here 13 years ago… I love the quality of the life,” Bradley reflected, adding that Florida’s beaches, rivers, recreation, and affordable living make the state one of the most attractive in the nation.
“My dollar goes a lot further here than other parts of the country I’ve lived. So I think those are the things that… make this state a partner for us. I mean, it’s easy to attract the talent and maintain it when you offer such a great quality of life and affordability of the state.”
“Arthrex continues to invest in Southwest Florida because it’s where Arthrex was founded and where many of our core innovation manufacturing and distribution operations are located. Florida’s business-friendly environment supports continued growth and investment here in Collier County,” Karnes added. “For us, it’s more than just about cost. It’s about maintaining control of the quality of our products that surgeons use every single day in the United States [and] supporting their patient care. We’re deeply invested in this community and committed to creating opportunities in advanced manufacturing in Florida for years to come.”
According to Mahon, the current administration has poured $12 billion directly into workforce education, focusing on critical industrial trades like precision machining, electrical, welding and pipe-fitting. Data tracked by the Economic Policy Institute shows that every 100 direct manufacturing jobs that produce durable goods — aerospace, semiconductors and advanced electronics — sustain 744.1 indirect jobs, with FloridaCommerce finding that average annual wages within state-designated target industries such as advanced manufacturing reach $107,261.
“When you look at our growth in manufacturing, a lot of that is due to the fact that we have so many highly skilled individuals already here. So we’re going to continue to look at, how do we help them get into those careers, access those careers? In fact, I think we need to keep investing in those strategic opportunities for our employees because you look at the competition, right? So if we’re going to have more manufacturing, and they’re all going to be drawing from a similar pool of people that have these skills in things like electrical and welding and pipe fitting, we just need to continue to grow those pipelines,” Mahon explained, adding that his focus is on making sure Floridians have access to high-wage, high-skilled jobs.
“Manufacturing is one of the most leverageable careers that we have. And in Florida, manufacturing jobs’ median wages are over $82,000 a year,” Wilson expanded. “And so I think when you look at the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Florida’ competition that we have, it’s about getting the middle schoolers and high schoolers [interested], and saying, ‘Hey, we need more skilled trades. Manufacturing jobs and skilled trade jobs are not only cool jobs, they’re high-paying jobs,’ and you can raise a family, and you could do quite well in Florida with those kinds of jobs.”
“We want students to see that they can build rewarding careers right here in Southwest Florida,” Karnes said. “They don’t need to leave the region to find that opportunity. That’s how you keep families together and strengthen our local communities for years to come. We’re continuing to invest in education, workforce development… and innovation will be critical to these goals.
“Florida’s business-friendly environment and growing talent pipeline… will position the state for many years of success…”
“From Northrop Grumman’s perspective, we’re doing a lot of goodness here. We’re investing to grow. We see a great future,” Bradley added. “For the state itself, having the Space Coast and flying off a rocket every week almost, really sets this state apart as far as the technology, and we really want to grow in the aerospace and space industries. So I see a bright future for the state when it comes to that.”
As the Florida Chamber and FloridaCommerce prepare to crown the state’s manufacturing champion, their economic leaders view the competition as more than a ceremonial showcase, but as a shift reflected directly in conversations with out-of-state corporate leaders weighing where to build their next facility.
“It’s our pro-business economy. It’s that we have a desire and the mindset that we’re going to help these businesses grow here and help them navigate whatever they need to navigate, whether that’s in their workforce, whether that’s in infrastructure, supply chain, permitting at the local level. And so that’s what we’re hearing consistently,” Mahon said.
“Florida is the safest, most consistent place in the United States for that investment,” Wilson argued. “And we would encourage them to consider relocating here so that we can help America lead, and Florida is going to show the way.”
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