something is good for business
tommyIn Florida, property tax, property insurance, and energy costs are soaring through the roof. That’s gotta kill the economy, huh?
A year ago, Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater was named the 9th best large city to do business, by Inc. Magazine. A year later, we have dropped to number 11.
Florida cities make up three of the top eight, and eleven of the top thirty in cities of all sizes. Florida is overwhelmingly the best state for business. Just look at the map.
Again, the survey measures growth of non-farm jobs. Another report says Florida has the fastest rate of job growth in the tech sector. All of which tells you that in spite of the rise in some costs, a bunch of companies still find Florida a great deal in which to do business.
Tags: business, economy, Florida, ranks, tampa, tech
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April 24th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I hate to rain on your parade, but I must disagree with you here. Yes, Florida may still be a great place for business. However, it’s increasingly becoming a rotten place to live. Taxes are up, water shortages are common, land is at a premium, and the economy’s not the best. So many people wanted a taste of our Paradise that they’ve bitten off too much and left us with too little. We now even pay to visit our own beaches, and pay a premium, at that.
Florida is a “Right to Work” state, which means that we are used, abused, drained by employers and easily discarded. I am happy that I own my own business, and I never exploited my employees, but there are so many businesses that do.
We pay high taxes, because the vast majority of businesses DON’T. We give them corporate welfare to entice them to come here and take advantage of us. Something is wrong in the balance.
Until we begin addressing our quality of living and worker’s rights, businesses will be forced to leave. Because, you see, quality businesses need quality workers. And both are in decline.
April 25th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
What the report doesn’t say is that most of Florida’s job growth is in the lower-paying service industry. I’m not sure that the increased housekeeping or restaurant service jobs qualifies Florida as a best place to do business. Wages still lag behind all of the top states and the education system here annually ranks in the 40s by any standard of measurement. Not that taxes are getting out of hand, our ranking is sure to continue to drop.
July 10th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Response to Good for Business. Don’t leave out all the good, cheap little Cuban restaurants in West Tampa. A few of the best: El Gayo de Oro on Armenia; Arco Iris on Columbus and the West Tampa Sandwich Shop on Armenia. Best Devil Crabs and Cuban sandwiches: Michelle Faedo’s on 15th Street near Lake Ave.