The Florida Eight

The Central Florida Partnership will lead a newly created Regional Business Team.

by Jacob V. Stuart
President
Central Florida Partnership

 

At the Open for Business regional business summit on June 15, Jacob Stuart, president of the Central Florida Partnership, announced an exciting new initiative being launched by the state of Florida, through Workforce Florida Inc., designed to serve Florida’s Workforce System.

The state plan calls for the formation of Eight Regional Business Teams (RBTs) to coordinate the creation, launch and management of region-based, state-connected strategy and action to drive job and business retention. Called The Florida Eight, this effort will focus on regional markets, global customers, great service and economic vitality for employers.

And, as it turns out, the Central Florida Partnership will be an integral part of the process.

Recently, the Central Florida Partnership’s application to lead the East Central Region was approved, said Stuart, “giving us a chance to extend the work already completed by Open for Business — the Central Florida Coalition for Growth & Prosperity,” which focused on addressing the regulatory and government barriers impacting business growth in the region. Stuart added that the effort will also involve working closely with members of the Open for Business organizing committee and the Central Florida Congress of Regional Leaders.

Similar Regional Business Teams will be designated across Florida, encompassing the North Central, Northeast, Northwest, South Central, Southeast, Southwest and Tampa Bay regions.

The eight Regional Business Teams will be designated as collaborative partners, and the project will directly support Gov. Rick Scott’s economic 7–7–7 Plan, designed to leverage regional resources to attract, retain and grow businesses. The RBT effort will be staffed by Fairfield Index Inc., with Gary Beal, administrative project assistant at the company, serving as the liaison with Workforce Florida.

In the months ahead, the RBTs will gather team members, identify mutual and exclusive roles and responsibilities, and seek and secure the right approaches, tools and resources to get the job done. By convening regional workforce boards, primary economic development organizations, colleges and universities, business alliances, chambers of commerce, and other business development and business climate organizations, along with others, the RBTs will ensure inclusiveness and regionwide impact and participation, Stuart said.

 

Tags: central florida partnership, Workforce