POPULATION: 18,328,340 (2008)

LABOR FORCE: 9,231,462

RIGHT TO WORK: Yes

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES: Electronics and electronic equipment, printing and publishing, fabricated metals, industrial machinery and equipment, lumber and wood products, business services, tourism, agriculture

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: Clean energy, life sciences, infotech, aviation/aerospace, homeland security/defense

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 25.8%

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Income Tax: 5.5 percent on apportioned income basis; $5,000 exemption subtracted to compare net Florida taxable income; S-corporations (with exemptions) and partnerships pay no state corporate income tax on earnings

Sales Tax: 6 percent; county option of 0–2.5 percent; current highest state and county tax: 7.5 percent Property Tax: Locally fixed rates at fair market value on real and tangible personal property; no state levy on real and tangible property

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:
Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund (QTI)
High-Impact Performance Incentive grants (HIPI)
Qualified Defense and Space Contractor Tax Refund (QDSC)
Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC)
Quick Response Training (QRT)
Incumbent Worker Training (IWT)
Economic Development Transportation Fund (Road Fund or EDTF)
Semiconductor, Defense, and Space Technology sales and use tax exemptions (SDST)
Sales and use tax exemption on machinery and equipment
Sales and use tax exemption on on R&D equipment
Sales Tax exemption on electricity and steam
Tax exemptions within the aviation and space industries
Rural & Urban Job Tax Credit Program
Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Program
Rural Infrastructure Fund
Brownfield Redevelopment Bonus Refund
Enterprise Zone Job Tax Credit Program
Expedited and online permitting
Venture capital network development
Incubators and accelerators
Florida Manufacturing Extension Program