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Innovation Day at the
Capital
April 17-18, 2006
Tallahassee
ITFlorida, in conjunction with Enterprise
Florida and the Florida Research Consortium,
hosted a series of events in Tallahassee in
support of efforts to strengthen and diversify Florida’s knowledge economy. These events were an excellent opportunity
for the high tech community to voice support before Legislators for the
benefits of the Governor’s $630 million Innovation agenda. Also, ITFlorida hosted an Idearaiser, the mechanism that the next three Speakers of
the House have implemented to document innovative ideas that can affect the
future and everyday lives of Floridians, without unnecessarily expanding
government.
April 17, 2006
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Idearaiser – Hosted by Reps. Holly Benson, Juan Zapata, and Dave Murzin
The Capitol, Room 320
450 South Monroe Street
ITFlorida met with state representatives to discuss the role of
technology in Florida’s
developing knowledge economy. Idearaisers are
being conducted throughout the state to generate ideas according to the
following framework:
·
First, our ideas
should speak to the real hopes and the real anxieties of real Floridians.
They must be relevant to their day-to-day lives.
·
Second, our ideas
should be about tomorrow. Every single
idea should make Florida
a better place to live and work – not just for us here today, but for our
children 20 years from now – and their children as well.
·
Third, these ideas
shouldn’t expand government’s role.
April 18, 2006
7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast with the
Lieutenant Governor
Tallahassee Community College Capital
Center
136 West Pensacola Street
Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings spoke to the ITFlorida, Enterprise Florida,
and Florida Research Consortium representatives who were making visits
throughout the day in support of the Innovation Economy legislation. The TCC Capital
Center is located at
the Mary Brogan Museum
behind City Hall and one block from the Capitol.
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Legislative Visits
The Capitol
450 South Monroe Street
ITFlorida met with Representatives and Senators to reinforce the
benefits of the Innovation Economy legislation.
Background
information: in January, Governor Jeb
Bush proposed an infusion of
$630 million dollars into Florida’s
Innovation Economy. The overall plan
was separated into several different legislative components.
Innovation
Incentive Fund
$250 million to create the Florida Innovation
Incentive Fund to enable Florida
to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and big, statewide
priorities that will yield a significant return for the taxpayer in the
long-term.
HB
1283 by Attkisson
SB
2728 by Fasano
Centers
of Excellence and Eminent Scholars
$200 million to create and fund the 21st
Century Technology, Research and Scholarship Enhancement Act: $100 million to create and expand Centers
of Excellence around key sectors of our economy, and $100 million to create
the World Class Scholars Program, a program to give universities financial
resources to attract leading researchers from around the globe to Florida.
HB
1237 by Mealor
SB
2084 by Alexander
Capital
Formation Act
$75 million in tax credits for the new
Florida Capital Formation Program, which would create early stage venture
capital for start-up companies in Florida.
HB
1467 by Grant
SB
2668 by Atwater
State
Aerospace Industry
$55 million to secure Florida’s position as a leader in the
Space and Aeronautics industry; would incorporate recommendations of the
Commission on the Future of Aeronautics and Space in Florida.
HB
1489 by Waters
SB
2580 by Fasano
Quick
Action Closing Fund
$50 million to expand Florida’s Quick Action Closing Fund,
allowing the state to offer a cash incentive to companies considering Florida as the
location for their business.
HB
7213 by Davis
11:30 AM
Press Conference in
support of Centers of Excellence and Eminent Scholars Programs
The Capitol, 4th Floor
There was a press conference specifically supporting the Centers
of Excellence and Eminent Scholars program, as outlined in HB 1237 and SB
2084.
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Innovation Day
Reception
The Old Capitol
450 South Monroe Street
Special Guests:
Representative David Mealor
Representative Michael Grant
An enjoyable evening at the Old Capitol, with a great opportunity
for professional and business leaders to mingle with their elected
leaders. The reception provided an
opportunity for participants in the Innovation Day events to hear brief
remarks from Legislative Leadership and Innovation Economy bill sponsors.
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