Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Florida Economic Development Program Evaluations - Year 3

Report 15-11, November 2015

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Report Summary

  • The economic development programs represent a wide range of benefits for businesses and other entities (e.g., local economic development organizations, military alliances). For example, space and defense industry incentives include tax refunds and tax exemptions, while the state's military, workforce training, and international trade programs offer grants. In addition, international trade and development activities include participation in trade missions and shows as well as services provided to businesses by overseas offices.
  • Stakeholders are generally satisfied with the economic incentives and services offered through the programs on this year's review schedule. For example, program participants believe that state space and defense incentives and military programs are very important to local and statewide economic development efforts and training grant recipients reported that the grants positively impacted their businesses. In addition, OPPAGA analysis determined that receiving training had a significant, consistently positive effect on trainee wages for the Quick Response Training Program and mixed results for the Incumbent Worker Training Program. Finally, OPPAGA found that Florida's efforts compare favorably to other states for some programs, including space and defense industry incentives and military and defense programs. However, for some programs there are concerns related to program administration and the methods used to assess program performance.
  • Several issues could be addressed to enhance the administration of the Qualified Defense Contractor and Space Flight Business Tax Refund Program and the Quick Response Training Program. For example, the Legislature could consider eliminating the requirement that Quick Response Training grantees use fiscal agents and could make changes that would help expand program participation if the Space Flight Business Tax Refund Program is reauthorized. Moreover, improvements could be made to the methods used to assess the impact of international trade and development activities. Legislative action would be necessary to implement some of these recommendations.

Related Reports
  1. Florida Economic Development Program Evaluations Year 8
    Report 20-08 December 2020
  2. Florida Economic Development Program Evaluations - Year 7
    Report 19-16 December 2019
  3. Florida Economic Development Program Evaluations - Year 6
    Report 18-07 December 2018
  4. Florida Economic Development Program Evaluations - Year 5
    Report 17-13 December 2017
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Qualified defense contractor and space flight business tax refund program, tax exemption for semiconductor, defense, or space technology sales,Manufacturing and Spaceport Investment Incentive Program, defense contractor, defense and space industries, manufacturing and spaceport activities, technology-based sectors