Our take on: Growing jobs
April 17, 2010
Florida has spent big money on business incentives to create jobs — an average of $9,600 per position, according to the state's lead economic development agency.
But a statewide program launched last year to help small, homegrown companies has been adding jobs for $670 apiece, according to its organizers.
Known as GrowFL, the program provides expert advice and technical assistance to help Florida-based companies with 10 to 50 employees grow and add jobs. Firms of this size have generated more than a third of new jobs in the state in recent years.
State lawmakers put up $1.5million last year to launch the program, which is run out of the University of Central Florida. Gov. Charlie Crist proposed $3million for it in his next budget, but the state Senate and House haven't included any money yet in their spending plans.
They should find some funding for this well-directed and comparatively frugal approach to building the state's economy.