Blog: Governor Rick Scott says Florida economy headed in the ‘right direction’
Jul 6, 2011
The following article was published in the Florida Times-Union on July 6, 2011:
Gov. Rick Scott says Florida Economy Headed in ‘Right Direction’
By David Bauerlein
Gov. Rick Scott said today in Jacksonville that Florida’s economy is “headed in the right direction” based on five straight months of job growth this year.
Scott joined Mayor Alvin Brown and the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce at an event dedicating the opening of Keystone Industries terminal in the Talleyrand area.
Scott said improving Florida’s ability to ships goods through its ports is a key part of his strategy for bolstering jobs.
“We’re going to be known as the shipping capital of at least the East Coast,” Scott said.
Keystone Industries built the terminal for the export and import of cargo such as coal and limestone. The terminal is privately owned and operated. It employs about 15 people but, at full build-out, will employ about 200 people, officials said during the dedication ceremony.
Brown also praised Keystone’s investment, saying it’s the kind of partnership between the private and public sectors that he made a centerpiece of his mayoral campaign. Brown also has made the port a central part of his job creation plan.
Scott noted that his goal for Florida is 700,000 new jobs in seven years.
“I ran on a goal of 700,000 jobs,” he said. “If they all happen in Jacksonville, that would be fine.”
Speaking to reporters after the event, Scott said improvement in the state’s unemployment rate is encouraging but his “work is not done” until the large number of people seeking work can find jobs.