Count a tax-friendly environment as one more reason for people to do business in Florida. Kiplinger.com last week ranked Florida as the fourth most “tax-friendly” state in the union. Rankings place Florida behind only Wyoming, Alaska and South Dakota, and ahead of Nevada, in terms of a states charging the lowest income, sales, gas and sin taxes.

So what does having the most tax-friendly environment in the South mean for attracting business to the Sunshine State? According to Mark Huey, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, it’s another tool to help in recruitment and retainment of companies. “This is part of Florida’s story that drives economic growth,” he says. “Our favorable tax position drives talent of all kinds here, and that’s good for business.” But Huey noted that the Kiplinger’s rating focused on personal taxes, not on business taxes, the latter of which proves more valuable when it comes to economic development. For business recruitment, Huey says the state could still improve the tax climate. Commercial lease taxes and manufacturing taxes in particular could use reform, he says.

Real estate agents, though, say the ranking serves as just the most recent listing pushing homebuyers to Florida. Xena Vallone, president of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, says the prospect of lower property taxes and income taxes in particular drive many buyers from the Northeast toward Florida. “They know that when you cross the border you eliminate income taxes right away,” she says. 

Indeed, all five states topping the Kiplinger listings charge no income tax. They also don’t charge any inheritance or estate taxes. And Florida also boasts a lower median property tax than even some states ranked as more tax-friendly. 

Especially for buyers leaving states like Massachusetts and Connecticut, that’s a stark difference. And when you compare the climate in Florida to every other higher-ranked state on the Kiplinger’s list, suddenly Florida looks like the most attractive place in the rankings. “Everybody from the north wants to retire to beaches and warm sunshine,” Vallone says. “As someone coming here from Buffalo, New York, I wouldn’t go to Alaska to live. Many of our residents are looking for a better quality of life and Florida gives them that.” 

Graphic courtesy Kiplinger.com

Tomorrow morning, CareerSource will bring together some of the region’s top professionals to educate and prepare the next workforce generation in our area at the 4th Annual State of Jobs Conference. This year, State of Jobs welcomes many familiar faces from previous years plus a new selection of speakers who will represent various career tracks including healthcare, information technology, business/entrepreneurship, manufacturing/engineering, hospitality/tourism, and arts/culture.

“I am looking forward to speaking at the State of Jobs conference. I decided to participate because I think it is every local professionals’ duty to inspire and educate our future workforce on the industries that we represent. There is a vast amount of opportunity locally and I hope that by supporting events such as these we can be at the forefront of thought for these young adults as they make their way into their careers – and we hope to retain their talent in the Sarasota and Manatee county area. It is no secret that the Insurance and Financial Services industries are presented with the challenge of an aging workforce. We struggle to attract and retain young talent,” said Kristy Terenzio, Account Executive of Boyd Insurance and State of Jobs Speaker. “In speaking at the SOJC, I hope to show these great minds that we make a difference every day in protecting and preparing business owners and individuals of all sizes and circumstance for the unknowns. I find my career to be incredibly rewarding, and I hope that we, as a panel, can convey this fulfillment that I, and many others have experienced in our field to the attendees.”

The goal of State of Jobs is to help students prepare for their future while telling the region’s professional workforce what they are truly looking for in college and career prep. Last year, during the third annual State of Jobs conference, CareerSource Suncoast compiled a volume of data highlighting student perceptions of colleges and careers on the Suncoast. The majority of students indicated they were planning to attend a college in the state of Florida, but not in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. The event plans to ensure that local college-bound students are aware of both the academic post-secondary opportunities as well as the job market for young professionals. 

“The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is excited to be participating in the State of Jobs Conference 2017. Students and their parents who attend this conference will learn about the programs of study in medicine, pharmacy and dentistry that LECOM has to offer by visiting the college’s exhibit table and by participating in the college-preparatory panel,” said Debra Horne, LECOM Admission recruiter. “LECOM has developed special Early Acceptance Programs with select community colleges, undergraduate colleges and universities that grant qualified students a provisional early acceptance to LECOM’s College of Medicine, School of Pharmacy and School of Dental Medicine. In some cases, these programs will permit the student to start the professional program prior to receiving a bachelor degree from the undergraduate institution.”

For more on the State of Jobs conference, contact Chris Laney at claney@careersourcesc.com or visit their website online at StateofJobs.org. 

State of Jobs

Le Bordeaux on 1900 Main St., Sarasota, is rebranding as Bistro Julian, and owners Carole and Frederic Muriot have created a new menu with their new chef, Chef Franck Dejean from Cannes in southern France.Serving authentic French cuisine for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Saturday, the new Bistro Julian is already pleasing past customers and hopes to bring in more for its Grand Opening Celebration on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 6pm. Keep an eye out for monthly wine dinners and special events. 

Le Bordeaux