Statement from Mayor on House vote to eliminate Enterprise Florida

Good afternoon,
 
Please see the following statement from Mayor Hayward regarding the passage of job killing legislation (HB 9 & HB 7005) today in the Florida House of Representatives:
 
"On February 21 the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce announced its support for the continued funding of Enterprise Florida, saying that it “strongly believes the state must continue to fund initiatives that support diversifying our economy and attract businesses and jobs to Florida. We have unique challenges in Northwest Florida and believe that the elimination of these programs would dramatically hinder future progress in our region.”
 
Today in Tallahassee representatives in the Florida House voted for a bill that seeks to end economic diversification efforts in Florida and small business assistance by eliminating the Enterprise Florida economic development organization, Florida’s Small Business Development Center and dozens of economic development programs designed to encourage new jobs and a strong economy.  
 
I am extremely disappointed to learn that 87 representatives voted against the entity that played a key role in bringing over 5,000 jobs to Escambia County. When politicians vote to kill economic development efforts in the state of Florida and take a position that is the polar opposite of what the chamber supports, we need to know what they intend to do to bring the next Navy Federal Credit Union or VT MAE project to our region."

- Mayor Ashton Hayward