Florida Businesses Get Support

State officials are doing their part to help Florida businesses.

Gov. Charlie Crist recently met with business leaders in Miami to discuss ways state government can enhance Florida's business-friendly environment and use federal stimulus dollars.

“During these economic times, state government must work closely with local businesses and schools to hear their concerns and suggestions for the future of our state,” Crist said. “Strengthening Florida’s schools and businesses are the fastest way to strengthening Florida’s overall economy.”

During April, Florida saw the first improvement in its unemployment rate since March 2006. The state also was ranked in the top 10 in Education Week's 2009 Quality Counts report.

Crist also thinks federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will help businesses in the Miami Dade community.

Some stimulus funding will go toward education. Miami-Dade County's Voluntary Prekindergarten through 12th grade schools will receive $125 million in stimulus funding, while the area's higher education schools will receive $39 million.

The transportation industry will see the benefits of the stimulus, as the county's state and local priority highway projects will receive $187 million. Transportation enhancement projects will receive $3.2 million, transit projects will get $75 million and the Miami International Airport will be offered $8 million.

When it comes to energy, the county is expected to receive $12.5 million in stimulus money for energy grants. At the same time, the City of Miami will receive $4.7 million.

Further, the South Florida Workforce Board already received almost $22 million in stimulus money for employment and job training expenses.