The Florida Chamber of Commerce is celebrating a big birthday in 2016, commemorating 100 years of representing businesses and the economy in the Sunshine State.
The Florida Chamber was officially created April 29, 1916 in an effort to save Florida’s business community -- specifically the state’s agriculture industry -- from a parasite (the invasive cattle tick) which was threatening the state’s leading “economic engine.”
The Chamber continued its work to help Florida’s economy get back on its feet after the Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.
The Chamber says its number one goal has been to “encourage a business-friendly climate” that allows job creators to create private-sector jobs.
A lot has happened in Florida over the last 100 years -- to put it in perspective, the state’s population has skyrocketed from just over 900,000 (around the same amount of people living in Jacksonville alone in 2010) in 1916 to more than 20 million people.
Over the last year, one in 12 jobs nationwide were created in Florida. Florida’s population boom has been so significant that if Florida was a country, it would have the 18th largest economy in the world.
By 2030, Florida is projected to be the home of six million new residents.
This year has been a monumental year for the Florida Chamber, and it’s been celebrating its centennial anniversary since January.
2016 will be solely focused on spreading the word about the Chamber’s contributions to Florida and for highlighting the growth of business in the Sunshine State. The Chamber is partially responsible for many important structures in the Sunshine State, like the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on the West Coast.
On Tuesday, the Florida Cabinet recognized the Florida Chamber and its contributions to the state’s business community, presenting the Chamber with a resolution celebrating its 100-year anniversary.
“The Florida Chamber of Commerce works diligently to support economic growth and create opportunities for all Floridians,” said Gov. Rick Scott. “I am proud to recognize the Florida Chamber for their commitment to making Florida first for jobs on their 100 year anniversary today.”
“Mark Wilson, Marian Johnson, David Hart and all the Chamber members not only promote the well-being and stability of our state’s economy, but they also give so much back to our community through partnering with great charities and other nonprofit organizations to help make Florida the safest place to live, work and raise a family,” said State Attorney General Pam Bondi.
State Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam also had warm words for the Chamber’s accomplishments over the last 100 years.
“People come and go. Politicians come and go. Legislators come and go, businesses come and go,” he said. “But it’s what we do here during our time on this earth, in this great state, to leave it better than we found it— this should be our legacy. And that’s really the legacy of the Florida Chamber.”
Each year, the Florida Chamber works with all branches of government to set change into action for the annual Florida Business Agenda, which it says is critical to securing Florida’s Future.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
