{"id":335720,"date":"2026-07-10T13:21:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/335720\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T13:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T13:21:07","slug":"the-florida-council-of-100-advances-innovation-entrepreneurship-and-competitiveness-agenda-at-spring-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/335720\/","title":{"rendered":"The Florida Council of 100 Advances Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Agenda at Spring Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">The Florida Council of 100 convened CEOs and business leaders from across the state for its Spring General Membership Meeting, advancing initiatives focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, resilience, economic mobility, and Florida\u2019s long-term competitiveness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">At a time when Florida continues to attract talent, investment, and businesses from around the world, members discussed practical solutions to some of the state\u2019s most important opportunities and challenges, including artificial intelligence, workforce development, housing, defense technology, resilience, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">\u201cFlorida has tremendous momentum, but maintaining that momentum requires leadership,\u201d said George LeMieux, Chair of The Florida Council of 100. \u201cWhat makes FC100 unique is that it brings together some of the most accomplished business leaders in the state to help solve\u00a0real challenges\u00a0and create more\u00a0opportunity\u00a0for the next generation of Floridians. Our members are focused on action, outcomes, and ensuring Florida\u00a0remains\u00a0competitive for decades to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">Building on the Council\u2019s\u00a0<a class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-2u9m0h\" href=\"https:\/\/fc100.org\/research\/beyond-sunshine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Beyond Sunshine<\/a>\u00a0strategy, members reviewed progress on the Gold Coast campaign, a national effort designed to elevate South Florida\u2019s position as a destination for innovation, entrepreneurship, investment, and growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">Since launching earlier this year, the campaign has generated national media coverage and strengthened Florida\u2019s position in conversations with founders, investors, executives, and companies evaluating where to\u00a0locate, grow, and invest.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">Members also highlighted the continued expansion of Ambition Accelerated, a statewide initiative focused on strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, talent development, resilience, and long-term competitiveness across Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">Applications will\u00a0soon\u00a0open for\u00a0Ambition\u00a0Accelerated\u2019s\u00a0four industry-focused accelerator tracks\u00a0in\u00a0financial technology, dual-use and defense technology, healthcare technology, and resilience technology. The initiative is designed to connect entrepreneurs with customers, capital, mentorship, and experienced business leadership while helping create more high-wage career opportunities across Florida.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">\u201cThrough Beyond Sunshine, the Gold Coast campaign, and Ambition Accelerated, the Council is focused on turning ideas into action,\u201d said Michael Simas, President and CEO of The Florida Council of 100. \u201cFlorida has extraordinary momentum. Our responsibility is to help ensure the next generation of Floridians can build successful careers, start companies, and pursue opportunities at the highest level right here in Florida.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">Through its members, research, and strategic initiatives, The Florida Council of 100 continues to advance practical solutions that strengthen Florida\u2019s economy, improve opportunity, and position the state for long-term success.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">About The Florida Council of 100\u00a0<br class=\"framer-text\"\/>The Florida Council of 100 is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings together the CEOs of Florida\u2019s leading companies to strengthen the state\u2019s long-term competitiveness, expand economic opportunity for future generations, and advance solutions that better the lives of all Floridians.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">The Council identifies Florida\u2019s greatest economic opportunities and challenges, convenes business, government, academic, and community leaders around practical solutions, and builds initiatives that create lasting economic impact. Through research, collaboration, and business-led action, the Council works to help Florida build stronger industries, create higher-wage jobs, develop talent, improve quality of life, and remain one of the best places in America to build a business.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" class=\"framer-text framer-styles-preset-1ncwys3\">Founded in 1961 at the request of Governor Farris Bryant, the Council brings together CEOs who believe business success carries a responsibility to help shape Florida\u2019s future. Today, the Council represents more than 200 companies employing over 1.3 million Floridians.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Florida Council of 100 convened CEOs and business leaders from across the state for its Spring General&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":124371,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[28,30,29],"class_list":["post-335720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-florida","tag-florida","tag-florida-headlines","tag-florida-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=335720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/335720\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=335720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=335720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=335720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}