A Florida House panel heard about ports Tuesday and the value they bring to Florida’s economy. We could hear a lot more about beefing up Florida’s 15 seaports during the legislative session that begins next month.
Senate President Don Gaetz says one of the biggest areas of transportation policy that needs attention is improvement and expansion of ports.
“If we have a better transportation infrastructure and if we’re in a better position on our ports to receive goods and services, we’re going to be able to promote economic development better”, Gaetz said.
In the last few years, over $500 million has been appropriated to improve Florida's seaports. Much of the money went to projects in South Florida.
Republican Jacksonville Representative Lake Ray says Florida needs to attract a manufacturing base that will promote the state as the global hub for exporting Florida and U.S. products.
“It’s about the right workforce. It’s about having the right workforce to support one, the ports, and two, the manufacturing base because it ties it all together", Ray explained. "We want to send things back out, we’ve got to be able to make them here.”
Ray says increasing the manufacturing base for exports will provide more high-paying job opportunities in Florida.