Florida manufacturing grows, panel tells Commerce and Tourism; workforce, startups and supply chains flagged as gaps

TALLAHASSEE — State and industry leaders told the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Tuesday that Florida has become a manufacturing state but faces immediate challenges in workforce development, startup capital and supply‑chain resilience.

Senator Tom Leek, chair of the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee, convened the panel and framed manufacturing as key to a resilient Florida economy. “We need to reimagine what success means in our high schools,” Leek said, arguing that stronger career and technical education and more exposure to modern manufacturing could help fill industry demand.

The committee heard a 30‑minute presentation from Alex Kelly, secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce, who cited the department’s December 2023 Florida manufacturing report and subsequent industry data. “Florida has truly become a manufacturing state,” Kelly said, adding that manufacturing now ranks among the state’s top target industries and supports broad economic diversification that reaches beyond tourism and agriculture.

Why it matters: Kelly and other speakers told senators that manufacturing has a large multiplier effect for jobs and pay. Kelly said Florida’s 420,000‑plus manufacturing jobs support roughly 2.8 million additional jobs through indirect effects, and that every 100 durable‑goods manufacturing jobs create about 744 other jobs (514 for nondurables). He also highlighted that the number of manufacturing establishments in Florida grew about 30% over the past six years and that roughly 80% of Florida manufacturing firms employ 20 or fewer workers.

Panel recommendations and concerns: Panelists repeatedly identified workforce availability and aging staff as the sector’s principal constraints. Kelly said Florida’s manufacturing workforce is “aging out,” with a large share in the 40–60 age band and little net growth in the past year. He noted the state’s investments in workforce education — about $10 billion in recent years, according to his presentation — and said strengthening apprenticeship and CTE pathways is essential to retain talent.

Kevin Carr, chief executive officer of Florida Makes (the state’s manufacturing extension partnership), said productivity and technology adoption are priorities. “If you don’t get your digital game together as a supplier, you’re not going to be in this business,” Carr said, urging wider adoption of automation, robotics and other Industry 4.0 tools and better upskilling of incumbent workers.

Panelists asked lawmakers for practical steps: expanding access to capital for startups, improving conversion from prototype to market, and creating more consistent permit and inspection processes at the municipal level. Bain Beecher, supply chain manager for PGT Innovations and president of the Sarasota Manatee Manufacturing Association, described business challenges including rising property‑insurance costs, limited affordable housing that forces long commutes, energy constraints at some sites and extended lead times for building and replacement permits. PGT, Beecher said, grew from roughly $350 million in sales to $1.5 billion in 2023 and employs about 5,500 people nationwide, 2,000 of them in Sarasota‑Manatee.

Small manufacturers’ perspective: Andrew Kosowski, owner of Veterans Metal in Largo, urged support for smaller firms facing workforce, technology and regulatory burdens, including cybersecurity requirements. He cited national studies showing a large projected shortfall of skilled manufacturing workers and warned that compliance and cyber readiness impose added costs for small firms.

Logistics and trade: Brian Giuliani, chief operating officer of Port Tampa Bay, outlined how port capacity and inland distribution affect manufacturing. He said the port manages about 5,000 acres, takes in roughly 35 million tons of cargo per year, handles about 45% of the state’s fuel demand, and supports an estimated $34 billion economic impact and 192,000 jobs. Giuliani described investments in yard space, container gates and plans to deepen the channel from 43 to 47 feet and add transloading capacity to move goods into 53‑foot trailers.

Legislation: Several panelists referenced a proposed manufacturing bill now in drafting. Kevin Carr said the measure would establish a chief manufacturing officer and create a centralized strategy to help firms with workforce, technology adoption and market visibility; Andrew Kosowski urged the committee to support a bill he said is being drafted by “senator Truenow and representative Cobb.” No bill text was presented to the committee during the hearing.

What the committee asked: Senators asked how to retain graduates locally, whether existing CTE participation is sufficient, and where new manufacturing clusters are emerging. Kelly pointed to even growth statewide with particular opportunity along transportation corridors — for example, the I‑10/I‑75 intersection, Ocala and Polk County — and highlighted local examples such as the NeoCity semiconductor hub and adjacent high school internships in Osceola County.

Votes and next steps: No formal votes on policy were taken at the hearing. Senator Arrington moved to adjourn at the end of the panel; the committee adjourned without objection. The committee record and panelists noted a forthcoming bill draft; staff and several witnesses asked to follow up with technical assistance and data to support legislative work.

Closing: Committee members and panelists urged broader outreach to parents and guidance counselors, expanded use of apprenticeships and on‑the‑job programs, and market‑facing support for small manufacturers so Florida’s recent growth in manufacturing translates into sustained local hiring and supply‑chain resilience.