The state of Florida has ranked among the top ten out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia for its business environment for construction contractors, according to the latest Merit Shop Scorecard rankings from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
The scorecard identifies states with business environments where merit-shop contractors are best able to succeed, as well as states that need improvements, and where those improvements can be made.
Florida, which ranked ninth overall, scored positive points for its Right to Work policy and its lack of statewide project labor agreement policies or prevailing wage mandates. The state authorizes the use of public-private partnerships on horizontal and vertical construction projects, and unsolicited bids are permitted. The state’s five-year average construction job growth rate between 2011-2016 stands at 7.3%.
The state’s workforce development incentives include the Quick Response Training Program, which is designed to provide new and existing businesses with the training they need to expand successfully. State educational facilities are able to assist with the program’s application, development, and delivery. At the Career and Technical Education level, 82% of Florida’s Career and Technical Education high school graduates are placed in colleges or careers. The ABC East Coast Florida Chapter also operates the ABC Institute, an apprenticeship and training program, in East Florida.
During the 2017 legislative session, the ABC East Coast Florida chapter passed House Bill 599, Public Works Projects, and House Bill 377, Limitations on Actions other than for the Recovery of Real Property, as well as Workforce Development legislation.
“Florida’s policymakers have built a free enterprise-based business environment that allows merit shop construction contractors to grow while also protecting taxpayers from inflated costs,” says Peter Dyga, president of the ABC East Coast Florida Chapter.
“ABC applauds Florida for banning anti-competitive and restrictive project labor agreement and inflated prevailing wage mandates while supporting Right to Work and important workforce development incentives that rewards the industry’s investment in its employees. These policies have helped promote economic growth, which leads to more jobsites and more Florida construction jobs.”
