Target Industries
Each of FREDA’s RAOs plays a vital role in Florida’s most dynamic industries.
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Key Industry Categories
Each of FREDA’s RAOs plays a vital role in Florida’s most dynamic industries.
Backed by robust infrastructure, strong partnerships, and state-level incentives, rural Florida offers distinct advantages for growth and investment. The map below highlights the locations of major industry clusters across our RAOs.
NFEDP
Florida Heartland
Opportunity Florida
Agriculture
Land, location, and logistics help agriculture-based businesses thrive in rural Florida. For example, in 2022, Florida Heartland brought in $1.74 billion as a leading producer of a wide variety of crops, including citrus fruits and winter tomatoes. With the help of local farmers and ambitious entrepreneurs, rural Florida is leading the way in agricultural business.
Aviation and Space
Florida ranks #2 in aerospace manufacturing and is home to more than 20 commercial airports. When it comes to the cutting edge of the future, no one flies higher than FREDA. With NFEDP and Opportunity Florida adjacent to the Florida Space Corridor, your business can take advantage of unique incentives like sales tax exemptions on aircraft and spacecraft expenditures. And with FREDA’s Space Florida partnership, valuable resources are available for your business, too.
Life Sciences
Central Florida alone offers a life sciences workforce of 150,000 people. Florida ranks as the #2 state in the nation in medical device manufacturing. And the next generation of workers are well on their way toward entering this growing sector, with 34.5 percent of degrees awarded being in science and engineering.
Logistics and Distribution
Rural Florida grants direct or close access to many of the state’s top transportation hubs. I-4, I-10, I-75, and I-95 open up travel to millions of potential customers by road. Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports, 21 commercial airports, and more than 2,700 miles of freight rail enable transportation of goods across the state, region, nation, and world.
Manufacturing
With more than 25,000 manufacturing establishments across the state, Florida leads the way in this industry. And with optimal operation costs, foreign trade zones, and established partnerships with Duke Energy, FloridaMakes, and Florida Power & Light, rural Florida is a trailblazer in the manufacturing industry.
Technology
Florida ranks #1 in net tech employment in the Southeast, and rural Florida places your business in a unique place for success with ease of access to important infrastructure. Proximity to tech hubs like Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa grants a unique vantage point for your business—without the big-city expense.
