Advocacy Update: 2026 Florida Future Forum (F3) 

Advocacy Update: 2026 Florida Future Forum (F3) 

About the Forum 

SWFL Inc. staff attended The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Future of Florida Forum (F3) and Annual Meeting Oct. 27-28 at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. This event brought business, government, education and workforce leaders together to measure progress toward the 39 goals of the Florida 2030 Blueprint, including the primary target of becoming one of the world’s top 10 economies by 2030.  

Key themes of the conference related specifically to workforce and economic development and included uniting business leaders for good and building employer-led systems. Through SWFL Inc.’s talent pipeline initiatives, advocacy efforts, B2B events and annual summits, we keep the pulse on the evolving needs of our business community at a hyperlocal level, while paying close attention to state initiatives that can propel our region to even greater levels of competitiveness.  

Southwest Florida Takes Home “Coolest Thing Made in Florida” 

Congratulations to our member, Arthrex! During F3, Arthrex of Collier County’s TightRope® PRO Implant was named the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Florida. The implant was developed at Arthrex’s global headquarters in Naples and manufactured at its facility in Ave Maria. In the final round, after a contest that started with 125 products from manufacturers representing all 67 Florida counties. The competition supports the Florida 2030 Blueprint goal of making Florida a Top 5 state for manufacturing jobs by 2030.  

Key Takeaways for SWFL Businesses 

• Next statewide strategic plan is coming. The Florida Chamber Foundation will begin work early next year on a new long-term strategic plan, the Florida 2040 Blueprint, with two years of research before unveiling it in Fall 2028. The 2030 plan was built from interviews with more than 10,000 Floridians, visits to all 67 counties and 87 town hall meetings, so expect opportunities for regional input.  

• Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC). Under this federal program, individuals can redirect up to $1,700 of their federal income tax liability (or up to $3,400 for married couples filing jointly) directly to K-12 student scholarships. Instead of paying that money to the IRS, you donate it to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO), and the government credits you back dollar-for-dollar come tax season. 

Individuals and businesses can follow www.redirect1700forkids.com to understand more details on the program and support affordable education for American children.  

• Workforce priorities from the employer perspective. During a polling session, when asked “If you could address just one challenge in Florida’s talent pipeline by 2030, which do you think would have the most positive impact on your organization?" 41 percent responded with career and technical education followed by kindergarten readiness and early learning at 26 percent.  

• Workforce pipeline starts early. Foundation Chair Karen Moore argued that the state’s economic strategy must treat early learning, K-12 schools, higher education and childhood poverty as pieces of the same workforce pipeline, noting that the 2040 workforce is about four years old today.  

• Workforce programs must deliver ROI. A state college president shared they recently cut four programs because they weren’t meeting salary outcomes. A useful model for conversations with our local colleges, ensuring our workers are deployed into sustainable careers and find gainful employment in our local region.  

This aligns with SWFL Inc.’s workforce development priorities to guide employer-led systems which information workforce and talent development at the local level.  

SWFL Inc. will continue to engage with the Florida Chamber as the 2040 Blueprint process launches and ensure Southwest Florida’s business priorities (workforce, insurance affordability, infrastructure) are part of the statewide conversation.