Florida’s Advantages

Why Florida is the Best State for New Military Missions and Defense Manufacturing

Florida makes a compelling case to host new military missions or defense manufacturing businesses. In addition to its existing installations, capabilities, and unique geography, Florida has additional advantages that make a decision to establish or expand a defense organization an easy one.  Read below to see why Florida should be your organization’s top choice.

Education System

In 2023, U.S. News and World Report ranked Florida’s education systems the best in the nation for the seventh year in a row. (#14 Pre-K-12 and #1 Higher Education) Highlights from Florida’s number-one ranking include:

• Maintaining the lowest higher education in-state tuition and fees among all states.
• Having a high school graduation rate 3.7 percentage points above the national average
• Achieving second place for completers of two-year degree programs and fourth for four-year graduation rates at higher education institutions
• Students graduating college with less debt than the national average by nearly $5,000
• Ranking 12th overall for the percentage of children enrolled in a preschool program
• Improved from third to first in education since Governor DeSantis took office

Business Friendly Tax Environment

The 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index ranked Florida #4 for Business Tax Climate. The index showed Florida ranked in the top 15 for five of the six tax categories.  They were:

• Overall ranking
• Corporate tax ranking (5.5 percent)
• Individual income tax ranking (8.8 percent)
• Property tax ranking (0.91 percent)
• Unemployment insurance tax ranking (2.7-5.4 percent)

Florida’s tax structure allows it to outrank its peer states and make a compelling case that it is the most business-friendly state in the nation.

Florida is a Veteran Friendly State

Florida prides itself on being the most veteran-friendly state in the nation. As a result of Florida’s pro-veteran actions, the U.S. Veterans Administration reports Florida maintains the third-highest veteran population, just behind California and Texas.  Some of the actions Florida has taken to show its appreciation for veterans include:

• Ex-servicemembers who were honorably discharged, residing in Florida, and who are disabled 10% or more in wartime may be entitled to a $5,000 reduction in their property’s assessed value.
• Florida College System institutions, charter technical career center, or career center must waive out-of-state tuition and fees for an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Reserve Forces or the National Guard who physically resides in Florida while enrolled in the institution.
• Veterans with a 100% VA rating are entitled to a free driver’s license and one free set of Veteran “DV” plates.

Florida believes veterans are highly qualified employee candidates who understand the needs of national security so it works to retain service members whose final duty station is Florida in state and make a strong case for out of state veterans to move to Florida.

For more information on the benefits Florida provides its veterans, please click on the Advantage Florida Military Benefits Guide.

Advantage Florida Military Benefits Guide