Enterprise Florida Governors Business Diversification Awards

Program honors businesses for job growth, economic investment feats

ORLANDO, FL (April 18, 2011) – If your company falls into one of the sectors listed below, it’s eligible to compete for a Governor’s Business Diversification Award. It recognizes businesses for making noteworthy contributions toward Florida’s economic development efforts.

· Aviation/Aerospace
· Cleantech
· Corporate Headquarters
· Distribution/Logistics
· Education/Training
· Emerging Industries
· Financial/Professional Services
· Homeland Security/Defense
· Information Technology
· Life Sciences
· Manufacturing
· Marine
· Trade/Export Services

The entry deadline is June 24 at 5 p.m. ET., and the application will be available online via Enterprise Florida’s Web site, www.eflorida.com/govawards, starting April 18.
The nomination of a business can be made by a local or regional economic development organization, or a professional or industry association. Self-nominations are acceptable, also. Three awards will be given in each of these categories:
· Governor’s Business Expansion Award: For Florida companies that expanded their operations in 2010, investing capital and creating jobs for Floridians.


· Governor’s Newcomer Award: For new-to-Florida companies that began business operations in 2010.


· Governor’s Export Excellence Award: For Florida companies with new or significant increases in documented export sales in 2010.


· Governor’s Entrepreneurship Award: For Florida start-up companies (less than 5 years old) that have set a standard for entrepreneurship and creativity.


· Governor’s Innovation Award: For Florida companies, organizations or institutions that through product or process best exemplified innovative leadership in 2010.


· Governor’s Green-to-Gold Award: For Florida companies that through product or process best exemplified "green" leadership as it pertains to the state's goal to become a leader in this emerging field.


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The winners will be announced in September during Industry Appreciation Week, the third week of the month. The awards will be presented at that time during a special event.
Corporate sponsors for this program this year are Bank of America and Florida Trend.
For more information about the Governors Business Diversification Awards and entry requirements, businesses and economic development organizations can contact:
Luis Pérez-Codina
External Affairs Program Manager
(850) 298-6638 or gbda@eflorida.com
www.eflorida.com/govawards
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Enterprise Florida, Inc. is a partnership between Florida's business and government leaders and is the principal economic development organization for the state of Florida. Headquartered in Orlando, Enterprise Florida’s mission is to diversify Florida’s economy and create better-paying jobs for its citizens by supporting, attracting and helping to create businesses in innovative, high-growth industries. In pursuit of its mission, Enterprise Florida works closely with a statewide network of economic development partners and is funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.

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