In pursuit of its mission, EFI worked closely with a statewide network of economic development partners [1] and was funded both by the State of Florida and by private-sector businesses.
In 1996, under Governor Lawton Chiles, Florida became the first state in the nation to place principal responsibility for economic development, international trade, research and marketing in the hands of a business-government partnership.
Just as businesses and citizens strengthen their communities through volunteerism, EFI’s board members do the same by participating in job creation efforts on behalf of the state.
EFI’s job creation efforts focus on a wide range of industry sectors,[8] including life sciences, information technology, aviation & aerospace, defense & homeland security, financial & professional services, manufacturing, clean energy and beyond.
Twelve full-service offices provide assistance to Florida companies that want to sell their products and services in these markets: Brazil, Canada (Toronto and Montreal), France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, and the U.K.
Pro bono offices in the Czech Republic and Taiwan provide limited services to Florida exporters interested in those markets.