Governor Encourages Minority Entrepreneurs and Women Leaders

Press Release

Governor Charlie Crist today addressed the 2010 MatchMaker Conference and Trade Show and the National Foundation for Women Legislators annual conference in Orlando. During both events Governor Crist emphasized his priority of keeping Florida a business friendly state.

"Businesses owned by women and other minorities are a vital part of the economic success of our great state," Governor Crist said. "The MatchMaker conference continues to be a premier event designed to foster opportunities for minority business growth and development."

The annual MatchMaker Conference links minority, women and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses with state government and corporate sponsors to drive economic development. The conference and trade show are presented by Department of Management Services' Office of Supplier Diversity and feature more than 200 companies, as well as state and local government representatives, looking to purchase goods and services from eligible certified minority vendors. During the 2008-09 fiscal year, total state government minority spending surpassed $ 1.35 billion with Florida's more than 5,000 certified minority, women, and service-disabled veteran business vendors.

Later in the day, Governor Crist addressed the National Foundation for Women Legislators, a non-partisan organization that works to empower elected women at all levels of government through education and leadership training.
"As businesses and families in many of our coastal areas continue to recover from this summer's oil spill, we remain focused on ensuring a smooth claims process and restoring the Gulf and our affected beaches," Governor Crist said in his remarks to women legislators. "Right now, nothing is more important than our economy, and as Governor, I have worked to ensure Florida remains as business-friendly as possible while also working to protect the quality of life that makes the Sunshine State a great place live and visit."

Governor Crist discussed the work of the Governor's Gulf Oil Spill Economic Recovery Task Force to assist businesses affected by the oil spill. He also highlighted efforts to assist survivors of domestic violence, including a pilot project announced last month that will provide workforce services such as training, child care, and job placement assistance to help survivors obtain new and better jobs. Governor Crist emphasized that economic self-sufficiency is vital for domestic violence survivors and their children to move away from the abuse.

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