Building Association Awareness

1. Launched the five-year public relations campaign with the development of a new FCMA website.  The website is more interactive and additional user-friendly features will be included in the future.  The intent is to make it easier for members to seek business-to-business relationships and for the public to gain greater insight into FCMA.  In addition, a television campaign that focused on manufacturing’s positive attributes was aired in May and September.  Regular editorial board meetings held with the local media were used to advance key issues important to FCMA.   
2. Continued to create value through FCMA membership by providing additional opportunities to develop member-to-member business.  Among these were the continuation of General Meetings at manufacturing member locations, quarterly M.O.N.E.Y. events which emphasized networking, specific workshops targeting marketing opportunities among the membership, direct contact through the staff to enhance business opportunities, and the expansion of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that provide forums for peers to share best practices.
3. Secured the appointment of individuals within the FCMA membership to boards and commissions at both the local and state levels to increase awareness of manufacturing.  Examples include George Robbins (Vistage) and Lad Daniels appointment by the Governor to the St. Johns River Water Management Board, Aaron Bowman (BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards) gubernatorial appointment to the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) Board, and John Otterson (IFF) appointment to the City of Jacksonville Technical Advisory Committee. 
4. Advanced our recognition in the region by strengthening the partnership with the Jacksonville Business Journal on the promotion of the Excellence in Manufacturing Awards and the Florida Times-Union on the promotion of the Crane Awards, and the University of North Florida College of Construction, Computer Science and Engineering through the scholarship program funded by the FCMA Golf Tournament as well as increased membership on the Engineering Advisory Council.      

Promote Florida’s New Economy

1. Completed, in conjunction with the Manufacturers Association of Florida (MAF), the second Florida TaxWatch study on manufacturing.  This study built on the first study and focused on the need for the state to develop incentives to encourage capital investment.  The study is being used to support legislative initiatives designed to encourage expansion and relocation of manufacturers to Florida through specific tax policies aimed at capital investment. 
2. Continued to develop FCMA’s strong advocacy for the port expansion.  Representative Lake Ray has taken a leadership role by introducing legislation to expand funding sources for port expansion as well as streamline the permitting process for major industry.  This includes the continuation of a special committee to evaluate environmental impacts, the growing partnership with JAXPORT leadership to solve the Mile Point issue, and to build the economic case for the deepening of the channel. 

 
Eliminate Issues Handicapping Growth in Manufacturing

1. Introduced a special discounted electrical rate that began October 1, 2011, for major industrial customers of JEA.  This culminated a six-year effort involving FCMA’s large energy users, the Mayor’s Office, City Council and JEA management.  The result is a several million dollar savings for major manufacturers in Jacksonville and is designed to become the model for a statewide effort to reduce energy costs for large energy users.  Currently, Florida’s large energy users pay up to a 50% premium over competitors in the ten Southeastern states.  
2. Began educating political leadership on the disproportionate contribution by industry to local and state taxes.  This includes the development of a program to eliminate tangible personal property (TPP) tax.  Legislation which will begin the process to reduce these taxes was introduced in 2011 and will be continued in 2012.  The goal is to eliminate TPP for manufacturers.  A small number of manufacturers in Duval County pay 25% of the total TPP as well as 5% of the total real estate taxes.  A little known fact is that nearly 40% of the properties in Duval County, primarily residential, pay reduced or no taxes. 
3. Continued FCMA’s strong support to protect the environment while maintaining an aggressive advocacy to improve the local and state permitting process, particularly in environmental permitting.  FCMA remains a leading proponent of Florida’s leadership in TMDL.  The association has always based its support of member companies on objective, scientifically-based criteria.  And the association will continue to be supportive of member companies like Georgia-Pacific that have scientifically proved compliance with all existing regulations in the pursuit of their environmental permits.