Scott broke promise on doubling business funding

Gov. Rick Scott promised during his 2014 re-election campaign to double funding to help more small businesses expand internationally.

Specifically, Scott promised to double the budget for Enterprise Florida programs that help established companies export their products to international markets. Two programs, Target Sector Trade Grants and Export Plan Marketing Assistance, were launched in 2011 as part of Enterprise Florida's export services.

Prior to 2013-14, federal grants between $300,000 and $500,000 paid for these types of programs.

As Scott campaigned for a second term, the Legislature raised the funding level to $1 million for 2014-15. That means the first budget Scott would have signed after he won re-election would have been for the 2015-16 fiscal year (the current budget), in which the program allotment remained $1 million.

To secure this promise, he needed a level of $2 million. He didn't get it.

Enterprise Florida's program for expansion grants has been funded by $1 million from the state Legislature, at Scott's request. But it stayed at the $1 million level throughout his second term.

We rate this Promise Broken.