TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Enterprise Florida, the state’s business-recruitment agency is planning next year to hold an international trade show online. The three-day, “first-ever” Florida International Trade Expo in March is expected to showcase Florida export products and services. A news release from Enterprise Florida said that as national and global trade organizations have transitioned to virtual trade shows since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, no U.S. state has held an exclusive event highlighting its businesses. “Earlier this year we announced the new virtual trade show and business matchmaking grant programs,” Enterprise Florida President and CEO Jamal Sowell said in a prepared statement. “Launching the Florida International Trade Expo is the next step in making sure the state’s small businesses continue to recover and grow.”Companies in aviation and aerospace, life sciences, information technology, financial and professional services and manufacturing are being recruited to participate.

Ron DeSantis will make a stop at the FIS Building in Jacksonville on Friday afternoon for what is being billed as a "major" economic announcement. The announcement likely has to do with a company going by the code name "Sharp," according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. The Record reports the unnamed company, which might be Fidelity National Information Services, has promised to create 500 jobs and build a $145 million headquarters. In exchange for its investment in Jacksonville, the company is poised to receive a financial incentives package from the city and state worth almost $30 million. As WJCT previously reported, the City Council OK'd a bill last month that contains the city's share of those incentives.