Fort Lauderdale Chamber Pledges Support for U.S. Chamber's Campaign for Free Enterprise

Donohue States Need to Create more than 2.7 Million Jobs in Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—The Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce endorsed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. campaign today at its annual meeting. U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue told more than 400 business leaders in attendance that America must create 20 million jobs over the next 10 years—2,764,491 in Florida.

"The issue that's top of mind here in south Florida and around the nation is jobs," Donohue said during the event. "But I believe with the help of the Fort Lauderdale Chamber as a partner in this campaign, Florida can meet the goal of creating more than 2,700,000 jobs during the next 10 years. It's a matter of having attractive things to come to, a matter of controlling government costs, a matter of stimulating construction and trying to get tourism going again. This is a state of innovators, as it is Florida's entrepreneurs who brought us suntan lotion, the freezer, Gatorade, and smart card technology."

The Fort Lauderdale Chamber's endorsement is part of a series of forums the campaign is hosting around the country on how to meet the 20 Million Job Challenge. Today's event is promoting the Chamber's Strategy for New American Jobs plan, which includes specific policy recommendations in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy, capital markets, education, and fiscal policy that will accelerate economic growth and get Americans back to work.

"We are thrilled to join in this campaign as part of our 100th annual meeting," said Dan Lindblade, president of the Fort Lauderdale Chamber. "Florida has been hit especially hard by this recession but we are seeing great resilience from local businesses. As an economy that thrives on tourism, these business leaders who embrace the principles of the American free enterprise system are setting an example for millions of visitors."

The event follows Donohue's annual State of American Business address, where he outlined top priorities for accelerating economic recovery and an agenda for job growth. In addition, the campaign recently launched the I Am Free Enterprise video contest, which invites all aspiring and established entrepreneurs to share their story of free enterprise for a chance to win $50,000.

American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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