Ep. 401 | Florida’s Manufacturing Boom: Jason Mahon & Kevin Carr on Economic Growth and Future Industries

Live from the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum, this milestone Small Biz Florida episode features a powerhouse conversation with Jason Mahon, Florida’s Deputy Secretary of Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes. Together, they break down Florida’s extraordinary economic surge, including a jump in state GDP from $1.1 trillion to $1.7 trillion and the doubling of manufacturing GDP to over $80 billion in just six years. The discussion highlights how Florida has become a national leader in manufacturing productivity, how collaboration between support organizations (like FloridaMakes, SBDC, and Florida Commerce) fuels this momentum, and why future industries such as Ag Tech, shipbuilding, and quantum innovation are in focus. Most importantly, they explain why small businesses are the benchmark of Florida’s success story. This podcast episode was recorded live at the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital. Connect with Our Guests: Florida Department of Commerce: https://www.floridajobs.org FloridaMakes: https://www.floridamakes.com