Enterprise Florida cuts jobs

orlando.bizjournals.com 15:36 EST Wednesday 

Economic development agency Enterprise Florida has shed 22 jobs this month in response to a funding shortfall.

Thirteen workers lost their jobs and nine vacant positions were eliminated in the January cuts. Cuts were made in Orlando, Tallahassee and Miami.

The quasi-public agency receives 43 percent of its funding from a $2-a-day state fee on rental cars.

The agency was told to expect a $1.6 million shortfall from those funds, says Kim Prunty, a spokeswoman for Orlando-based Enterprise Florida.

Additionally, the agency interrupted contracts with six international offices in Taiwan, Venezuela, Israel, South Africa, Japan and Korea.

Sign up to receive free daily business updates by email every weekday afternoon. Use Search Watch to watch for related topics, companies. Receive free Industry News via email. Choose from 46 different industries.

But Prunty says Enterprise Florida is now hopeful that three or four of those operations could continue.

Next year's funding looks better for the agency. In the governor's proposed budget, Enterprise Florida would receive the full amount it was to receive this year, before the $1.6 million shortfall.