“Back-scratching” brings big breaks for Florida companies

St. Petersburg Times reporter Sydney Freedberg, with CAR analysis from Connie Humburg and research from Carolyn Edds, investigated the dealings of the Orlando-based Enterprise Florida — “a public-private partnership that helps determine where incentive money gets spent to create jobs in the state” — and found questionable dealings. Their “investigation shows that a corporate seat on the board – which in most cases requires a $50,000 annual donation – often benefits board members’ companies.” Included in the report is an illuminating sidebar outlining who makes up the Board of Enterprise Florida.