The purpose of the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is to assist the Governor in working with the Legislature, state agencies, business leaders, and economic development professionals to formulate and implement coherent and consistent policies and strategies designed to promote economic opportunities for all Floridians.

The department also must ensure that the state's goals and policies relating to economic development, workforce development, community planning and development, and affordable housing are fully integrated with appropriate implementation strategies.

• managing the activities of public-private partnerships and state agencies in order to avoid duplication and promote coordinated and consistent implementation of programs in areas including tourism; international trade and investment; business recruitment, creation, retention, and expansion; minority and small business development; rural community development; commercialization of products, services, or ideas developed in public universities or other public institutions; and the development and promotion of professional and amateur sporting events;
• developing a statewide five-year strategic plan to address the promotion of business formation, expansion, recruitment, and retention in order to create jobs; and
• promoting viable, sustainable communities by providing technical assistance and guidance on growth and development issues, grants, and other assistance to local communities.

• Strategic Business Development
• Community Development
• Workforce Services
• Finance and Administration
• Division of Information Technology

Child Welfare. The 2022 Legislature enacted Ch. 2022-67, Laws of Florida, which  requires the department to expand grants for organizations that assist certain noncustodial parents with becoming self-sufficient and therefore become better able to provide child support payments.

Implementation of the REACH Act. The department and the CareerSource Florida Board have been working to implement the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act, which was enacted by the Florida Legislature in 2021.  Implementation work has focused on three areas.

• Alignment. The REACH Act seeks to achieve a more coordinated approach in delivering and using essential workforce development resources and services through enhanced alignment and accountability.
• Credentials Review.: The Credentials Review Committee is tasked with establishing a definition for credentials of value, creating a framework of quality, and identifying non-degree and degree credentials of value to ensure instructional programs prepare Floridians for in-demand occupations.
• Technology Integration. The department is developing a new portal that will provide Floridians broader access to education and training options, labor market information, career planning tools, workforce training, and educational support.  

Office of Economic Accountability and Transparency. Implemented this year as required by Ch. 2021-25, Laws of Florida, the Office of Economic Accountability and Transparency was established within the Department of Economic Opportunity with the following roles and responsibilities:

• To provide leadership for the Department's priority issues which require system-level integration of policy, management, and critical objectives from multiple programs and organizations internal to and external to the Department
• To organize and managed external communications related to the Department's priority issues
• To promote and facilitate key Department initiatives designed to address priority economic issues and to review data and identify opportunities for innovative ways to address these economic issues
• To promote strategic planning for the Department

Department of Economic Opportunity, 850-245-7105

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