Andrew 30 Years Later: A More Resilient South Florida
The 30th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew’s assault on South Florida is days away, and for the uninitiated and those who may have forgotten, here is what the Category 5 storm did to southern Miami-Dade County and elsewhere. Interviews this week with businessmen, economists, forecasters and other experts show substantial improvements over the last three decades. Many agree that another storm of Andrew’s magnitude is likely to be mitigated by preventive measures taken over the years, though South Florida’s growing status as a preferred place for out-of-staters to relocate has raised uncertainties about the extent of damages another massive storm could cause.
WEG Tampa General’s Medical District Study Highlighted in Florida Politics
Medical District in the heart of Tampa Bay to cultivate groundbreaking research and expand access to care.
It’s been three years since Tampa General Hospital president and CEO John Couris declared “Tampa needs a medical district.” His vision is not just becoming a reality, but it’s anticipated to have a significant economic impact on the region and the state, according to a preliminary study completed by The Washington Economics Group.
WEG Study: Florida Education Champions touts millions in economic benefits from 2022 sports-betting initiative
FEC, a political committee that seeks to expand online sports gambling, released a new study on Wednesday analyzing the economic and revenue benefits from its 2022 proposed voting initiative. The FEC commissioned report found that the political committee’s proposed constitutional amendment is expected to generate $350 million in state and local tax revenue annually, including $247 million that would be directed to the Florida Department of Education’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. “The findings represent the significant benefits our proposed constitutional amendment will provide to Florida taxpayers, consumers, and to our public education system.
Miami Today Quotes Tony Villamil: Economists agree inflation may hit 5.5% this year
Tony Villamil, Founder and Senior Advisor of an economic consulting firm, The Washington Economics Group Inc., said businesses and people are aware that the level of prices is going up to 4% and in that sense, people are vigilant about what might happen. “It’s a wait-and-see attitude and at this stage I haven’t seen businesses rushing to change their price levels even though we are beginning to notice that in some areas,” Mr. Villamil said.
OBJ’s Roundtable Discussion on Florida’s Minimum Wage
On January 21, 2021, Tony Villamil, Founder and Senior Advisor of The Washington Economic Group, Inc. (WEG) was a panelist in the Orlando Business Journal’s virtual roundtable discussion on Florida’s minimum wage. The discussion focused on the impact of that wage increase not only on workers’ wages but also the Central Florida economy as a whole, as well as any challenges it may initially present for certain industries.
The James Madison Institute (JMI) Releases “Battleground States 2020” Report
New study by leading economic think tank compares policy agendas of both presidential candidades in 5 battleground state. The James Madison Institute (JMI), one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit economic research organizations today released a groundbreaking study. The analysis compares the economic policy agendas of the two major presidential candidates, President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden across five battleground states – Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
WEG Founder and Senior Advisor Quoted in Miami Today on Financial Employment
Miami-Dade’s unemployment rate was 11.5% as of June, the last month for which there is available data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate wavered only slightly in April and May, from 11.8% to 12%, respectively. But over that same period, employment in the financial activities sector barely budged. Jobs in finance fell from 81,700 in March, when the pandemic hit, to 81,400 in May – a 0.2% differential. The trend extends across South Florida. Banking and finance employment across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties – a roughly 188,000-job sector – was just 0.1% less in June than in the year prior, the smallest dip among 12 job sectors the bureau.
Villamil quoted in The Philadelphia Inquirer on why people are moving from Pennsylvania, New Jersey to Florida
New evidence to help show that many Northeners are packing their belongings, bank accounts and heading to Florida and other zero income tax states, J. Antonio Villamil, founder and principal advisor of The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG) in Coral Gables, FL., said the Federal Tax Reform Act of 2018 “increased our competitive advantage” and has boosted Florida’s economy.
Florida Sees Surge of New Residents Moving from High-Tax States
There’s new evidence to help show that many Northerners are packing their belongings — and bank accounts — and heading to Florida and other zero income-tax states. Newly released IRS data for 2018 shows Florida — which has no personal income tax — had a 3 percent increase over 2017 in the migration of net personal income — the dollars coming into the county versus what’s going out. Americans are taking a closer look at how much they’re paying in taxes and moving to a lower-tax state like Florida can make a big difference come Tax Day.
Renowned WEG Study Concludes eMerge Americas Generated $1.3B in Cumulative Economic Impacts Since 2014
eMerge Americas, a platform which fosters innovation and serves as a catalyst for transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas, had cumulative economic impacts of $1.368 billion in the State of Florida since its 2014 inception, according to a new economic impact study conducted by The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG). eMerge Americas also supported 7,171 josbs statewide from 2014-2019.
WEG Founder and Senior Advisor quoted in Miami Today on Interest Rates
As bond interest rates on 10 year Treasury notes slide lower amid economic and political uncertainty, what are the ramifications for the Miami business community? In an interview with Catherine Lacker on this topic, Tony Villamil, founder and senior advisor of the Washington Economic Group (WEG) said “I don’t see a recession this year,” nor does he see a rate hike by the Federal Rserve Bank in the immediate future, he added.
WEG Founder and Senior Advisor Quoted in South Florida Sun Sentinel on Florida Governors Trade Missions
Tony Villamil, Founder and Senior Advisor of the Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG), was quoted in an article by Skyler Swisher published on May 31, 2019 on the trade missions around the world by Florida Governors leading to questions over whether taxpayers are footing the bill for politicians to enjoy lavish, self-serving outings at their expense.
Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Group:Table local government consolidation discussion
Recent talks of consolidating local government should be deferred until pressing community issues are resolved, a committee commissioned by the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce found.The committee on Friday released findings from its Local Government and Community Study.
Is Florida at Risk of Recession?
In an article published on January 15, 2019 by Preston Business Review, WEG Founder and Senior advisor J. Antonio (Tony) Villamil, was interviewed on the chance of recession in Florida. According to the article and with other economists predictions, the chances of recession in Florida is low, and will continue to outperform the national economy.
JMI Study Finds Sharp Differences Between Ron DeSantis’ and Andrew Gillum’s Economic Plans
The James Madison Institute released an objective and non-partisan analysis of the economic platforms of each of the two major candidates to be Florida’s 44th Governor. The James Madison Institute partnered with two of the nation’s leading and most widely respected econometric firms – The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG) and Arduin, Laffer, and Moore to produce an objective and non-partisan analysis of the economic platforms of each of the two major candidates to be Florida’s 44th Governor.
Sun-Sentinel: More Jobs in South Florida, Lower Unemployment Rate
South Florida added nearly 46,000 jobs in July over a year ago, while unemployment rate fell from a year ago, according to a report released Friday, August 17 by Florida’s Department of Economic Oppotunity. In an interview with Tony Villamil, economist with The Washington Economics Group, Inc., when asked about Florida and the region’s job growth, he said “So far, so Good,” adding “We’re back at full employment, and Florida is benefiting from growth in major industries.”
Villamil Quoted in Sun-Sentinel Article: Nervous South Florida Industries Await Tariff War Fallout
In an article by David Lyons published in Sun-Sentinel, Tony Villamil, a longtime economist who heads The Washington Economics Group, Inc. (WEG), said he is concerned “on a number of fronts,” including trade, tourism, construction and new investment. He also added “We need open markets….”if you look at all of the aspects of the Florida […]
Tony Villami on The Tweet of the Week – Sunshine State News
In the article “How Far Should Florida Go on Venezuela” published by the Sunshina Sate News on August 10, WEG Principal and Founder, Tony Villamil’s tweet was number one of the week…”keeping markeets open and avoiding trade protectionism is critical to Florida economy. Is Washington and Tallahassee listening?” Read full article
Villamil Quoted in Miami Herald Article:: Will Trump be Good for South Florida’s Economy?
In the January 26, 2017 article of the Miami Herald, South Florida business leaders focused on an economic wild card that few has predicted: President Donald Trump. The new president’s policies on trade, finance, immigration and healthcare could have a greater impact — positive and negative –on South Florida than on other regions less closely tied to foreign markets, noted Thursday’s speakers.
Miami Herald Editorial by Marielena Villamil and Harve Mogul Urges Florida House to Pass the Senate’s FHIX Plan
In a Miami Herald editorial article dated April 18, 2015, Marielena Villamil, WEG CEO and United Way Board Member, and Harve A. Mogul, United Way President and CEO, urged the Florida House to use the remaining days of the 2015 Legislative Session to pass the Senate’s FHIX plan. In the article, they describe the FHIX […]
Tony Villamil Quoted in Sun-Sentinel on Strong November Employment Numbers
Tony Villamil, WEG Founder and Principal, was interviewed by Marcia Heroux Ponds on Florida’s November Employment Report. With unemployment levels at their lowest levels since the recession in Broward and Palm Beach County, Tony Villamil says the State of Florida is finishing the year strong. Florida’s unemployment rate fell from 6 percent in October to […]
WEG Founder Comments on Florida Latest Employment Report in Sun-Sentinel
In the June employment report released by the State of Florida on July 19th, unemployment slightly rose to 6.1% from 5.8% last month.
WEG Founder Comments on Twitter on the Contraction of the U.S. Economy
Based on the Bureau of Economic Analysis report released today, the U.S. economy shrank 0.1% annual rate in the fourth quarter, down from the 3.1% growth in the third quarter.
