Start in Florida. Grow in the United States.
The Florida Soft Landings Program helps international companies enter the U.S. market, establish operations in Florida, and build the relationships needed for long-term growth.
Through a statewide network of designated entrepreneurial support organizations, international companies access market-entry guidance, specialized facilities, business expertise, and connections to Florida's customers, investors, talent, universities, suppliers, and economic-development resources.
The program is administered through a partnership between SelectFlorida, Florida's official international commerce organization, and the Florida Business Incubation Association.
SelectFlorida
Establishes statewide foreign direct investment priorities, program policies, and international prospect referral pathways. Holds final authority for approving, renewing, suspending, or terminating designations.
FBIA
Administers the application and evaluation process, conducts due diligence, monitors compliance, delivers training and peer learning, collects statewide outcomes, and maintains the official directory of designated locations.
Support that makes U.S. entry manageable.
Entering the United States can involve unfamiliar legal, regulatory, financial, operational, and cultural requirements. Florida Soft Landings locations help companies understand those requirements, identify trusted resources, and build a strong foundation for growth. Services vary by location and may include:
Market-Entry Planning
U.S. and Florida market-entry planning, plus site-selection and economic-development assistance for companies choosing where to land.
Customers & Corporate Partners
Introductions to prospective customers, corporate partners, suppliers, and service providers across Florida's industry base.
Investor & Capital Readiness
Investor connections and capital-readiness support to prepare international companies for U.S. fundraising conversations.
Facilities & Space
Office, laboratory, manufacturing, and coworking space suited to the operational needs of an incoming company.
Professional Referrals
Referrals to legal, tax, accounting, immigration, insurance, regulatory, and intellectual-property professionals.
Company Formation
Guidance on company formation and the practical steps of establishing a U.S. business entity.
Talent & Universities
Talent recruitment support and connections to Florida's universities, research centers, and student pipelines.
Programming & Mentoring
Commercialization support, mentoring, and accelerator programming tailored to growth-stage international companies.
Community Orientation
Community orientation and ongoing support after landing, so teams settle in and keep momentum.
A market built for expansion.
Florida offers international companies access to one of the largest markets in the United States, a growing and diverse workforce, world-class universities, global transportation connections, and a business environment built for expansion.
Industries supported
- Life sciences & biotechnology
- Aviation, aerospace & defense
- Financial & professional services
- Information technology
- Manufacturing
- Logistics & distribution
- Clean technology
- Semiconductors & microelectronics
- Agriculture & food technology
- Other advanced & emerging industries
Find the right Florida landing point.
Florida Soft Landings locations serve different industries, regions, and company needs. Use our statewide directory to identify organizations offering the facilities, expertise, partnerships, and market access that best support your U.S. expansion.
Each directory profile includes
- Location and region served
- Industry expertise
- Available facilities
- Market-entry services
- University and community connections
- Contact information
- Company eligibility requirements
Request assistance
Tell us about your company, industry, U.S. market-entry goals, preferred Florida location, facility requirements, and anticipated timeline. The Florida Soft Landings network will help identify the location and resources best aligned with your needs.
Become a designated Florida Soft Landings location.
The designation recognizes qualified Florida organizations that help international companies enter the United States and establish successful Florida operations. Eligible applicants include incubators, accelerators, innovation hubs, economic-development organizations, research parks, university-affiliated programs, and other place-based entrepreneurial support organizations.
Both nonprofit and for-profit organizations may apply. FBIA membership is not required to submit an application.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be an organization or legal entity with an Employer Identification Number
- Operate in Florida for the benefit of Florida communities
- Provide services to international companies entering the U.S. market
- Use a formal process to evaluate company readiness and commercial viability
- Offer or facilitate support for company formation, legal, tax, immigration, intellectual-property, regulatory, and other market-entry needs
- Provide access to customers, corporate partners, investors, and other U.S. stakeholders
- Demonstrate qualified international prospect activity or deal flow
- Track program outcomes and economic impact
- Follow applicable Florida laws, ethical business practices, and program requirements
- Participate in annual reporting and quality-assurance activities
Designation is awarded to an organization and an approved site, not to an individual.
Applications are evaluated across five areas.
International Market-Entry Focus
The organization must demonstrate that its program and services are designed to support international companies entering the United States through Florida.
Qualified Deal Flow
A formal process must be used to screen international prospects for readiness, commercial viability, and alignment with Florida's economic-development priorities.
Business-Establishment Support
The organization must provide or facilitate expertise in company formation, legal compliance, taxation, immigration, intellectual property, insurance, and regulatory requirements.
Investor & Corporate Access
The organization must connect international companies with prospective customers, investors, corporations, suppliers, and other business-development resources.
Leadership, Accountability & Reporting
Qualified leadership, appropriate accountability systems, and the ability to track market-entry outcomes and economic impact are required.
How the process works.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
- 01
Confirm eligibility
Review the program requirements and accreditation standards to confirm your organization and site qualify.
- 02
Submit an application
Complete the online application and upload the required supporting documentation.
- 03
Complete due diligence
FBIA reviews the application and may conduct interviews, request additional information, or arrange a site visit.
- 04
Receive a decision
FBIA submits its recommendation to SelectFlorida, which holds final approval authority.
- 05
Activate the designation
Approved organizations pay the applicable designation fee and are added to the official statewide directory.
The review process is typically completed within 30–60 business days after a complete application is received. SelectFlorida may limit the number of designated locations to maintain program quality, geographic balance, and alignment with statewide priorities.
Designation term
- Awarded for a two-year term
- Applies to an approved organization and site
- Renewable every two years
- Requires continued compliance with program standards
- Requires timely annual outcome reporting
Expedited review
Organizations holding a current, non-provisional InBIA Soft Landings designation may be eligible for an expedited review. Proof of current designation must be provided, and all Florida application, approval, and fee requirements continue to apply.
Transparent designation fees.
Fees differ for active FBIA members and organizations that are not FBIA members.
| Fee | Active FBIA members | Non-members |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee (per site) | $500 | $750 |
| Initial two-year designation fee | $500 | $950 |
| Renewal fee (every two years) | $500 | $1,000 |
The initial designation and renewal fees for non-members include two years of FBIA membership.
Application fees are nonrefundable and do not guarantee designation. If a designation lapses, the organization must reapply and pay the applicable application and designation fees.
Measuring what the program delivers.
Designated organizations help FBIA and SelectFlorida measure the program's economic impact by reporting outcomes annually. Statewide measures may include:
- International referrals received
- Companies served
- Successful U.S. and Florida market entries
- Florida operations established
- Jobs created
- Average wages
- Capital raised
- Anticipated three-year investment
- Industries represented
- Alignment with Florida's targeted industries
FBIA consolidates this information to evaluate program performance, support continuous improvement, and communicate the statewide impact of international business attraction.
Frequently asked questions.
Is the program only for technology companies?
No. The program may support qualified international companies across Florida's targeted and emerging industries. Individual locations may specialize in particular sectors or technologies.
Does my organization have to be an FBIA member to apply?
No. Qualified Florida organizations may apply regardless of FBIA membership or tax status. Different fees apply to active FBIA members and nonmembers.
Can a for-profit organization receive the designation?
Yes. Both nonprofit and for-profit organizations may apply, provided they meet the program's eligibility and accreditation standards.
Is designation available to individuals or consultants?
No. The designation is available to qualified Florida organizations and approved sites, not to individuals.
How long does the application process take?
A complete application is typically reviewed within 30–60 business days. Additional time may be needed if FBIA requests documentation, interviews, or a site visit.
Who makes the final designation decision?
FBIA evaluates applications and submits recommendations. SelectFlorida holds final approval authority for all designations and renewals.
How long does the designation last?
The designation is valid for two years and may be renewed if the organization remains in good standing and continues to meet program requirements.
What happens after an organization is designated?
The organization is added to the official statewide directory, may receive qualified international company referrals, participates in professional development and peer learning, and reports program outcomes annually.
Contact the Florida Soft Landings Program.
International companies
Looking for support establishing or expanding your company in Florida?
Florida organizations
Interested in becoming a designated Florida Soft Landings location?