Florida’s veteran entrepreneurship community gained 14 new program graduates this week as Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship concluded the first Leon County cohort of its Veteran Entrepreneurship Certificate Program, a joint effort with Veterans Florida designed to help former service members build and grow businesses.
Veterans Complete Six-Week Business Program
The graduates wrapped up a six-week Facilitated Business Modeling Program that covered customer discovery, market validation, and entrepreneurial decision-making. Participants ranged from veterans still developing early-stage concepts to business owners already operating and looking to expand.
FSU faculty including Susana Santos, Bill Lickson, Juliana Binhote, Doug Tatum, and Melissa Robert guided the cohort through the curriculum. Program director Eric Liguori said veterans “bring an incredible combination of resilience, leadership and adaptability to entrepreneurship” — qualities that translate directly into the demands of starting and running a business.
Susan Fiorito, also affiliated with the college, described the partnership with Veterans Florida as representative of “the kind of community-centered impact happening every day in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship.”
Graduates are now eligible to join the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship’s statewide alumni network, which includes more than 2,700 Florida business owners. The network provides ongoing resources and peer connections for entrepreneurs across the state.
By the Numbers
14 — veterans who completed the Leon County cohort
6 weeks — length of the Facilitated Business Modeling Program
2,700+ — current members in the FSU Jim Moran alumni network statewide
30-9 / 75-26 — Senate and House vote margins on HJR 1-F, a proposed homestead tax exemption amendment
$81.1 million — total fundraising by Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, including $13.8 million raised in April and May alone
Homestead Tax Exemption Heads to Voters
The Florida Legislature sent a significant property tax question to voters this week, with the Senate approving HJR 1-F by a 30-9 margin and the House passing the same measure 75-26. If Florida voters ratify the constitutional amendment with at least 60 percent approval in November, the homestead exemption would increase to $150,000 in 2027 and rise further to $250,000 in 2028. The school taxes exemption would remain unchanged at $25,000.
The measure requires supermajority voter support to take effect, making the November ballot campaign a central battleground for property tax relief advocates and those concerned about the fiscal impact on local governments.
Other Developments From the Capital
President Donald Trump nominated Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Brazil, a selection that removes one of the state’s prominent legislative leaders from Tallahassee’s political landscape ahead of a busy election cycle.
On the gubernatorial front, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings disclosed a prostate cancer diagnosis and announced he is suspending his Democratic campaign for governor. His exit narrows the field on the Democratic side as the 2026 race takes shape.
Republican candidate Byron Donalds continues to demonstrate significant financial strength, with total fundraising reaching $81.1 million. His campaign reported $13.8 million raised during April and May, signaling robust donor support as the primary approaches.
Zoom Out
Veteran entrepreneurship programs have expanded across multiple states in recent years, with federal and state agencies increasingly partnering with university business schools to provide structured training. Florida’s model — pairing FSU’s academic resources with the Veterans Florida organization — reflects a broader national trend of leveraging existing institutional networks to lower barriers for veterans entering the private sector.
Meanwhile, Florida’s proposed homestead exemption increase mirrors property tax relief efforts in several other high-growth states wrestling with rising home values and the affordability pressures they create for long-term residents.
What’s Next
The homestead exemption amendment will appear before Florida voters in November, where it must clear the 60 percent approval threshold to become law. The Donalds campaign and remaining gubernatorial contenders are expected to intensify fundraising and organizing efforts through the summer primary season. Additional cohorts of the Veteran Entrepreneurship Certificate Program are anticipated as FSU and Veterans Florida look to expand the initiative beyond Leon County.