The Florida-Costa Rica Linkage Institute, known as FLORICA, was created in 1986, authorized by the Florida Legislature in 1987, and formalized by an agreement signed by the State University System of Florida, the Florida Community College System and the Council of Rectors of Costa Rican Universities (CONARE). Since its beginning, FLORICA has been administered for Costa Rica by CONARE and on behalf of the State of Florida by The Florida State University and Valencia Community College, with co-directors appointed from each institution, and an advisory board with appointees from Florida and Costa Rica. This has been an outstanding university/community college partnership.
FLORICA has strong credibility both in Florida and Costa Rica as a stimulus and a catalyst. The Institute has interfaced broadly in Costa Rica with institutions and agencies including all the public universities, CONARE, several Ministries, the National Training Institute, the Costa Rica Investment and Development Program (CINDE), the Limon Port Authority, the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM), the Costa Rica-U.S. Cultural Center, the National Insurance Institute, Centro Cultural Costarricense, LACSA Airlines, Aero Costa Rica, the National Symphony Orchestra, several museums, and private foundations. FLORICA continues to foster more than 40 diverse projects through facilitation of commercial development and linkages, cooperative research and technical assistance, cultural exchange and the enhancement of language training skills.
During its early years, to establish credibility and lay a strong foundation, FLORICA focused primarily on educational and cultural activities. During the past few years there has been increased program activity in the areas of tourism, trade and economic development with numerous benefits to the State of Florida. With the cooperation of key Costa Rican agencies such as the Costa Rican Investment and Development Program, the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce, the National Training Institute and the Limon Port Authority, the commercial activity primarily has focused on the areas of trade linkages through conferences and trade missions, port development interaction between Limon and Jacksonville (with additional assistance from the Jacksonville Port Authority), industrial productivity seminars, collaborative agricultural research, and development of the hospitality and eco-tourism industries.