Broward County Commission’s plan for stimulating unlimited economic opportunities is having a positive impact on the quality of life in our community. Broward’s unemployment rate is the lowest of any large urban county in the state.

The Economic Development Partnership, which consists of Broward County, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and 31 municipalities, coordinated efforts that resulted in the retention of 6,869 jobs, and assisted in retaining 6,120 jobs.

The projected creation of 1,824 new jobs will generate new wages in Broward County of at least $159.8 million. Projected direct capital investment of more than $312 million will generate an economic impact in Broward County of $587 million.

In 2014 Broward County reached out to recognize and help small businesses, a vital part of our community. 

Over 700 small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs attended a series of free educational programs offering information on business loan programs available through the State of Florida, commercial lenders and alternative lenders; mentoring and counseling services; and assistance on such topics as exporting and entrepreneur development.

The small business certification program helps create opportunities for small business by setting goals for small business participation on large County contracts.

Broward County's three economic engines each set new records and reached new milestones in the past fiscal year. Our airport and port are Enterprise Funds that do not rely on property tax dollars for operations or capital improvement. 

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

FLL provides nearly 135,000 jobs and generates $10.6 billion in annual economic activity. It is one of the fastest growing airports in the country with more than 23.5 million passengers per year, a five percent increase over last year. The airport broke the 2 million passenger mark for the first time in August. The completion of the new runway, a decade in the making, improves flight times, reduces delays and increases capacity from 260,000 to 425,000 flights annually.

Broward County’s airport is the fastest growing large hub airport in terms of international traffic, up 24 percent. FLL welcomed Copa Airlines, Norwegian and TAME. In a partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 10 automated passport control kiosks were installed to help expedite the processing of inbound travelers with U.S. and Canadian passports.

The new runway and kiosks are part of a $2.3 billion capital improvement project that incorporates the renovation and reconstruction of all terminals, including 80 new restaurants and shops. 

Port Everglades

Broward County’s Port Everglades celebrated a record fiscal year with $153 million in revenue. The Port generates approximately $733 million in state and local taxes, accounts for more than 11,000 direct jobs in the region and more than 200,000 jobs statewide.

Eight cruise lines, one ferry and more than 40 cruise ships sail from Port Everglades

The Florida East Coast Railway built a $73 million Intermodal Container Transfer Facility on 43 acres provided by Port Everglades. The facility is used to transfer international intermodal containers between ship and rail, and inbound and outbound domestic cargo. Loading and offloading takes place at the Port, instead of offsite facilities, which results in environmental benefits, as an estimated 180,000 trucks are taken off the roadways by the year 2027.

In addition to the $5.4 million project to deepen and widen the channel, a project is underway to lengthen Berth 4 to accommodate larger cruise ships.

The next step in an initiative to add five new cargo berths at Port Everglades is a $15.8 million Upland Mangrove Enhancement Project, which is a critical part of the Southport Turning Notch Extension that will lengthen the existing deep-water turn-around area for cargo ships from 900 feet to 2,400 feet. A new 16.5-acre upland enhancement area with approximately 70,000 new mangrove and wetland plants will replace 8.7 acres of existing habitat displaced by the turning notch extension. Additional environmental improvements will be made in nearby West Lake Park. Port officials worked closely with port users, the environmental community and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to develop the project plan. More than 100,000 mangrove plants are already being nurtured.

Several projects are underway to enhance Port security.

Tourism

Broward County's record-breaking growth in tourism is attributed in large part to increased focus by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB) in sports development; multicultural, international and domestic leisure groups; meetings and conventions; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) groups; and film, music and entertainment markets. The new market growth comes on the heels of two decades of continuous visitor growth that helped transform Broward County from a spring break mecca to a world-class resort destination. 

This year, the Broward County Commission moved forward with plans for a 70,000-square-foot expansion of the Convention Center and new headquarters hotel.