​2014 has been a year of great achievement. Projects that were just a vision decades ago have come to completion. Others are nearing the final stages. We have also paved the way for future growth

Broward Means Business

In 2014, we recognized our local businesses, the backbone of our county.  We nourished, incubated and encouraged business growth and job creation with specialized seminars, programs, partnerships, loans and incentive opportunities, and we saw results. There were 65,242 private business establishments in Broward in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 937 over the previous year's same period.

The state of Broward County is “strong and stable.” At 5.2 percent, our unemployment rate remains below the tri county area, and the lowest of any large urban county in the state.

The County Commission approved a $4.1 billion budget for fiscal year 2015, without raising the property tax rate. Broward is one of only five counties in Florida who have three AAA ratings.

Economic Engines: Airport, Port and Tourism

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is one of the fasting growing airports in the country. In September, we opened the 8,000 foot runway, part of a $2.3 billion capital improvement project that includes the renovation of all terminals.

Capacity at the airport is up to 425,000 flights annually. We welcomed new international airlines, and now offer flights to London, Scandinavia, Peru, Copenhagen and Oslo. Service to Latin America and the Caribbean has increased.

International travel is up 24 percent from January to August of 2014. We installed 10 automated passenger controlled kiosks to increase efficiency of processing international travelers. We welcomed new concession business at all terminals, such as Starbucks, Shula Burger, Urban Market and Seattle's Best Coffee.

We unveiled the $73 million, 43-acre Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at Port Everglades, a model public/private partnership that is expected to reduce congestion on interstate and local roadways. Air emissions will be reduced by diverting 180,000 trucks from the roads by 2027, giving our Port a cost and time-to-market advantage and putting more residents to work as a result of additional business opportunities generated.

Port Everglades reached two major milestones, with more than 1 million TEUs (20 foot equivalent units, the industry standard measurement for containers) and more than 4 million passenger moves.

The president signed the Water Resource Reform and Development Act, which allows us to proceed with a $5.4 million project for the deepening and widening of the Port Everglades channel, necessary to accommodate larger ships passing through the Panama Canal. In October, areas of discussion with the Panama Canal Authority administrator included joint advertising programs, data exchange, market analysis and economic opportunities.

Broward's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Professional Standards secured $14.7 million for the Port Everglades South Port turning notch, over $2 million for beach renourishment for segment 2, and a $10 million statewide appropriation for the quiet zone grant program.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau welcomed a record-breaking 14.1 million visitors this past year with an economic impact of $11.4 billion. Hotel occupancy is up 3.9 percent and the average daily rate for a hotel is up 6 percent.

Success in the office of Film, Music and Entertainment has led to 714 film projects in Broward County and an economic impact in excess of $614 million. The record year of tourism comes after more than two decades of visitor growth that has transformed Broward County from a regional beach attraction into a leader in South Florida economic development.

This year the County Commission moved forward with plans for a new 750 room Convention Center hotel and 70,000-square foot expansion expected to result in over 115,000 new annual overnight stays, an estimated 80,000 in new attendees, creation of 721 permanent full time jobs, over $96 million in future tax revenues and more than 70 million in new state tax collections - $21 million for Broward County.

New Courthouse

New courthouse construction is almost 72 percent complete. The $220 million, 714 square foot structure is one of the largest courthouses in the U.S. and has generated 2,400 jobs. A ceremonial ribbon cutting marked completion of the parking garage, which will eventually accommodate up to 1,000 courthouse employees.

Regional E911

The Office of Regional Communications and Technology completed the consolidation of eight public safety answering points into three, reducing the number of misdirected 911 calls from mobile phones thereby increasing the efficiency and speed of answering and responding to 911 callers.

Community Wellness

We are moving forward with a new building for the Broward Addiction and Recovery Center (BARC) in Fort Lauderdale. This year BARC earned the gold seal of approval for accreditation by meeting or exceeding the joint commission's national standards for health and quality and safety in behavioral health care.

Animal care and adoption programs are saving lives of lost and stray pets. The increase in the number of animals saved jumped 10 percent. The number of animals sterilized increased 15 percent, while the number of animals taken into shelter decreased more than 10 percent. In September, Commissioners agreed to move forward with the Humane Society of Broward County (HSBC) to establish a feasible plan for the HSBC to fund the construction and operation of a high volume, low cost spay and neuter clinic on County-owned property, and next year the groundbreaking will take place for a new air conditioned animal shelter.

Housing

Broward County provided over $5 million to cities, local not-for-profits, and affordable housing providers for home ownership, home repair, new multifamily development and foreclosure counseling.  Funding provided new or repaired housing to 284 units, services to 962 residents, and $454,000 in neighborhood infrastructure improvements.  We constructed 17 new affordable homes in unincorporated areas.

Parks and Recreation

Central Broward Regional Park and Stadium revenues increased by 43 percent and there were facility bookings for more than 275 days of the year. Several years ago this Commission evaluated whether or not we could continue to cost effectively self-operate our water parks. We were convinced that we could, and today, attendance is up, revenue is up, and there is a brand new four water slide complex at C.B. Smith Park.

Is it any wonder that Broward County is the first county in the country to be named a Four Star Community, recognized for national excellence in economic environmental and community sustainability?  STAR stands for Sustainability Tools for Assessing and Rating Communities. The Environmental Planning and Community Resiliency Division led this initiative along with more than 30 county departments and community partners to achieve the rating.

Centennial Celebration

This year, we will celebrate our 100th birthday with the theme “Celebrating the Art of Community.”  In October we “rocked the block” on Las Olas Boulevard to kick off the year-long event. Broward 100 will commemorate the centennial with bold, innovative art and performance projects that attract visitors and bring residents together using arts, sports, and recreation venues, natural attractions and incredible diversity to creatively bridge, bond, and build our communities.  

The Business of Broward County