Broward County’s chief economic engines are its airport, seaport and tourism. Growth in these revenue-generating enterprises is balanced with economic, environmental and community needs.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Broward’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the 19th busiest airport and the fastest growing large hub airport in the U.S. Total passenger traffic was 32.5 million in 2017, up 11 percent.

FLL expanded service and enhanced passenger convenience and amenities in FY2017. Two new international airlines launched service: Emirates began service to Abu Dhabi and British Airways launched service to London/Gatwick. They’re just two of the seven airlines that added service to 19 countries and cities, including Havana Cuba, Salt Lake City, Utah and Long Beach, California.

In July 2017, Terminal 1, Concourse A was opened, with international service provided by Southwest and Silver Airways. The elliptical concourse design adds five new gates, restaurants, shops and a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility to expedite the processing time for arriving international flights. It’s the first federal inspection station in the U.S.

Terminal 1 includes four Public Art projects, a Water Refill Station, Indoor Pet Relief Room and other great new amenities. Terminal 4, Concourse G opened a new concession as well. And throughout the Airport, six Baby Oasis Lactation Suites were installed to accommodate nursing mothers.

To better service its guests, FLL relocated airport employee parking to the former Economy Parking Lot. The relocation freed up 3,000 parking spaces for guests in the Cypress garage.

Port Everglades

Port Everglades is the largest container port in Florida by volume, and the third busiest cruise port in the world. Total statewide economic activity generated by port operations remained consistent at approximately $30 billion. Port Everglades supports a total of 222,914 jobs in Florida.

More than 3.8 million cruise and ferry passengers embarked and debarked through Port Everglades in FY2017. The Port welcomed Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest cruise ship in the world, Harmony of Seas; Holland America Line’s first ship in its new Pinnacle class, Koningsdam; and Pearl Seas Cruises’ Pearl Mist, which was the first cruise ship to sail to Cuba from Port Everglades since the 1950s.

A critical component of the Southport Turning Notch Extension project was completed when Broward County transferred ownership of approximately 60 acres of wetlands habitat at Port Everglades, including a successful 16.5-acre Wetland Enhancement project, to the State of Florida for its permanent protection as a conservation area. Over the past two years, Port Everglades has developed a wetlands habitat and cultivated approximately 70,000 Florida-native, nursery-grown mangroves and other wetland plants to create new habitat on property that was originally a dry-stack marina and parking lot. Completion of this transfer allows 8.7 acres of an existing mangrove area to be removed and included in the Southport Turning Notch Extension project, making way for up to five new cargo ship berths. Port Everglades is now certified as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

Commissioners approved an agreement to move forward with the Southport Turning Notch Extension and crane improvements project, the largest expansion in the Port’s history valued at $437.5 million. The project will lengthen the existing deepwater turn-around area for cargo ships from approximately 900 feet to 2,400 feet, which will allow for up to five new cargo berths.

Port Everglades negotiated a long-term agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which includes investing $114 million in an exciting redesign and modernization of Cruise Terminal 25. The renovation includes expanding the footprint, adding second floor check-in and waiting areas, and significantly improving traffic circulation to create a state-of the-art facility in time for the arrival of Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge, which is being touted as the cruise industry’s most futuristic vessel, in December 2018.

For cruise passengers, going through Customs got easier when Mobile Passport Control, a smartphone app approved by U.S. Customs & Border Protection, was launched at the Port in November 2016. Port Everglades is the first and only cruise port to offer this time-saving service that expedites Customs clearance by cruise passengers.

Tourism

Tourism in Broward County creates new jobs and contributes to our economic vitality. Approximately 14 million people a year visit Broward County and spend $11.4 billion in the local economy. Our 26 miles of Blue Wave beaches generate more than $548 million annually in economic activity.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is committed to creating partnerships with the tourism industry, County agencies, municipalities and the business community, in support of ongoing improvements at the airport, seaport and Convention Center. The Convention Center, located adjacent to the Port, was carved out of the seaport’s security zone, simplifying access for convention attendees. Plans to add 400,000 square feet of additional meeting space to the Convention Center and an 800-room headquarters hotel advanced. Development firm Matthews Southwest Inc. submitted a conceptual design as part of its proposal and is now working on a final conceptual design package that meets the needs of the County and addresses the priorities of the City of Fort Lauderdale. The new and improved Convention Center is expected to create 721 permanent, full-time jobs.

In an ongoing effort to bring visitors to the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, Broward County developed the first-ever global LGBTQ travel “Think Tank,” hosting more than a dozen LGBTQ industry leaders from around the world, including as far away as China. We also successfully partnered with VISIT FLORIDA and Brand USA to grow the Chinese and Arabian tourism markets and launched new incentives for planners booking meetings during select dates in 2017 - 2018 to bring more meetings to the area in traditionally slow periods.

Economic and Small Business Development

Economic priorities include the attraction and retention of all types of business, including small business and not-for-profits, through incentives, technical assistance and workforce development support provided through various community partnerships.

The Broward County Economic Development Partnership, which consists of Broward County, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance and 31 municipalities, coordinated efforts that resulted in the retention of 1,313 jobs, the projected creation of 1,470 jobs generating new wages of at least $75.3 million, and a projected capital investment of more than $220 million generating an economic impact of $378.2 million.

The Office of Economic and Small Business Development hosted numerous events and workshops to promote business growth. Nations from around the world sent representatives to share information about business opportunities at the third annual Florida International Trade and Culture Expo, hosted in collaboration with community partners. High level government leaders, international trade experts, and delegations from over 50 countries came to dialogue about international trade, foreign direct investment and culture. The event provided a platform for Broward County businesses to explore growth opportunities. Over 800 attendees, 200 exhibitors and 70 speakers participated in the event.

More than 1,500 attended the Airport Minority Advisory Council’s 2015 Airport Business Diversity Conference, which provided networking opportunities for airports, corporations, entrepreneurs and the federal government.

A roadshow seminar series to help Broward County businesses enter new global markets had over 400 attendees. Eleven “Florida Export Opportunities” workshops attracted more than 600 attendees. Eleven Broward County businesses participated in an international trade mission to Lima, Peru with Enterprise Florida, state and County representatives.

The Kauffman Foundation FastTrac Entrepreneur Development Program served 45 participants in eight workshops, for a total 215 participants since the program’s inception in 2013. Congratulations to the graduates of the 3rd FastTrac® NewVenture Business Development course. Ten students graduated this year and nine have completed and submitted their business plans. Graduation events featured oral presentations of the top three scored business plans, which may become eligible for seed money grants.

The Office of Economic and Small Business Development’s refocused Business Development Workshop series resulted in over 600 targeted outreach activities, 94 events, training for over 220 small businesses, external referrals for 312 firms, and specialized technical assistance to more than 1,500 business owners and entrepreneurs.

The Purchasing Division contracts for nearly $600 million in goods and services annually, and continuously seeks new sources of supply. There were 48 formal competitive solicitations issued and contracts of more than $361 million awarded involving Small Business Enterprises (SBEs), County Business Enterprises (CBEs), or Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) as prime contractors or subcontractors.

To increase the level of small business participation in Broward County’s procurement process, several large projects, such as janitorial services and general security services, were unbundled into smaller contracts.

The processing time for local certification applications was reduced from 45-60 days to just under 30 days.​