Ensuring economic opportunities and a sustainable economy, with an emphasis on Broward's lower and middle class helps Broward County achieve its goals for ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. 

Prominently marketing Broward County as a brand, while increasing public understanding of programs and services helps the County achieve its goals for CONNECTED COMMUNITY. ​

Top Achievements in FY2024

Broward County's recovery economy is due in part to three key economic engines: Airport, Seaport and Tourism, and the efforts of our Office of Economic and Small Business Development and Film Commission. Growth in Broward County's revenue-generating enterprises is balanced with economic, environmental and community considerations. Major capital projects provide infrastructure that is responsive to community needs.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

• FLL operating budget is $302.8 million.
• Passenger traffic was up 4.1% over FY2023 with 35.7 million total passengers in FY2024. Domestic traffic was up 5.3% and international passenger traffic remained flat compared to FY2023. 
• According to Airports Council International, FLL currently ranks as the 17th busiest airport and 12th in international traffic in the U.S. 
• FLL has an average of 242 daily domestic departures to 81 cities and 70 daily international departures to 42 destinations in 20 countries.
• Broward County Aviation employs 633 full-time and 74 part-time employees. It takes 16,000 people to run airport operations from airlines, vendor, concession, etc…
• Hosted National Airports Conference with record attendance of 500+ aviation industry professional.
• In July 2024, introduced a new food court in Terminal 3 with Pollo Tropical, BurgerFi and Dunkin' Donuts eateries.

New Service Launched at FLL in 2024

• El Al: seasonal service to Tel Aviv, Israel
• Azul: Sao Paulo, Brazil (service to Curacao launches Dec 2024)
• Allegiant: Traverse City
• Frontier: Cincinnati and San Juan
• JetBlue: Las Vegas and Phoenix (with “Mint" service – equivalent to first-class)
• Porter: Montreal (Canada is one of our top international destination)

Future FLL

• Terminal 5: Groundbreaking for Terminal 5 (T5) took place in October 2023. The new $404 million, 230,000 sq ft facility will be a two-level, five-gate domestic terminal connecting to Terminal 4 and the existing Cypress parking garage onsite. Anticipated completion date: mid-2026. 
• Intermodal Center (IMC) and Automated People Mover (APM): Draft Environmental Assessment was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in July 2024. IMC estimated cost: $835 million. APM estimated cost: $855 million. Anticipated completion date for both projects: 2030.
• Terminal Connectors Project: Award $50 million grant in February 2024, as part of funding under the FY2024 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law competitive Airport Terminal Program. Terminals 1 and 2 and Terminals 2 and 3 will be connected post-security. Estimated $260 million project is targeted for completion in late 2027. Read more .
• Master Plan Future Phases: New multi-level parking garage and roadway improvements 

Learn more at Broward.org/Airport

​Port Everglades

Port Everglades, a self-supporting enterprise fund of Broward County, operates without using local property taxes. Revenue is generated from service fees, real estate leases, and other charges.

• Economic activity related to Port Everglades is $26.5 billion. More than 192,000 Florida jobs are impacted by the Port, including nearly 11,000 people who work for companies providing direct services to Port Everglades.
• Earned a record $215.7 million, a 18% increase from FY2023. It also set a new cruise passenger record, welcoming more than 4 million guests, a 39% increase over FY2023.
• Cruise guest parking revenue rose by 46% due to a new 750-space lot.
• Hosted 889 ship calls, generating nearly $77 million in revenue and $13.8 million from parking.
• Disney Cruise Line opened its second homeport and joined Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International with year-round sailing itineraries, all contributing to the Port's cruise growth.
• Containerized cargo increased by 7%, reaching 1,087,112 TEUs and generating nearly $41 million. (TEU:-Twenty-foot equivalent units, the industry standard for measurement, which refers to a 20-foot cargo container).
• According to the World Bank, Port Everglades climbed the global operational performance rankings from 89 to 65, placing in the top 20% of ports worldwide. In North America, the Port moved to No. 3 and retained its top spot in Florida.
• The Port's improved performance was aided by the Southport Turning North Extension, adding five new berths, and the commissioning of three additional Super Post-Panamax container gantry cranes.
• Energy volumes remained steady, with 130 million barrels of throughput, generating $45 million in dock and volume fees.
• Obtained $850,000 of FY2024 Community Project funding and $2.5 million in grant funding for shore power (DERA 2023). Port Everglades is advancing initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the installation of shore power infrastructure for its eight cruise terminals.
• Received a $1.4 million Port Security Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to enhance cybersecurity protection of port security IT infrastructure.
• Construction began on a two-lane County-funded Bypass Road that will connect US 1/Federal Highway and west SR 84/Spangler to terminate on SE 17th Street at the Convention Center/Hotel. Expected completion is end of 2025.

Learn more at PortEverglades.net. 

​​Visit Lauderdale

• In FY2024, Occupancy Rate was at 72%, flat to FY2023; Average Daily Rate was $181.99, 3% below FY2023; Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) was $130.47, 3% below FY2023; and reported Hotel Revenue is 1% below FY2023. Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collections are expected to exceed $120 million.
• Demand for hotels was up 1.7% YoY, exceeding growth levels in Miami, Palm Beach and Florida overall.
• Participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade 2024 to a TV audience of 24 million and an ROI of 894%, a $900,000 investment that reaped a ROI of $9.4 million.
• Commissioned a destination anthem, “Laudy Dayo," reflecting the beauty, the diverse and inclusive nature of the destination, which was performed on the float at the Tournament of Roses Parade.
• Greater Fort Lauderdale's bid was accepted for IPW 2026, U.S. Travel Association's largest travel trade show with 6,000+ participants from all over the world, a first for Visit Lauderdale.
• Sponsored an English Premier Football team, the Wolverton Wolves, reaching an important international market for the destination; and sponsored an Indy Car for the 2024-25 season, the first destination to do so.
• Construction continues on the $1.3 billion Broward County Convention Center expansion and new headquarters hotel project. More than $160 million has been paid to 70+ CBEs participating in the project. Full completion expected late 2025.
• The convention center is attracting a significant number of health and science conference, bringing in affluent visitors contributing to the local economy. Upcoming conference bookings for 2026-2028 include nearly 29,000 room nights.
  

Learn more at VisitLauderdale.com.

Office of Economic & Small Business Development

• ​Approved 191 new certifications for County Business Enterprise/Small Business Enterprise (CBE/SBE) firms under the local small business program, and 27 new certifications under the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Airport Concessions Disadvantaged business Enterprise (DBE/ACDBE) small business programs.
• Awarded 44 contracts with CBE goals totaling $370 million and four contracts with DBE goals totaling $250 million.
• Currently monitoring 472 projects with CBE and DBE participation requirements, totaling $6.6 billion, of which 38% or $2.6 billion committed to certified CBEs and DBEs.
  
• Reviewed 180 projects, with an estimated value of $770 million, for small business participation goals.
• Viewed 64 projects, valued at $2.3 million, under the Sheltered Market Program (SBE Program).
• Reviewed 13 projects, valued at $110 million, under the DBE program. 
• Began implementing the Broward County Strategic Job Creation Incentive and Direct Cash Job Growth Incentive programs to attract manufacturing and targeted industries. In 2024, two new Strategic Job Creation Incentive projects were approved by the Board, which, when completed, will attract 204 new high-wage jobs to Broward County.
• Held the Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo (FITCE)​ at the Broward County Convention Center with high-level government leaders, international trade experts and delegations representing more than 74 countries, national agencies and businesses. FITCE is Florida's #1 international trade and commerce expo.
• Hosted the Broward & Beyond Business Conference, a free event designed to facilitate great opportunities for entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals. With 983 attendees, the event earned the highest sponsorships pledged (+38%), attendance (+12%), and registrations (+6%) while 116 connections were made with businesses interested in certification.
• Offered The Kauffman FastTrac® New Venture™ Entrepreneurship Program, a ten-module course allowing business owners and entrepreneurs to determine the viability of their business concept,  develop a strong business plan, and connect to services and subject matter experts that can grow their business.
• Created a semi-annual bootcamp series “You Have a Contract, Now What?" with 327 participants.

Learn more at Broward.org/EconDev.

Film Lauderdale

• Launched in 2022, Film & TV Incentive Programs has expanded to attract feature films, TV series, high-impact commercials, and local emerging filmmaker grants and has contracted with 28 projects with combined budgets of more than $12.7 million to date. 
• Brought more than $180 million in local economic impact and 11,513 jobs for cast & crew, an 8% increase from 2023, illustrating strong regional growth despite strikes and other issues that have slowed down production elsewhere.
  
• In collaboration with IATSE Local 477, launched a free innovative transferable skills workforce training program for residents. The program trains like-industries in our small business community on how their skillset can transfer into the film industry.
• During the Writers Guild of America strike and Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike, Film Lauderdale continued to record growth in the industry through the rise in commercial production, major photoshoots, and mid-budget independent feature films.
  
• Currently administers a one-stop film permitting process for 27 municipalities and County departments, and have finalized formal interlocal agreements with 18 municipalities.
• The Film Lauderdale Production Directory increased by 21% since the start of FY2023.
• Added 127 new locations to the Film Commission's Location Database.
• Launched the Emerging Filmmakers Grant program, providing a funding resource to resident content creators to produce individual projects.

Learn more at FilmLauderdale.org.

​Public Works Department: Construction Management Division

• ​​Currently managing approximately $2.3 billion worth of existing, new or planned capital projects. In FY2024, managed an average of 94 projects with substantial completion of 12 projects with approved budgets totaling $139.3 million. With new projects added in FY2025, there are currently 91 active projects.
• Successfully opened the new Supervisor of Elections facility in August 2024, just in time for the 2024 elections.
• Continuing to work on facilities improvements for the Central and North HAC facilities, part of a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program from FEMA.
• Started design efforts for the renovation of the new Broward Cultural Center (formerly the​ Young At Art site)
• The 75,000 square feet Property Appraiser / Value Adjustment Board Facility is in the design phase to an existing three-story building in Fort Lauderdale. The facility has a budget of $45 million and an expected completion date in the winter 2025.
• County successfully acquired the Gore Property in downtown Fort Lauderdale as the future site for the new Governmental Center East. Procured consulting services and engaged an architect to update the Design Criteria Package. Estimated cost is $702 million. 

Learn more at Broward.org/PublicWorks. 

​ ​​