DATE: April 17, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe
Public Information Manager, Broward County Commission
PHONE: 954-357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org
BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Mayor Tim Ryan says the economic state of Broward County is "strong" with new records being set at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades and at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Mayor Ryan was a featured speaker at the Broward Workshop 7th Annual State of the County breakfast today where an estimated 900 people were in attendance.
"We are in the midst of a $2.3 billion dollar expansion that will enable us to offer a world-class airport and our efforts are paying off. Last year we set a record with 24.6 million passengers using our main airport," said Mayor Ryan.
He also noted that Port Everglades exceeded one-million TEUs for the first time in the South Florida seaport's history, according to preliminary fiscal year 2014 statistics. TEUs are 20-foot equivalent units, the standard measurement for cargo containers.
"I'm also happy to report that after eighteen years, we reached a major milestone in February as the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Review Board approved the economic and environmental studies necessary to deepen and widen the Port and turning notch," said Mayor Ryan. The $374-millon project is anticipated to create an estimated 4,700 total construction jobs and nearly 1,500 permanent jobs locally and allow Port Everglades to accommodate the world's largest cargo ships in the future.
As for tourism, the Mayor said that Broward County had the highest hotel occupancy rate in Florida for three months in a row with more than 14 million people visiting the county with an economic impact of $11.4 billion in 2014, up from the year before.
"As we continue to grow, it is incumbent upon us in government, in the business community, in our educational institutions and in the non-profit sector to work together to advance opportunities for all and to meet the needs of our growing population," Mayor Ryan said.
The Broward Workshop hosts "The State of Our County" forum annually to address current and future issues related to Broward County business. The Broward Workshop is a private, non-profit, non-partisan business organization established in 1981, consisting of the chief decision makers representing 100 of Broward County's major businesses and professions.
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