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Research & Publications

Below are links to studies and publications that have been created through the myregion.org effort. The documents provide data and information about where the region has been, where it is today and how the region can build future global competitiveness while also ensuring a high standard quality of life. Documents are available in pdf format. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader by clicking here.

	*The New Regional Agenda - myregion.org* Sourcebook provides an in-depth understanding of the issues facing Central Florida. It is the result of three years of community engagement in which more than 3,000 citizens from across the seven counties provided input. It marks the first time ever that these counties and our citizens have worked together to build a regional framework. The result is a document with six regional priorities and 10 regional resolves designed to create a better future and build the kind of community in which we will want to live, work and play. Jul 2003 myregion.org Sourcebook** - 2.61MB

	Central Florida Regional Indicators Report establishes a key indicator system that not only measures progress in the myregion.org priority areas, but indicates the region's success in becoming less fragmented and more coordinated. The report also seeks to quantify the Central Florida region's progress toward or away from "sustainability". Apr 2005 Introduction - 84KB Apr 2005 Economic Leadership - 772KB Apr 2005 Education - 1.29MB Apr 2005 Environment - 1.10MB Apr 2005 Quality of Life - 988KB Apr 2005 Smart Quality Growth - 764KB Apr 2005 Next Steps - 460KB

	The Hispanic Impact Study is an executive summary that presents the findings of an analysis of the Hispanic populations in Central Florida; their contributions to the local economy and how these contributions are expected to change in the near future. Mar 2005 2005 Regional Opinion Poll - 220KB Mar 2005 Puerto Ricans in Central Florida - 260KB Mar 2005 Economic Contributions to Region - 602KB Mar 2006 Central Florida Regional Leadership Survey - 1.76MB Mar 2006 Hispanic Communities of Central Florida: Economic Contributions to the Region - 731KB Jun 2007 Central Florida Regioanl Leadership Survey - 673KB Jun 2007 Exploring the Education Profile and Pipeline for Puerto Ricans and Hispanics in Central Florida - 120K

	Naturally Central Florida: Fitting the Pieces Together is the first document in a community process to protect and sustain the exceptional ecosystems of Central Florida. Seven “jewels of our natural world” in Central Florida are identified and showcased. These are “must save” places with regional, national, (and in some cases) global ecological and economic value that benefit Florida and the Nation. Aug 2005 Contributors - 196KB Aug 2005 Introduction - 532KB Aug 2005 Greater Kissimmee Prairie - 204KB Aug 2005 Green Swamp - 180KB Aug 2005 Indian River Lagoon - 140KB Aug 2005 Lake Wales Ridge - 184KB Aug 2005 St. Johns - 144KB Aug 2005 Volusia Corridor - 192KB Aug 2005 Wekiva-Ocala Greenway - 256KB

	The ULI Florida Initiative on Regional Cooperation, led by the ULI Florida Statewide Committee, is a broad cross section of leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors. The Committee’s recommendations, based on fact-finding, research and careful listening across the state, recognized the importance for regional approaches and solutions to ensure quality of life and success in the global economy. If Florida is to achieve a competitive advantage as it continues to accommodate a growing and changing population, the time to act is now! June 2005 Building Florida's Future: State Strategies for Regional Cooperation - 460KB June 2005 State Strategies... - Executive Summary 620KB

	PennDesign Central Florida - Under the guidance of renowned planner Jonathan Barnett, graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania spent a year analyzing the growth projections for Central Florida that include the addition of four million people by 2050. They created a trend model that reflects what the region could look like in 2050 if current trends continue. They then met with leaders throughout the region and crafted an alternative scenario that provides a roadmap of what the future could look like if different choices are made. May 2005 PennDesign Central Florida:Our Region in 2050 - 168MB

	Central Florida Values Study - When it comes to the issue of growth, what is it about their current quality of life that the citizens of Central Florida value the most? Harris Interactive, an internationally recognized strategic research organization, conducted a study of the seven counties of Central Florida for myregion.org that identified the shared, core values that Floridians associate with quality of life, growth, and development of their ideal community. The study explored attitudinal differences among key stakeholder groups such as citizens, business leaders, and local political and regulatory personnel. July 2005 Envision the Future - 1.66MB

	The Ties That Bind – Central Florida Social Capital Survey - Social Capital is a way of conceptualizing and measuring how connected people are to one another. Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone: Collapse and Revival of the American Community argues that civic and social ties in American society have weakened over the past several generations. The Central Florida Social Capital Survey was conducted by the University of Central Florida’s Institute for Social and Behavioral Sciences. Dec 2005 The Central Florida Social Capital Survey: Marginal Results – Total Survey - 272 KB Marginal Results – County by County - 496 KB Basic Crosstabs and Correlations - 1.14 MB Snapshot of Respondents - 196 KB Social Capital PowerPoint Presentation - 1.00 MB

	Demographic Changes in Central Florida and Their Implications for Regional Transportation Planning - The State of Florida continues to be among the fastest-growing states in the Nation. Amongst a myriad of potential demographic changes, two stand out: the increasing proportion of elderly in the nation, state, and region; and the rapidly increasing Latino population. Each of these changes will spawn additional changes, many with significant implications for the regional transportation system. March 2006 Who Will We Be in the Year 2050? Demographic Changes in Central Florida and Their Implications for Regional Transportation Planning

	Demographics and Social Services White Paper - When a group of professionals and volunteer leaders gathered in 2005 to begin to identify the causes that, if addressed, would have the greatest impact on the social service needs of the region in the future, it quickly became apparent that the outcome would be the beginning of a process, rather than an end product. The human issues that drive growth, economic development, and quality of life reach deep into the fabric of our region. August 2006 Central Florida's Quality of Life Demographics and Social Services White Paper

	"How Shall We Grow?" Mid Project Report - As the region faces the opportunities and challenges associated with the projected doubling of its population in 45 years, its citizens have been given the opportunity to be the first in Florida to create a shared vision to answer the question, “How Shall We Grow?” The Central Florida Regional Growth Vision is a 15‑month endeavor to engage citizens, community leaders, and elected officials throughout the Central Florida region in intensive “community conversations” that will lead to a 50-year vision and policy framework to guide future growth. October 2006 Executive Summary of Mid Project Report Mid Project Report (full)

	"How Shall We Grow?" WMFE Television Series is available for purchase on DVD (includes 3 dvds). The programs originally aired on WMFE Television from January 22-26, 2007 to launch a 20-day community campaign during which more than 7,000 residents completed an online survey providing feedback on our future growth. Your $150 contribution will help us continue the important work of Creating a Shared Vision for Central Florida. If you are a school and would like to use the programming for your students, please contact Dean Hybl by phone at 407.835.2527 or by email at dean.hybl@orlando.org. Click to order: How Shall We Grow? WMFE Television Series DVDs

	Smart Growth in a Changing World, the latest book from respected planner and urban designer Jonathan Barnett, documents the United States' hidden crisis and shows how balanced transportation and natural resources preservation can make new urban development sustainable, as well as more efficient and more equitable. Jonathan Barnett's extensive work focuses on future population growth and cites PennDesign Central Florida, of which myregion.org was a partner, as a best practice for growth planning. Click to order: Smart Growth in a Changing World

	Arts and Economic Prosperity III - The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in the Central Florida Region The key lesson from Arts & Economic Prosperity III is that communities that invest in the arts reap the additional benefit of jobs, economic growth, and a quality of life that positions those communities to compete in our 21st century creative economy. June 2007 Arts and Economic Prosperity III

	"How Shall We Grow?" A Shared Vision for Central Florida Created to help our region continue to be a great place to live, learn, work and play. Between March 2006 and August 2007, nearly 20,000 Central Florida residents answered the question “How Shall We Grow?” through a series of community meetings, presentations and surveys. The result is the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision, which is a shared vision for how our region can grow between now and 2050, when the population is expected to more than double from 3.5 million to 7.2 million residents. Aug 2007 A Shared Vision for Central Florida - 11.65 MB

	Central Florida Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) What are the economic priorities for the region and what needs to be our primary areas of focus in the short and long-term future? Those key questions have been answered through the development of the Central Florida Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). Through the United States Department of Commerce, regions across the country are developing their economic strategies in order to compete for federal grants that are designed to help enhance infrastructure and economic prosperity within regions. Sept 2007 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy