News and Press

June 29, 2009 myregion.org Selected as Finalist for Alliance for Regional Stewardship National Award Exciting news from The Alliance for Regional Stewardship comes just in time for the Anniversary Celebration of How Shall We Grow? scheduled for Friday, August 21, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport. myregion.org and its How Shall We Grow? initiative have been selected by The Alliance for Regional Stewardship (ARS) as one of five national finalists for the 2009 Alliance for Regional Stewardship Organizational Champion Awards.  Selection of the winning organization will be announced during the Awards Luncheon at the ARS Forum in Raleigh, North Carolina, on July 29, 2009. Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org, will represent myregion.org, the Central Florida Partnership, the Congress of Regional Leaders and our regional partners at the Awards Luncheon.  “This national recognition would not have been possible without the support of the funding partners who made How Shall We Grow? a reality,” said Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org. The funding partners for this project are: Brevard County Metropolitan Planning Organization, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Department of Transportation, Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization, METROPLAN ORLANDO, myregion.org, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, Polk County Transportation Planning Organization and Volusia County Metropolitan Planning Organization. The Organizational Champion Award recognizes regions, regional alliances and regional leaders for excellence and demonstrated progress in at least one of the four principles of regional stewardship: Innovative Economy, Livable Communities, Social Inclusion, and Collaborative Style of Governance.  Award finalists exemplify regional cooperation that has increased regional capacity, achieved tangible results and shown the potential for sustainability.  How Shall We Grow? demonstrated these principles by involving more than 20,000 Central Florida residents and 600 elected officials in an 18-month campaign to develop a Regional Growth Vision for the year 2050. To date, close to 40 out of 93 local municipalities have reported adopting principles of the Regional Vision into their local comprehensive plans. Successful regional stewards help their communities to thrive economically, to be sustainable environmentally, to address challenges like poverty and educational inequality, and to transform shared values and vision into actionable, regional agendas,” said Richard C. D. Fleming, ARS Chairman and the President & CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. “It’s our honor to recognize these organizations for their outstanding work on these fronts, and we look forward to congratulating the winner at the Regional Strategies Forum next month in Raleigh.” In addition to myregion.org, thefour other finalists for this prestigious award include: *  Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce for the Live United this Winter Program, * Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce for the Agenda 360 Regional Action Plan * Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce for the Climate Protection Partnership, and * Greater Santa Ana Business Alliance for High School Inc. The Alliance for Regional Stewardship is a national, peer-to-peer network of regional leaders working across boundaries to solve tough community problems. Supported by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), ARS members come from the business, government, education, and civic sectors and share a common commitment to collaborative action and achieving results. The ARS Board of Directors and a panel of experts in regional affairs judged the “very competitive pool of applicants.”  “As we prepare to celebrate the Anniversary of How Shall We Grow?, this is a reminder of the impact that myregion.org is making—not only in our own “backyard,” but as a “national best practice” of regional collaboration and action,” said Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org. “The continued support of all our regional partners and diligent leadership of our Board of Directors, the Central Florida Partnership and the Congress of Regional Leaders, have made this recognition possible as we work together to make Central Florida a wonderful place to live, learn, work and play.” For a copy of the Press Release, click here. Further details about the 2009 Regional Strategies Forum and information about the award finalists are available on the ARS website, www.regionalstewardship.org. For information on myregion.org and How Shall We Grow? please visit www.myregion.org      May 28, 2009 Where in the World are We? Community Outreach Nearly 200 business, civic and government leaders from across the region joined the myregion.org Board of Directors on Friday, May 15, 2009, to hear the results of Where in the World are We—2009 Progress Report for the Central Florida Region, an in-depth analysis of how the region has progressed during the last decade in the areas of Economic Leadership, Education, Environment, Quality of Life, Smart, Quality, Growth and Regional Resolves and Cooperation. Do you want to know if our region is becoming more competitive in traditional and emerging industries? Is our educational system effectively preparing our workforce to support today’s industries and tomorrow’s? Is Central Florida growing as envisioned? What are the challenges that we must continue to address? How do we compare to other regions and the world? myregion.org will be conducting extensive community outreach during the months of June-August to ensure that the results of this “fact-based” research presented in Where in the World are We? – 2009 Progress Report for the Central Florida Region are reported to the leaders and citizens of the seven-county region of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk and Volusia Counties. If you would like us to share the results of this report with your organization or community group, myregion.org will come to you! Gather a group or invite us to an existing meeting. This educational and informational Power Point presentation, including county breakdowns, is available in English and Spanish and can be 15-30 minutes long, depending on your preference. All you need to do is contact Vilma Quintana, Vice President of Community Engagement of myregion.org by e-mail atvilma.quintana@orlando.orgor by phone at (407) 835-2520 to schedule your presentation today! For the complete report, click here.  For an Executive Summary of the report and indicators data, including county breakdowns, click here.   May 15, 2009 myregion.org Unveils 2009 Progress Report for the Central Florida Region  Where in the World are We? Orlando, FL – Much has been accomplished since Central Florida leaders began working together across jurisdictional and sector boundaries nearly 10 years ago, in an effort to position Central Florida as one of the leading global regions of the 21st century.  Today, more than 200 government, business and civic leaders in the seven-county Central Florida region (Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia counties) gathered at the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando to hear the results a new study released by the myregion.org Board of Directors, Where in the World are We? - 2009 Progress Report for the Central Florida Region.  The report is funded by the Central Florida Partnership, METROPLAN ORLANDO, Progress Energy and WORKFORCE CENTRAL FLORIDA. myregion.org Chairman Ed Timberlake, Seaside National Bank & Trust, opened the meeting and introduced Jacob Stuart, President, Central Florida Partnership and founding President of myregion.org, who took participants down “memory lane” with a Power Point presentation, highlighting some of the most important milestones and accomplishments in 10 years of regional collaboration and cooperation. “Ten years ago, losing the bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, helped us realize that working together in a regional context could be important to Central Florida,” said Stuart.  “Also occurring around the same time was an example of positive collaboration by multiple counties as the Volusia County MPO and METROPLAN ORLANDO successfully worked together to build a new I-4 bridge over the St. John’s River.  Afterward, the Central Florida MPO Alliance materialized from the partnership between Volusia and Metro Orlando, which includes six transportation organizations in nine counties.  Today, our region and our State have taken a giant step backward by failing to pass legislation in support of SunRail, a much-needed transportation alternative, deciding to maintain the status quo,” he concluded. The Progress Report, presented by John Kaliski, Principal at Cambridge Systematics, Inc., examines the six regional priorities identified early in the decade when Central Floridians first asked themselves the question, “How can Central Florida compete in the global economy while still maintaining a high standard qualify of life for its residents.” This led to the creation of myregion.org, a Regional Development Program focused on “Regional Research and Resolves,” which with the help of many regional partners, has developed this first-ever regional research to explore our knowledge about Central Florida and better understand “who we are” and “what matters most.” For two years, myregion.org engaged over 3,000 citizens and leaders from across the region, identified six key priorities – Economic Leadership, Education, Environment, Quality of Life, Smart, Quality Growth, and Regional Resolves and Cooperation – and developed 10 Regional Resolves or structural organizations and functions that our region would need to create, if we were indeed going to start thinking and acting regionally. (Please see 10 Regional Resolves attached.) Ten years later, Where in the World are We – 2009 Progress Report for the Central Florida Region, measures progress from three perspectives:  changes in key quantitative indicators since the year 2000; key qualitative success stories of how our region has worked together; and comparisons with seven other major regions in the United States as well as major global competitors.  “Now, more than ever, the uncertainty of the world makes it imperative that Central Florida leaders think and act regionally,” said Kaliski. “The region is poised for great success, but whether we will achieve progress largely depends on the ability of our greatest asset – our people – to set clear priorities and work together to accomplish them.” A 21-member Progress Report Task Force guided the report, which compares Central Florida with regions of similar size today (San Diego, Phoenix, Denver-Boulder and Tampa Bay) as well as with regions that will be similar in size to Central Florida in the year 2050 (San Francisco-San Jose, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Washington-Baltimore). The report also celebrates the region’s progress, and identifies the challenges we must continue to address together.  At the event, Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org, highlighted some of the “world-class” organizations and initiatives that have committed their efforts to achieving regional solutions and success, and that helped “moved the needle” on the region’s economic competitiveness and quality of life. Government, business and civic leaders from the seven-county region provided personal comments and reactions to the accomplishments that the region has made in these areas and challenged the audience not to rely on our previous successes but to “go beyond where we are today” in order to take the region to the next level.  Participants then engaged in table discussions to “imagine” the possibilities for our region in 50 years if Central Florida leaders were to base decisions on an agreed upon set of priorities and principles and to identify the priorities, activities and alliances that the region must focus on in order to advance our Regional Agenda. These recommendations were then presented for reaction and response, to a panel of experts, which included Florida State Representative Stephen L. Precourt, among others.      Some of the key conclusions that can be drawn from the 2009 Progress Report for the Central Florida Region are: Economic Leadership Rapid job growth through most of the decade ends with a sharp recession, and wage levels remain below average.  Seeds of future growth appear in life sciences, green industry, and creative arts – but legacy industries including tourism, aerospace and agriculture face competitive threats. When the seven county Central Florida Region referenced by myregion.org is combined with the seven county Tampa Bay Region to form a Super Region running from Daytona Beach to the Gulf of Mexico, the combined population of 7.1 million people ranks seventh in the United States.  On its own, with 3.7 million residents, Central Florida is the 14th most populous region in the nation and the 85th largest in the world. One key indicator often associated with growing high tech industries is the amount of Research & Development that is reinvested in growing and cultivating industries.  Central Florida falls woefully short in this area with an average R&D per employee of only $60 per worker, compared to $145 for the state of Florida and $273 for the nation. However, Central Florida has nearly doubled the amount of R&D spending per worker since 2000, so the region is improving. If Central Florida is serious about continuing to attract an innovative work class, the amount of R&D investment must dramatically increase. Health and Creative Arts have grown at an annual growth rate of nearly 3% or higher while Trade/Transportation and High Tech have also shown steady annual growth.  This is a positive sign in the effort to diversify and increase employment in higher wage industries. Between 2001 and 2007, Central Florida saw annual growth in Tourism and Construction jobs, while natural resources and aerospace has seen a decline. Education While progress is being made particularly at the pre K-12 level, our ability to provide a skilled workforce may slow progress toward a more diverse economy.  We’re making progress, but the world remains well ahead. Currently, 25 percent of all adult residents of Central Florida have at least earned a Bachelors Degree.  That represents a 20% increase over the last decade.  That percentage is still 5 points below the national average, ranking last among the eight comparable regions, but higher than Japan and the European Union. Two areas of improvement include the voluntary preschool program and the increase in high school diplomas.  In 2008, 89% of students enrolling in public school kindergarten programs were deemed ready to start kindergarten and 81% of Central Florida’s high school students received a diploma, compared to only 65% in 2000.  Central Florida also saw an increase in the number of students continuing their education with 60% of all students moving on to community colleges or four year institutions in 2008, compared to 51% in 2000. The region falls short in the percentage of students attending college in Central Florida who receive degrees in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) with only 20% receiving a degree in a STEM field, compared to 28% statewide and 30% nationally.  For Central Florida to compete on a national and global scale, the education level of our workforce must continue to increase. Environment Our unique environment remains at risk from development, but a foundation for better stewardship has been established.  Future challenges are enormous:  save the region’s most precious lands and waters, stretch our limited water supply, and reduce energy consumption. Central Florida residents have reduced fresh water usage by 39 gallons per day over the last five years to 148 gallons per person. Efforts made by Naturally Central Florida and the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council have led to the development of a detailed mapping of the seven “must save” environmental assets of Central Florida.  Overall, Central Florida residents generate more waste, use more electricity and consume more gas than the national average in each area, and recycle at a slightly higher rate than the national average. An increase in the amount of coastal erosion is a concern, as is future air quality, but overall the region is making great strides in creating a sustainable environment. Quality of Life In-migration slows as residents become more concerned about Central Florida’s economic future.  Crime is down, but public health concerns remain.  We offer many amenities, but we stand out globally in only a few areas. For decades, Central Florida has been the place where people from other parts of the country and world come not just for entertainment, but also to raise families and retire.  That migration has dramatically slowed over the last two years, but it is expected that the in-migration will resume as the economy recovers.  Central Florida trails the nation in a number of key quality of life areas, including public safety, affordable housing and volunteerism and must address these issues in the future. Central Florida residents have traditionally been happier with the direction of their community than the national average.  As recently as the spring of 2006, 58% of Central Florida residents thought the region was headed in the right direction with only 27% thinking things were moving in the wrong direction. By September 2007 more Central Florida residents felt things were moving in the wrong track and in January 2008 46 percent of regional residents saw things moving in the wrong direction, compared to 40% believing things were moving in the right direction. Smart, Quality Growth Growth within our urban centers is on par with or behind Brazil, India and China. Between 2000-2006, more than 600,000 acres of land was developed within our seven county region. That means that more than 20% of all land that is developed across the region has gone into development since 2000. The “How Shall We Grow?” Initiative produced consensus and a framework for a new approach to development in Central Florida and many cities and counties are looking at opportunities to enact the regional themes in their comprehensive plans. 20,000 residents preferred one that focuses populations more into urban core population centers, preserves more of our open space and creates transportation alternatives focused around transit corridors. Our cities support far fewer residents per acre than other metropolitan areas and unless we can alter that trend, we will struggle to change our tendency toward sprawling development. The region has spent the last several years moving forward to develop alternative transportation opportunities, but the loss of SunRail is certainly a major hit for the region. Regional Cooperation From transportation to public safety to schools, there are few issues where a regional dialogue has not begun.  Will all of these initiatives result in action?  We’ve seen historic progress and are recognized throughout the United States as a leader on global collaboration. There are more than 54 organizations across the region currently looking at specific issues from a regional perspective.  Among the organizations leading the way are the Congress of Regional Leaders, the MPO Alliance, the Central Florida and East Central Florida Regional Planning Councils, and myregion.org. The creation of the Congress of Regional Leaders has provided an ideal opportunity for discussions among high-level elected officials in a meaningful and supportive manner.  This organization has already produced valuable results and will continue to grow stronger as the need for working together as a region continues to grow. “Much has been done in 10 years but much more can still be done in all these areas,” said Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org.  “myregion.org will continue to work with regional leaders and educate and inform citizens to build regional consensus and regional resolve to ensure Central Florida’s position in the global stage.” The complete report – Where in the World are We? - 2009 Progress Report for the Central Florida Region – is available online at www.myregion.org.  To schedule a Power Point presentation of these findings to your organization, business or community group, please contact Vilma Quintana, Vice President of Community Engagement for myregion.org, at 407.835.2520 or at vilma.Quintana@orlando.org. May 11, 2009 myregion.org Board Member Honored Daytona Beach executive Forough B. Hosseini was among those honored with the prestigious 2009 Ellis Island Medal of Honor over the weekend in the Great Hall on Ellis Island in New York. The award was presented by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations Foundation, Inc. Hosseini serves on the myregion.org Executive Committee and Board of Directors. The Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America’s unique cultural mosaic. It is the most prestigious and highest award a civilian can receive in the United States, next to the Congressional Gold Medal. This award is sanctioned by the U.S. Congress and each year’s recipients are read into the Congressional Record. Past Medalists include six U.S. Presidents, as well as Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government. Born and raised in Iran, Ms. Hosseini came to United States to continue her education in 1977. She earned a bachelors degree in computer science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from University of Central Florida. She is the Executive Vice President of Information Systems for ICI Homes, a company started by with her husband, Mori Hosseini, in 1980. ICI currently develops and builds in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Hosseini is a member and board member of many local and national organizations and participates in and contributes to numerous local, national and international charities and causes. She started Forough B. Hosseini Foundation with the mission of helping local homeless and underprivileged children enrolled in public schools stay in school by providing after-school programs that involve tutoring, sports, activities and food. The program also follows the participating students through high school and invites them to apply for scholarships to attend college. Forough is the 2008 recipient of the “Field of Dreams” Achievement Award from one of the schools her foundation sponsors. She was appointed by Governor Bush and later reappointed by Governor Crist to the Daytona State College’s Board of Trustees and has been elected by her board to serve as the chair. Currently, she serves on Central Florida myregion.org’s Executive Committee, Museum of Arts and Sciences Board and the United Way Foundation Board. In 2006, her husband, Mori Hosseini, Chairman and CEO of ICI Homes, received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Mori and Forough Hosseini are the only Volusia County residents to have received the award. To receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the recipient must exemplify a life dedicated to community service; preserve and celebrate the history, traditions and values of his or her ancestry; build bridges between ethnic, racial and religious groups; and share his or her personal and professional gifts for the benefit of humanity. For the NECO medalist press release, visit http://neco.org/NECO_press_release.php March 2, 2009 Educational Outreach on SunRail The team at myregion.org, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation and Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Volusia counties, as well as the City of Orlando, has been traveling around the seven-county Central Florida Region engaging and educating our community about SunRail – Central Florida’s planned 61.5-mile commuter rail project that is proposed to link the four counties. myregion.org began an educational outreach process in February and has already reached out to 378 individuals – with close to 1,000 additional folks scheduled to learn more about SunRail throughout the month of March. In particular, the Hispanic community has been actively interested in learning more about SunRail. 1030 AM radio invited Vilma Quintana, the Vice President of myregion.org, and WPRD 1440 AM radio invited Vilma Quintana and Sandra Gutierrez, Assistant Project Manager for SunRail, to be guests on their talk shows to educate their audience about the facts regarding SunRail. The Home Builders Association Hispanic Business and Marketing Council, the Hispanic Business Initiative Fund, the Hispanic American Professional and Businesswomen’s Organization, Banco Popular, and the Working Together Coalition have all welcomed Ms. Quintana to deliver a presentation about the SunRail project. Eva Pagan Hill, President of the Working Together Coalition remarked, “Presentations like these are very important to our group. They help us educate and motivate our citizens to actively participate in the democratic process so that their voices can be heard.  Participants at our meeting were commenting that they now understand what SunRail is all about and how it will benefit our community. Only informed citizens can make wise decisions, especially about something as important as adequate transportation options.”  myregion.org still is delivering an educational and informational Power Point   presentation in English and Spanish to all community organizations and groups that are interested in learning more about the SunRail project. Gather a group or invite us to an existing meeting. We will come to you! Regardless of your preferred language, if you or your organization and/or business are interested in learning more about SunRail, please contact Elizabeth Rothbeind by e-mail at elizabeth.rothbeind@orlando.org or by phone at (407) 835-2535 to schedule your presentation today. Get in the know and learn the facts about SunRail today by visiting the project website, www.sunrail.com!  Calling All Business Professionals, Students, & Internet Enthusiasts! Did you know that SunRail - Central Florida’s planned 61.5-mile commuter rail project that is proposed to link Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties, will have wireless Internet connectivity and power outlets on all seats? With an estimated 223 million Internet users in the United States in 2008 (CIA World Fact Book, www.cia.gov), wireless Internet connectivity is vital to the Central Florida community. So, the ability to access the Internet on your laptop while commuting on SunRail is exciting, cutting edge, and convenient. SunRail will positively change the way Central Florida travels. With access to the Internet and power outlets on each SunRail train, commuting to and from work will be not only convenient, but also productive. Business professionals can get a jump-start on their work for the day or begin to answer the hundreds of e-mails that pop up in their inbox daily. Instead of straining your eyes staring into your Blackberry, you can sit back relax and work on your easily legible laptop. Students can get ahead on their daily assignments or major term papers and Internet enthusiasts can blog and “tweet” on their way to their final destination. Imagine the possible…click here to visit the project website to learn more about SunRail.

February 23, 2009 Connecting the Dots Approximately 150 of our region’s elected officials, business and civic leaders and members of Leadership Orlando Class 77 joined myregion.org’s Board of Directors for “Connecting the Dots” – A Regional Leadership Forum Regarding Transportation Issues, held Friday, February 20, in the beautiful facilities of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando.  Partners for this event included Florida Department of Transportation District 5 and the Central Florida MPO Alliance. The first in a series of “Regional Conversations” centering around important “regional issues that need regional resolves,” the Forum began with a presentation by John Kaliski, Principal with Cambridge Systematics, Inc., who discussed Central Florida’s standing as a super region and its potential as a mega region, as well as SunRail’s role in connecting with other significant markets in Florida – Jacksonville, Ocala and Miami/Palm Beach.   Click here for more photos from this event. “Economic competitiveness and quality of life are key issues to be considered when we talk about Central Florida’s position in the global stage.  It all goes back to the 4Cs identified by “How Shall We Grow?” – Centers, Corridors, Countrysides and Conservation”, said Kaliski. “By the year 2050, if we continue the trend that we are seeing today, the roads will be so congested that we will not be able to move people, goods and services properly.  SunRail is the first step in the solution.  We need more choices, other than I-4 being the backbone of our transportation in the region,” he concluded.  Central Florida Partnership President Jacob Stuart and Phil Laurien, Executive Director of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, reported on the recent Leadership Mission to Charlotte, North Carolina, to ride the city’s new train, the Lynx Blue Line, and discover the power of transit in generating economic prosperity.  The 11-mile light rail project, which started operations on November 24, 2007, has already generated $1.86 billion in private investment along its corridor and has doubled all expectations with 18,000 riders a day. In addition, it has the safest start in history with zero (0) preventable accidents and the train is always on time (98.99%). Stuart discussed the economic implications of SunRail, with more than $981 million in commercial business sales and 11,523 jobs in the counties of Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola.  Most importantly, SunRail will be the fist spine for other mass transit projects, first connecting Central Florida and later the rest of the state. Jim Sellen, Executive Vice President of MCSW and Co-Chair of ULI Orlando, reported on the recent workshop conducted by ULI Orlando, in partnership with myregion.org to identify barriers to critical land use and transportation decisions, and recommend the solutions to overcoming them.  The results will generate a “White Paper” that will help myregion.org identify the issues and policies that can support the efforts of the Congress of Regional Leaders in implementing regional solutions to growth. Lakeland City Commissioner Gow Fields took the floor to discuss the outcome of the Regional Connectivity Summit held in Lakeland, which was aimed at promoting regional cooperation, collaboration and trust.  He affirmed that the City of Lakeland supports SunRail , the TBARTA system and the connectivity between Tampa and Orlando. However, he asks for the support of regional leaders in ensuring that local communities are not adversely impacted when regional solutions are identified. The last topic discussed was the Wekiva Parkway Project. Lindsay Hodges, Public Relations and Communications Manager of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, explained that this project is expected to complete the final piece of the beltway around Orlando. She highlighted the need for a toll increase to ensure that the Expressway Authority could continue to be economically sound and ensure the continued “connectivity” across region. Participants were then asked to discuss “What will it take to build a world class transportation system?” A panel of experts that included Secretary Downs and board members of myregion.org, the Central Florida Partnership and the Central Florida Transportation Corridors Task Force, reacted to the participant’s concerns and answered their questions. The feedback gathered from these discussions will be used to develop a “White Paper” that will be used by myregion.org, the Central Florida Partnership and other organizations to identify our region’s transportation priorities.   “The development of an integrated, multi-modal transportation system is essential to the future economic well-being of Central Florida and the entire state,” said myregion.org President Shelley Lauten.  “SunRail is a critical first step for our region, and myregion.org will continue to educate our leaders and citizens on its importance and its impact to our quality of life and our economy.” Click here to access presentations from this meeting. Regional Leaders Recognized CoreNet Global, the world’s leading professional association for corporate real estate and workplace executives, announced today that myregion.org President Shelley Lauten and Phil Laurien, Executive Director, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, are the recipients of the Core Club Luminary Award.   They are being recognized for their “stellar” performance at CoreNet’s Orlando Summit held at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel on November 9-11,2008. For 90 minutes, Lauten and Laurien captivated the audience from around the world, as they explained Central Florida’s collaborative efforts to reposition itself as a region that is globally competitive while maintaining a high standard quality of life.  They shared the success of myregion.org’s “How Shall We Grow”? campaign, which for two years engaged Central Florida’s government, business, civic leaders and citizens in developing a shared vision for our region to ensure that it remains a place where future generations will want to live, learn, work and play.  As members of CoreNet Global’s Core Club, Lauten and Laurien are part of an exclusive community of volunteer speakers who take time and energy to share what they have learned with others. Its prestigious Core Club Luminary Award, which will be presented on April 26-28, 2009, during the North America Summit in Dallas, Texas, recognizes the attainment of “eminence” and “inspiration” among speakers and moderators rating in the top 10% of all the presenters at each event.   “Shelley Lauten and Phil Laurien did an excellent job with their presentation about regional cooperation and Central Florida’s success in creating a shared vision for its future. We applaud them for their efforts and look forward to presenting them with this prestigious award in April,” said Gayle E. Crew, Manager of Program Development at CoreNet Global. With more than 7,000 members managing over $1.2 trillion in real estate and workplace assets in different parts of the world, CoreNet Global serves leading multinational companies from Fortune and Global 1000.  It holds five (5) Summits each year: two in North America and one each in Asia, Australia/New Zealand and Europe.  To learn more about myregion.org please visit www.myregion.org.  For information about the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, please visit www.ecfrpc.org or to view CoreNet Global’s web site, please go to www.corenetglobal.org.  How will SunRail benefit Central Florida? SunRail –Central Florida region’s planned 61.5-mile commuter rail project that is proposed to link Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties beginning in 2011, has a plethora of benefits for the Central Florida region, the state, and its citizens. SunRail will establish the spine of a regional rail network that can be expanded to serve other areas of our state and will provide a reliable mobility alternative to I-4, just as major reconstruction is expected to begin in 2011. SunRail can carry as many passengers as one lane of I-4 during peak travel times, as well.  The project also will encourage transit-oriented development around station areas, decided exclusively by local governments. In addition, SunRail will return to Central Florida 20 cents of every dollar motorists now pay in federal gas taxes for transit projects to create new mobility options here at home. SunRail will also serve as an economic engine for Central Florida and the State of Florida. According to the SunRail Economic Impact Study, SunRail will provide more than $981 million in commercial business sales and 11,523 jobs in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties. SunRail will also create more than $188 million in commercial sales and 1,985 jobs in the state of Florida. Imagine the possibilities with SunRail! To read the summary of the SunRail Economic Impact study click here and for the complete SunRail Economic Impact Study click here. To learn more, please visit the project website, www.sunrail.com. Linking to SunRail A total of 31 business, civic, and government websites partnered with myregion.org and placed the SunRail website button and/or link to www.sunrail.com on their websites in order to share the news about SunRail and communicate its new design and image. Although organizations and businesses report their website activity differently, we can estimate that the SunRail website button and/or website link has been viewed an approximate average of 13.9 million times! The goal was to reach over 12,000 business and civic leaders in seven (7) counties and we are delighted to have exceeded the outreach goal by leaps and bounds. myregion.org has had a wonderful outpouring of support from the Central Florida community, which has been instrumental in the great success of  the educational outreach of SunRail. myregion.org would like to extend a special “thank you” to all of our website partners, listed below and in alphabetical order.  Central Florida Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. Central Florida News 13 Central Florida Red Cross Central Florida Sports Commission Chamber of Commerce for Persons with Disabilities City of Orlando City of Tavares DeLand Chamber of Commerce Fox35 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Kissimmee Downtown Area Council of the Chamber Kissimmee Gateway Airport Lake County Lake Sumter MPO LYNX Orange County Orange County League of Women Voters Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce Orlando Sentinel Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce Rollins College Sanford/Seminole County Chamber SCORE Local Site Seminole County Seminole County Chamber of Commerce South Lake Chamber of Commerce St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce United Way Volusia Flagler Volusia County WMFE

February 9, 2009 Governor Charlie Crist Heralds SunRail At a press conference in Tallahassee to unveil the results of the SunRail Economic Impact Study, Gov. Crist on Wednesday enthusiastically described SunRail as a “wonderful, thought-out project that will help our economy and our transportation.” Sporting a SunRail pin on his lapel, the governor also lauded efforts led by myregion.org to develop a new logo and name for the system, Central Florida’s planned 61.5-mile commuter rail project that is proposed to link Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties beginning in 2011. Florida Governor Charlie Crist (photo couretsy Office of Governor Charlie Crist) Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer (photo couretsy Office of Governor Charlie Crist) (l to r) Florida Governor Charlie Crist, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Florida Senator Lee Constantine, Florida Senator Andy Gardiner (photo couretsy Office of Governor Charlie Crist) “By the way, I love the logo,’’ Gov. Crist said, pointing to a giant display board of the SunRail logo. “It is beautiful. Who could be against SunRail?”  We could not agree with Gov. Crist more! The logo, designed by Jim Bockstall of Bockstall Design Associates in Lake Mary, was part of a major outreach effort led by myregion.org, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation and Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Volusia counties, as well as the City of Orlando, that involved thousands of Central Florida residents.  Indeed, more than 3,000 citizens in the seven-county region took part in the development of the SunRail name and logo. Additionally, more than 400 unique names were submitted via a series of community meetings, Florida Department of Transportation employee outreach, the project website and the myregion.org group on Facebook. SunRail emerged overwhelmingly as the “people’s choice.” The name and logo were ratified by the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission at a meeting Dec. 19, 2008. The SunRail logo will be incorporated into station designs and public involvement materials, as well as serve as the basis for eventual color schemes on the trains. A new website, www.SunRail.com, also was launched on Jan. 14, 2009, to provide the latest information available about SunRail – from station designs, to project timetables, to potential transit-oriented development opportunities. The SunRail press conference also included remarks by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Chairman of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, Senators Lee Constantine and  Andy Gardiner; Rep. Dean Cannon and Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos. Dozens of Central Florida supporters also traveled to Tallahassee to hear the results of the study. As Gov. Crist stated, "Our future economic success depends on a strong infrastructure that accommodates growth and the needs of our businesses while protecting our environment. SunRail is just the kind of transportation project that Florida needs to create thousands of jobs and generate millions in additional revenue for Central Florida and all of Florida."   Highlights include: 1. SunRail’s Construction and Operations An infusion of more than $1 billion into Florida’s economy for construction and operation of SunRail over the next 30 years The creation of more than 13,000 construction and operations jobs, the bulk of which occur almost immediately, totaling more than 350 million dollars in household earnings 2. SunRail’s Potential Transit-Oriented Development The creation of more than 113,000 construction jobs within 1/2 mile of station stops 4.6 billion dollars in earnings for the construction sector in the next 20 years Property values within 1/2 mile of station stops will increase almost 9 times their value Secondary economic impacts (the economic benefit created when workers spend their earnings in the area) are forecast at more than $2.5 billion. To read the summary of the SunRail Economic Impact study click here and for the complete SunRail Economic Impact Study click here.  To learn more about SunRail, visit www.sunrail.com.

February 9, 2009 Congress of Regional Leaders Reviews "Regional Progress Report" At the first 2009 meeting of the Congress of Regional Leaders held Friday, February 6, elected officials representing 93 local governments and school boards reviewed the progress being made towards implementing Central Florida’s Regional Growth Vision. In just one year of working together as a regional Congress, twenty-one (21) local municipalities have reported adopting principles of the regional vision into local comprehensive plans–moving from ideas to results!      Click here for more photos from this event. At this rate, in five years, citizens of Central Florida would see unprecedented commitment by their elected officials to implementing shared regional policies that would shape a shared vision of growth. The Congress of Regional leaders is composed of elected officials representing city and county governments and the school boards from across the Central Florida region, and staffed by myregion.org, is dedicated to ensuring that Central Florida communities continue to implement the principles that emerged from "How Shall We Grow?" - Creating a Shared Vision for Central Florida. The Regional Growth Vision reflects the desires of nearly 20,000 residents in the Central Florida region - Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Volusia, Lake and Polk counties - that participated in the 18-month campaign two years ago, to create a shared vision for how our region can grow between now and 2050, when the population is expected to double from 3.5 million to 7 million. Frank Bruno, Chair of the Congress and County Chair of the Volusia Council, and Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org (and staff for the Congress of Regional Leaders), set the context and provided an overview of the important issues being addressed by the Congress. Chairman Bruno stated, “While we have a lot to accomplish, we are making progress to ensure that what citizens ask for, we continue to deliver.” Phil Laurien, Executive Director of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, reviewed in detail the progress that 15 cities and 6 counties have reported making to create a region that consumes less land, preserves more precious environmental resources and natural countryside, creates more distinctive places to live in both rural and urban areas, and provides more choices for how people travel.  Additionally, progress has also been made in addressing regional transportation issues.  T.J. Fish, Director of the Lake/Sumter MPO, highlighted the region’s commitment to SunRail – Central Florida’s Commuter Rail System and the development of a comprehensive regional transportation plan.  The creation of the MPO Alliance, a consortium of the region’s metropolitan planning organizations, has proven to be the key to creating and advancing regional transportation solutions. In another example of regional collaboration, Jim Sellen, Co-Chair of Urban Land Institute (ULI)-Central Florida, and Executive Vice-President of MSCW, Inc., reported the results of a workshop convened by ULI-Central Florida in conjunction with the Congress of Regional Leaders and myregion.org. Over 150 leaders and citizens from across the region came together to identify the barriers and solutions to developing a sustainable approach to Transportation and Land Use in Central Florida.  ULI-Central Florida will document these recommended solutions and report those to the Congress within the coming weeks.  These recommendations will allow the Congress to identify some potential regional solutions to shared issues. Click here to view the powerpoint from the meeting Special guests at this meeting included Representative Stephen Precourt, State House District 41,  Florida Department of Transportation District 5 Secretary, Noranne Downs and Senator Lee Constantine State Senate District 22, who reported on the great progress being made in Tallahassee in securing support for SunRail.  Senator Constantine commended the work of both the Congress of Regional Leaders and the Central Florida Partnership in working together to ensure that SunRail becomes a reality. These state leaders listened to the regional “Progress Report” and made recommendations on ways the state and regional leaders might better align state, regional and local efforts. Secretary Downs suggested a joint meeting of regional, state and local leaders to seek better integration and coordination of policies and practices. Representative Precourt congratulated the Congress of Regional Leaders for the example they are setting in the region and the state as a “ best practice” in cooperation and collaboration. “This community is an example of finding out what the region needs and what the people want and then moving forward from there,” he said. “You are truly working together to make this the ‘quality piece of Florida’ that you want it to be.  You are ready to carry this effort to the next level.”  The Congress of Regional Leaders agreed that much yet needs to be done and committed to the following action items before they regroup again on May 29, 2009: County and city representatives agreed to hold joint meetings to further advance the implementation of the Regional Growth Vision A meeting will be held with FDOT District 5 Secretary Downs and other state, regional and local agencies to find ways to streamline and reduce duplication of efforts. The impact of including Sumter County on the Congress of Regional Leaders will be explored. Regional recommended changes to growth management laws and transportation concurrency will be researched and circulated to the Congress for decisions on “next-step” actions. For more information about the Congress of Regional Leaders or the Regional Growth Vision, visit www.myregion.org

February 9, 2009 Congress of Regional Leaders Welcomes New Members The Congress of Regional Leaders welcomed three new members during their first meeting in 2009, held in Seminole County last Friday. By signing the Central Florida Regional Compact, Bob Dallari, Chairman of the Seminole County Commission; John Quiñones, Chairman of the Osceola County Commission and Cheryl Grieb, Commissioner, City of  Kissimmee, pledged to the citizens of the region that as elected officials, they will work to ensure the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision becomes reality. As the new Chairmen of their respective County Commissions, Dallari replaces Commissioner Brenda Carey, and Quiñones replaces Commissioner Ken Shipley on the Congress of Regional Leaders.  Grieb replaces St. Cloud Mayor Donna Hart, representing the Mayors of the municipalities in Osceola County on the Congress.   Volusia County Commission Chairman Frank Bruno, Chair of the Congress of Regional Leaders, thanked the outgoing members for their leadership and for the commitment they have demonstrated to the region.  In welcoming the new members, Bruno said, “The professional expertise and regional community connections that you bring to our efforts will serve to enhance and expand our reach throughout the seven-county Central Florida region.” The Congress, which was originally created a year ago as part of myregion.org’s  “How Shall We Grow?” campaign, is composed of leaders representing counties, cities and school boards in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia counties. The Central Florida Regional Compact, which also includes the key principles and themes of the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision announced in 2007, was developed by the Central Florida Joint Policy Framework Committee, and has been signed on behalf of elected officials from throughout the region. As outlined in the Central Florida Regional Compact, the Congress will: Develop appropriate regional policies; Promote understanding and support of the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision; Monitor progress toward the Vision, and; Develop a process for updating the Vision to respond to evolving regional trends “I’m very proud of the work that the Congress of Regional Leaders has done since its inception.  We have done much, but there is more to do…with their assistance and support we’ll be one step closer in ensuring that our shared vision of growth can be implemented in a more effective and efficient way,” said Chairman Bruno. For a listing of the 2009 Congress of Regional Leaders, click here. To view the Congress of Regional Leaders Compact, click here or go to www.myregion.org.

The Central Florida Community is looking to learn more about… TRAINS! The city of Tavares held its second annual train festival on January 16 and 17, 2009. The festival was a smash hit, drawing a record number of crowds with rail fans gathering in downtown Tavares for a “Salute to the Railroads.” The Inland Lakes Railway reported that more than 1,500 guests rode the eight trains! Significantly, attendance at the railroad sway meet and model train show was up a whopping 57% over 2007. Guests registering at the train show came from 53 different communities in Florida and 12 states. The Train Festival event was co-sponsored by the Inland Lakes Railway and the City of Tavares. The Inland Lakes Railway began operation in September 2005 and travels between Orlando and Eustis, Tavares and Mount Dora, Florida, providing dinner/lunch train service, charters, and excursion. The excitement over this event comes as no surprise with the hot topic of SunRail - Central Florida’s planned 61.5-mile commuter rail project linking Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties, circulating throughout the Central Florida region and beyond. Clearly, Central Floridians are excited about trains and want to learn more! Click here to visit the new SunRail website, www.sunrail.com. More than 3,000 residents participated in efforts to select a name and new logo for the system. Indeed, more than 400 unique names for the train were submitted, with SunRail emerging overwhelmingly as the “people’s choice.” A logo that is reflective of the look, image and most important attributes that the region’s citizens want in the train was also selected from among 8 design concepts. In coming months, myregion.org will be engaged in the community outreach phase of SunRail to educate the community about SunRail and generate an understanding of its positive impact on our quality of life and economy. If you would like myregion.org to deliver a 15-minute presentation on SunRail to your community or organization, please contact Elizabeth Rothbeind at elizabeth.rothbeind@orlando.org.

Did You Know. . .? SunRail, the Central Florida Commuter Rail, is an economical transportation alternative -- even less expensive than similar projects recently constructed elsewhere in the nation? SunRail will cost $615 million dollars and run 61.5 miles, which is about $10 million dollars a mile. Do you know how much other systems have cost? What is the comparison of our system to other systems throughout the United States? Well… the Weber County Salt Lake City commuter rail project is 44-miles long and cost $612 million to construct, an average of $14 million per mile. The 22-mile North San Diego County Oceanside-Escondido commuter rail system that opened in July 2008 cost a total of $484 million, or $22 million per mile. Additionally, the proposed Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex commuter rail system (MOM Line) that will connect the Northeast Corridor to the New Jersey shore communities is a 40-mile alignment that is estimated to cost $800 million, or about $20 million per mile. In providing these statistics, Congressman John L. Mica wrote, “The Florida Department of Transportation has wisely chosen to buy the 61-mile right-of-way at a price that was certified by two independent real estate appraisers. Many systems around the country do not have the advantage of owning their own right-of-way and have found that they are limited in controlling rail traffic and future passenger service options.” So, yes, mass transit systems are a major cost, but one must consider what mass transit systems do for communities as well as the United States as a whole. For example, MARTA, Atlanta’s mass transit system, has not only boosted Atlanta’s economy and alleviated travel concerns, but has helped the environment. A study conducted by the American Public Transit Association concluded that in 2001, “public transportation use in the Atlanta area saved 19.3 million gallons of gasoline, and kept more than 300 million pounds of pollutants out of the air” (www.itsmarta.com). MARTA has done great things for the city of Atlanta and has saved Atlantans approximately 25 million man-hours in traffic delays. Similar to other mass transit systems now in place, it is projected that SunRail will elevate Central Florida to a world stage by increasing job opportunities, enhancing economic development, and alleviating road congestion.

SunRail Brand Unveiled About 200 people gathered at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport on January 14, 2009, to celebrate the unveiling of the official logo and website of SunRail, Central Florida’s planned 61.5-mile commuter rail project linking Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties. The celebration culminated more than three months of research and community outreach conducted by myregion.org* to lay the foundation for selection of a name and logo for the project – the region’s top transportation priority. Central Florida Partnership President Jacob Stuart. “This is a true, community-led effort that will provide Central Floridians with a badly needed mass transit alternative to their cars and help stimulate our local economy,’’ said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Chairman of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission. At the event, FDOT District 5 Secretary Noranne Downs presented plaques to two Florida Department of Transportation workers, Megan Reinhart and Larry Wynn, and to Micki Meyer, Leadership Orlando Class 67 graduate and Director of Community Engagement at Rollins College.  The three submitted the SunRail name or iterations thereof, for community consideration. (l to r) FDOT District 5 Secretary Noranne Downs Megan Reinhart, Micki Meyer and Mayor Buddy Dyer “SunRail is quintessential Florida,’’ said Secretary Downs. “The name and logo highlight our great outdoors, our wonderful weather and our environmental conscience.” Mayor Dyer and Secretary Downs were joined at the celebration by members of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission, as well as government, business and civic leaders and citizens from throughout the region who participated in community outreach efforts. In all, more than 3,000 residents in the seven-county Central Florida region took part in development of the SunRail name and logo. Additionally, more than 400 unique names were submitted via a series of community meetings, Florida Department of Transportation employee outreach, the project website and the myregion.org group on Facebook. SunRail emerged overwhelmingly as the “people’s choice.” The name and logo were ratified by the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission at a meeting on December 19, 2008. The SunRail logo, designed by Jim Bockstall of Bockstall Design Associates in Lake Mary, will be incorporated into station designs and public involvement materials, as well as serve as the basis for eventual color schemes on the trains. Additionally, a new website, www.sunrail.com, was launched to provide the latest information available about SunRail – from station designs to project timetables to potential economic development opportunities. Visitors to the previous project website, www.cfrail.com, will automatically be redirected to the new site.  Following the celebration, a group of more than 100 Central Florida government, business and civic leaders, as well as more than 70 members of Leadership Orlando Class 76, traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, on a leadership mission hosted and funded by the Central Florida Partnership.** The group rode the city’s new 9.6-mile light rail train, the Lynx Blue Line, which has proven to be an important stimulus to their regional economy, generating $1.86 billion in private investment along its corridor. Regional Leadership Mission to Charlotte participants ride Charlotte's Commuter Rail. While in Charlotte, the delegation also met with the Honorable Patrick McCrory, Mayor of the City of Charlotte, and heard a panel discussion about Charlotte’s “success story” featuring Debra Campbell, Director of Planning, City of Charlotte; Danny Pleasant, Director, City of Charlotte Department of Transportation; Keith Parker, CEO, Charlotte Area Transit System and Bob Morgan, President, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. “The development of an integrated, multi-modal transportation system is essential to the future economic well being of Central Florida and the entire state,” said Jacob V. Stuart, President and CEO of the Central Florida Partnership.  “SunRail is a critical first step for our region, and the Central Florida Partnership is working diligently with other regions in Florida and in Tallahassee to make absolutely sure that this dream becomes a reality for our residents and visitors.”     “This has been an exciting time in the history of our region”, said Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org. “In coming months, myregion.org will continue to conduct additional outreach efforts to help educate the community about SunRail and generate an understanding of the positive impact of its anticipated debut in 2011.” * myregion.org is one of four “Lines of Business” by which the Central Florida Partnership focuses on “Regional Research and Resolves.”  By identifying and examining the changing demographics and powerful trends that are shaping the Central Florida Region – myregion.org is helping to identify the issues and challenges that affect our future.  myregion.org does not advocate; its mission is to convene, educate and inform. Working together with the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce (Regional Entrepreneurship), BusinessForce (Public Policy Advocacy), and Leadership Orlando (Regional Leadership), the Central Florida Partnership is moving “Ideas to Results.” ** The Central Florida Partnership is moving Ideas To Results, advancing key strategies on behalf of the Central Florida Region.  A world-class region requires a world-class transportation system.  The Central Florida Partnership has formed special task forces outside of its core business units to elevate and bring business focus to bear on this important issue. These “Task Forces” include:  Central Florida Transportation Corridors “Task Force,” the Core Strategy Team (CST) for Commuter Rail, the Council of “Great Thinkers,” and the Super Regional Strategy Team (SRST), hosted by the Central Florida Partnership and the Tampa Bay Partnership, all working in concert to advocate for a Regional Transportation System and collaborate with other parts of the region and throughout the state to move this issue forward. The Central Florida Partnership is taking the lead to advance Commuter Rail at the state level during the 2009 Legislative Session, with President & CEO, Jacob V. Stuart and other Regional Leaders “on the ground” in Tallahassee during the current “Special Session” and during the 2009 Legislative Session.

The Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission Welcomes SunRail ! Orlando, FL – The Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission today selected SunRail as the new name for the proposed 61.5 – mile Central Florida Commuter Rail project, which will link Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties with a new mass transit option beginning in 2011. In the past two months, more than 3,000 residents in the Central Florida region participated in community outreach efforts organized by myregion.org – A Regional Development Program, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, to help brand the Central Florida Commuter Rail System. And the results were clear. From hundreds of names originally submitted, citizens overwhelmingly preferred SunRail, with SunTrax a close second. With a unanimous vote Friday, the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission concurred: SunRail (trademark pending) is coming to Central Florida. “This is a terrific step forward in bringing the Commuter Rail project to life,’’ said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, chairman of the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission. “SunRail will change the way this community travels, providing the spine of a rail system that we can build upon in the future.’’ “SunRail will not only provide new travel options to our road network, it will be an important economic engine for the Central Florida community for years to come,’’ said FDOT District 5 Secretary Noranne Downs. Micki Meyer, Director of Community Engagement at Rollins College, as well as Megan Reinhart and Larry Wynn, Florida Department of Transportation employees, submitted the SunRail name, or variations thereof, for consideration by the commission. In addition, the overwhelming majority of those surveyed in focus groups agreed the name SunRail was evocative of Florida. More than 400 unique names for the rail project also were submitted via a series of community meetings, as well as through Florida Department of Transportation employee outreach, the project web site – www.cfrail.com, and the myregion.org group on Facebook.  Most suggestions featured an environmental theme, such as SunStar and Central Florida Breeze, while others related more to speed, such as Fastrax and Greenspeed. In addition to selecting the SunRail name, Commission members also chose a logo concept for the SunRail system. The logo, designed by Jim Bockstall of Bockstall Design Associates, was developed based on community input and research by myregion.org. The train illustrates motion and speed, which were attributes reflected in many aspects of community research. It will be incorporated into all public involvement materials and serve as the basis for eventual color schemes on the trains. Preliminary research also conducted by myregion.org, including a scientific survey and qualitative questionnaire, revealed that citizens want a modern look, a train that is speedy, sleek, and high-tech.  Getting to work on time, safely, dependably and comfortably also ranked high in importance. Citizens also expressed they want the train to have an environmental look – representative of our physical environment, blue skies, green forests and sunny, warm climate – and be illustrative of our “environmental lifestyle” with regard to energy, pollution, congestion and safety. Drawing from the results of initial community surveys, Mr. Bockstall designed eight original logo concepts. Mr. Bockstall then further refined the concepts, based on input from an additional six focus groups throughout the region. A final set of two design concepts were developed for consideration by the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will rollout the final logo design to the community on Wednesday, January 14, 2008, at the Orlando International Airport, as he leads a group of civic, business and government leaders in a Regional Leadership Mission to Charlotte, North Carolina, to ride the city’s new train, the LYNX Blue Line, a 9.6-mile light rail project which has already generated $1.86 billion in private investment along its corridor. In coming months, myregion.org will conduct an additional community outreach effort to help spread the word about SunRail and generate community understanding of the positive impact of SunRail’s anticipated debut in 2011.

SunRail or SunTrax? Orlando's commuter rail going to get a name Dan Tracy | Sentinel Staff Writer 11:02 AM EST, December 17, 2008 Proposed logos Forget the acronyms and alliteration. The likely name for Central Florida's hoped-for commuter train is SunRail. The apparent runner-up is SunTrax. A circular logo featuring a train engine backed by golden sunshine and possibly a palm tree or two is the probable symbol of the planned $1.2 billion system. More than 100 participants in more than a dozen focus groups zeroed in on SunRail and SunTrax after going through a long list of possible names and logos. Their collective recommendation will go to the Central Florida Rail Commission Friday. The panel, chaired by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, will pick the winner. Judging from the focus groups, it probably will be SunRail. Veronica Bacon, a focus group member and administrative assistant in nutritional services at Florida Hospital, said SunRail is her favorite: "It said Florida. It said happy. It's attention getting." She especially liked the azure, gold, green and black colors on the logo, and the sleek train engine. "It was really cool. The picture was great," said Bacon, a Maitland resident who hopes to someday ride the train to and from her job north of downtown Orlando. Ana Zaragoza, service coordinator at a Hispanic seniors apartment complex in Kissimmee, said she likes the SunRail name, but prefers the logo that goes with the No. 2 finisher, SunTrax. That design features more black and a more futuristic-looking engine. "It's more in tune with Florida's lifestyle," said Zaragoza, another focus group participant. The artist responsible for the logo, Jim Bockstall of Lake Mary, said he has been working on the design for about two months. A stylized version of reality is his goal. "We're really trying to give people a good impression of what it will look like," he said. Shelley Lauten, president of myregion.org, which is being paid $300,000 to oversee design of the logo and naming of the train, said that focus groups were put together in Volusia, Seminole, Orange, Osceola, Lake, Brevard and Polk counties. "We tried to get a great cross section of the region," said Lauten. Along the way, participants rejected names for the system like GATOR, an acronym for Greater Area Transit Overland Rail or Greater Area Transit Orlando Rail; FAT, or Florida Alternative Train; FAST, or Florida Area Smart Transit; and O'BART, Orange Blossom Area Rapid Transit.. The 61-mile system is slated to run from DeLand in Volusia to Poinciana in Osceola. The first 31 miles, from south Volusia to Sand Lake Road in Orange, are supposed to be up and running in 2011, with the remainder in 2013. Proponents contend a name and logo are crucial to raising public awareness of the project. A recent myregion.org poll showed that 55 percent of respondents had no opinion about the rail line. The project still needs the approval of the state Legislature next year before construction can begin. Said Amanda Conochalla, a focus group member and manger of government relations at Orlando Health: "I think it will help people understand the details, instead of just an idea." Dan Tracy can be reached at dtracy@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5444. Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel

myregion.org joins Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce on Inter-City Visit to Charlotte Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org had the honor of joining a stellar group of business, government and civic leaders representing the Daytona Beach-Halifax Area Chamber at its semi-annual Inter-City Visit to learn of best practices and glean new ideas from leaders in another region. “Larry McKinney, CEO of the Daytona Chamber, understands how critical it is that our region connect across city and county lines.  As a Board member of myregion.org, Larry’s invitation for me to join this trip was a wonderful signal of support for regional scale thinking, as we continue to enhance each city and county within the region,” said Lauten. This year’s trip to Charlotte was especially interesting to see what has been accomplished with federal transit funding Charlotte received for a light rail system—dollars that had be slated to come to Central Florida.  Key transit leaders from Charlotte hosted the group on a ride of the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Blue Line, from downtown Charlotte to its northernmost point.  Click here for more photos. In addition to light rail, the city and county leaders have a clear vision and detailed plan for an integrated multimodal solution that connects the core city along five key transportation corridors—and will include at build out an integrated system of buses, trolleys and commuter rail, along with an expansion of their current light rail system. To support this transportation plan, these leaders also have supported land use changes encouraging more compact growth in close proximity to the transit lines. These leaders spoke frequently of the tranformative effect that transportation is having in the revitalization of Charlotte’s downtown—even in these uncertain economic times. Of special interest to the Daytona leaders was the update on the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  These two great cities—Daytona and Charlotte—were in competition for this important asset.  In Charlotte leaders’ estimation, the “tipping point” for NASCAR was an issue of geography—fully 90% of NASCAR drivers and their teams live within an hour of Charlotte.  This concentration of “talent” in the Charlotte area was the final “selling point” in favor of building it in Charlotte.  Again, in support of enhancing and building a vibrant “center city”, the NASCAR hall of fame will be built adjacent to the Charlotte Convention Center---and a light rail line runs right through the middle of the building! Click here for more photos. An impressive group of civic, business and government leaders addressed the Daytona leaders over a three-day period.  Whether it was discussing how arts and cultural assets are being strategically built to enhance quality of life, or demonstrating a motorsports curriculum for K-12 to encourage more students to excel in science, technology, engineering and math, Charlotte’s leaders were unified in what they believed was the “secret” to Charlotte’s success:  Optimism and a “Can-do” attitude… that brings leaders from all across the region and from all sectors to ensure that Charlotte is economically vibrant not only now, but well into the future. This experience is a precursor to a similar fact-finding trip scheduled for January 14, 2009, when the members of Leadership Orlando Class 76, along with representatives of the Central Florida Partnership, its Transportation Corridors “Task Force” and other regional leaders will make a day trip to Charlotte in support of Central Florida Commuter Rail to “ride their train” and meet with community leaders there to learn more about their successes in developing a multi-modal transportation system.

Officials hopeful on commuter rail 11/08/2008 © Osceola News-Gazette By Jessica Solis Staff Writer Central Florida’s commuter rail project is set to be at the top the Florida Legislature’s agenda in the spring, with Osceola County officials and leaders showing the strongest support among the counties in the region that would be served by it. A survey conducted last month by myregion.org, a group of public, private and civic leaders from Osceola, Seminole and Orange counties showed that despite modest public awareness of commuter rail transit details, there is still strong support for the project, which made it to the Florida Legislature, but was not approved this year. The project would allow the Florida Department of Transportation to purchase railroad tracks from international transportation company CSX Corp. and create a rail-based mass transit system connecting Orange, Osceola, Volusia and Seminole counties. Overall, 81 percent of people surveyed in Osceola, Seminole and Orange counties approved the construction of a commuter rail transit system. According to survey results, the strongest supporters for commuter rail, 47 percent, are from Osceola County. “If I had a voice in it, I would propose it,” county resident and Lynx bus user Henry Shamily said. Shamily also said that combined with buses, a rail-based transportation system could work, and eventually reduce traffic in the region. “You have to look at it in the long run,” he said. Last month, Osceola County Commission Chairman Ken Shipley wrote to Gov. Charlie Crist urging him to “finish the work necessary to complete the commuter rail project.” Shipley said commuter rail could provide new job opportunities to county residents hoping to work in downtown Orlando. “Trying to grow right is the right thing to do, and to accomplish this, commuter rail needs to be in place,” Shipley wrote. Kissimmee and St. Cloud city officials have supported commuter rail efforts. St. Cloud Mayor Donna Hart said Central Florida is in need of it. “This region is going to get bigger and keep growing, and eventually we’re going to have to figure out how to move people around,” she said. In 2007, Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties, along with the city of Orlando, approved funding to establish the first 61 miles of commuter rail from Volusia through Osceola counties. During the 2008 legislative session, the project fell short of approval due to liability language stating that, as part of a deal between CSX and the Florida Department of Transportation, CSX would have been provided with legal immunity meant to protect the company from lawsuits. One of commuter rail’s critics during the 2008 session, state Sen. Paula Dockery, R-Lakeland, said the legal language, as well as the possibility of increased rail traffic to Lakeland, caused her to oppose the project. In May, she requested the state team up with Amtrak to implement a new version of the commuter rail project. Despite falling short of approval at the last legislative session, Osceola County Commissioner John Quiñones said the county and others involved have good reason to remain confident in the project next year. It has already secured state and federal funding totaling $300 million. He said commuter rail might survive next year’s legislative session due to the creation of regional collaborations like myregion.org. “I think the chances are looking pretty good right now,” Quiñones said. He said that if different counties affected by the project team up to fund the 25 percent of the project they are required to fund and come to an agreement on the legal liability issue, it could ultimately get the green light. “I think that can be resolved in this legislative session,” Quiñones, a former state representative, said. The rail system, if built as proposed, would begin in DeLand and have Osceola County stops at stations on Osceola Parkway, downtown Kissimmee and in Poinciana. The 2009 legislative session begins in March. On a related note, the Central Florida Commuter Rail Commission’s Technical Advisory Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3 at the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 5 Urban Office, 133 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando. Anyone with questions, or anyone needing special assistance at the meeting, should contact Marianne Gurnee at or 407-492-0836.

“Strong support”… “Now is the time”… “Cutting-edge, modern, high tech” That is what a majority of more than 1,700 business and civic community leaders said in responding to a questionnaire about the Central Florida Commuter Rail project.  myregion.org, working closely with the Florida Department of Transportation and Central Florida community partners, recently surveyed more than 1,700 business and civic community leaders to get a better idea of what values and attributes matter most to the community with regard to the Central Florida Commuter Rail project. That information will be used to help brand and develop a name and logo for the project. The results of the questionnaire can be viewed by clicking here. Interestingly, the Central Florida Commuter Rail questionnaire conclusions largely parallel the results of a recent citizen survey conducted by Hill Research Consultants of registered voters in the 4 counties of Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola. Although the questionnaire and the survey targeted different groups of people, both citizens and community leaders alike expressed “strong support” for proceeding with development of the Central Florida Commuter Rail project.  Regardless of whether you are a business leader working in Osceola County or a young person living near one of the future rail stations near Sanford, a majority of the Central Floridians we asked view commuter rail as a viable alternative to helping solve the region’s congested road network. While the survey, conducted by Dr. David Hill, was a statistically valid random sample of more than 500 citizens living along the 61-mile commuter rail corridor, the qualitative questionnaire was completed by an additional 1,730 people who live not only in the “core counties”, but also the surrounding counties of Brevard, Lake, and Polk. The questionnaire was performed in addition to the scientific survey to see whether any similarities and differences emerged across the region.  The questionnaire, given to business and civic leaders and available on the Internet, reinforced the findings of the citizen poll that transportation is an important issue.  One difference between the citizens’ survey and answers from business and civic leaders is that people responding to the questionnaire are actually more pessimistic than citizens about the region’s transportation situation.  Key Findings between Citizen Survey and Business and Civic Leader Questionnaire:   CFCR Questionnaire (Leaders) Hill Research (Citizens) Over the next 5 years, the Central Florida Region’s transportation situation will get worse. 75% 49% Respondents overwhelmingly believe                               transportation issues lies outside of the automobile. 82% 87% “Now is the time” for our region to invest in a new, modern mass transit system 80% 79% The majority of respondents expressed preference for a “cutting-edge, modern, high-tech” train, that is painted in cool colors (blues, greens and purples) that match our skies and environment.   79%     72%   The minority of respondents expressed a preference for a nostalgic, retro, “Orient Express” type of train