REGIONAL RESOLVES
1 – Regional Leadership
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to create a Regional Leadership Network to serve as a basic tool for organizing and mobilizing the region’s leaders to develop and implement the initiatives outlined in the SourceBook and those identified in future planning. This network will include representation from the following sectors:
• Regional Congress of Government – Key public officials
• Regional Business Council - Leaders of the 100 largest businesses
• Regional Alliance of Community Organizations - Key civic leaders
2009 SPOTLIGHT: The Congress of Regional Leaders was formed in 2008 and is comprised of elected officials representing seven counties, elected City officials representing 86 municipalities, and members of the Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition, which represents nine school districts. The Congress is seeking regional solutions, policies, and practices to advance and implement the Regional Growth Vision articulated by over 20,000 Central Florida citizens.
Imagine if…Central Florida business, civic, and government leaders were basing decisions on an agreed upon set of priorities and principles.What could the region accomplish?
2 – Research Corridor
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: Recognizing the success of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, we resolve to expand the research corridor to maximize the potential synergies between the region’s public, private and institutional research organizations. In addition to current efforts in technology research, this corridor should focus additional efforts on the region’s unique niches in the aerospace and marine industries and other emerging technologies.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: The Florida High Tech Corridor Council leads our region in advancing technology research by supporting those industries in the service areas of the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida. In 2005, it welcomed the University of Florida as a full partner, using the strengths of three of the nation’s 10 largest public universities and bringing the number of Corridor counties to 23. The 21,454 companies in the corridor represent 70 percent of Florida’s high-tech jobs with a payroll of $16.6 billion.
Imagine if…Within the next decade, Central Florida becomes one of the world’s leading biotechnology and medical centers, with a thriving economy providing research laboratories and a variety of high-tech companies producing new products and high-wage, high-skill jobs for a diversified workforce. How do we build on this research partnership to grow our economy?
3 – Regional Transportation Organization
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: Recognizing the success of the current Central Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Alliance, we resolve to create a regional transportation organization to plan and advocate current and future regional transportation across all five modes including road, rail, water, air and space.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: The Central Florida MPO Alliance, comprised of representatives from the six metropolitan planning organizations in the region, is addressing transportation challenges on a regional basis and has developed the first nine-county Regional Long Range Transportation Plan for the year 2025.
Imagine if…Central Florida had a regional system of transportation connecting its airports, seaport, spaceport, highways, rail lines, buses, and bikes so that commerce was strengthened and quality of life was enhanced. What do our leaders need to be doing today to achieve this system?
4 – Environmental Assets
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to develop a strategy to effectively weave together Central Florida's environmental and urban systems to sustain and protect a region of exceptional natural resources. This will require recognition of the international significance and biological diversity of our region's unique environmental assets.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: Our region has experienced initial success in its quest to create a more diverse and stable economy. Our medical and research capabilities are being expanded through the addition of the Lake Nona Medical City, which includes the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Veterans Hospital, Nemours, and the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, which alone will generate 30,000 local jobs and have an economic impact of $7.6 billion over 10 years.
Imagine if…50 years in the future, we have maintained our standing as a world leader in tourism and space and gained global recognition for innovation, life sciences, and other industries. How will we advance on the global stage?
5 – Regional Economic Development
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to support the development of a comprehensive and integrated seven-county economic development strategy that will strengthen and expand existing businesses, actively seek to attract new quality businesses, and support the creation of new businesses through entrepreneurial initiatives. Two important components of this strategy are the development of the world-class Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center and the creation of a venture capital pool.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: Our region has experienced initial success in its quest to create a more diverse and stable economy. Our medical and research capabilities are being expanded through the addition of the Lake Nona Medical City, which includes the Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Veterans Hospital, Nemours, and the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, which alone will generate 30,000 local jobs and have an economic impact of $7.6 billion over 10 years.
Imagine if... 50 years in the future, we have maintained our standing as a world leader in tourism and space and gained global recognition for innovation, life sciences, and other industries. How will we advance on the global stage?
6 – Regional Concurrency Standards
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to create a regional planning organization with authority to develop and implement regional concurrency standards to ensure that growth in one county or municipality does not adversely impact another county or municipality.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: On this resolve, no new planning organization was created, but a new approach was taken. In an unprecedented effort that included state and regional organizations, as well as the public, private, and civic sectors, 10 partner organizations joined together to lead the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision. Over 20,000 Central Floridians participated in developing a 50-year growth vision for Central Florida through “How Shall We Grow?”
Imagine if…We achieve the Regional Growth Vision established by 20,000 citizens in 2007. What else can we be doing together to make this vision a reality?
7 – Educational Excellence
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to develop the region’s human capital as the most important asset and basic building block of the future through a regional pre-K to 12 educational strategy capable of placing Central Florida in the top 10 percent of the nation’s school systems, the region will simultaneously support our colleges and universities to attain global leadership in educational excellence.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: The economy of the 21st century is knowledge-based, and requires a need for a more highly educated workforce. Understanding this need, The PRISM Project (Promoting Regional Improvement in Science and Math) was created in 2005 to establish our region as a global leader in science and mathematics education. Working with the Central Florida Public School Boards Coalition, the goal is to move the region’s public schools into the top 10 percent in math and science excellence in the nation by 2015.
Imagine if…Every child, no matter where they live in the region, enjoys a high quality education, with all schools performing in the top 10 percent of the nation. What else can we be doing right now to make that a reality?
8 – Regional Access
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to build a services network to address the availability of resources required to meet the needs and support quality of life for all residents by providing access to transportation, affordable housing, healthcare, social services, child/elder care, and information and referral services.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: In this 21st century economy, organizations must seek innovative ways of working together to provide coordinated, seamless delivery of services to citizens to enhance our quality of life. Committed to this approach, United Arts of Central Florida has organized the creation of A.L.I.G.N. (Advance Listen Inspire Grow Nurture), so that arts leaders from all seven counties have a platform to discuss advocacy and awareness for the arts on a regular basis, focusing on encouraging a diverse, globally competitive economy through the development of creative communities.
Imagine if…Central Florida was the world’s leading model for how civic organizations integrate efforts to ensure access and delivery of services for enhancing the quality of life for all who call Central Florida home? How might that happen?
9 – Public Safety
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to ensure that Central Florida’s communities are safe and stable by creating a network of public safety professionals to prepare a deployment process for both routine operational protocols and sudden catastrophic events that may affect the region.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: In an important step in the protection of its citizens, state and local agencies in nine counties have come together to form the Central Florida Intelligence Exchange. One of only a few regional efforts of its kind in the nation funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, the “Fusion Center” analyzes data and intelligence from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies with the goal of coordinating intelligence activities across the region.
Imagine if…We achieve a “world-class” reputation for providing a safe and secure environment for our visitors and citizens across the seven-county region? Could we be doing more?
10 – Regional Brand
ORIGINAL RESOLVE: We resolve to develop a comprehensive strategy for branding the region to communicate its assets: space, emerging technologies and research; tourism; excellence in higher education; unique natural environmental assets; arts, heritage, sports and entertainment; and multi-culturalism.
2009 SPOTLIGHT: Three regional organizations reached agreement on roles and responsibilities in affecting the “Central Florida Brand:” the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission markets the brand, the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau convenes the brand and the Central Florida Partnership benchmarks the brand.
Imagine if...In 50 years, Central Florida is a "world-class" region where more than seven million people are living, learning, working, and playing. What must we be doing to set that stage?