{"id":305345,"date":"2026-06-12T16:10:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/305345\/"},"modified":"2026-06-12T16:10:12","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:10:12","slug":"invest-greater-fort-lauderdale-debuts-first-full-day-summit-on-growth-and-investment-caa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/305345\/","title":{"rendered":"Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale debuts first full-day summit on growth and investment – caa"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Key points:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Broward leaders emphasized collaboration, infrastructure investment, and execution as the foundations of long-term growth.
\n\u2022 Healthcare systems, municipalities, and developers continue deploying capital into projects designed to meet rising demand.
\n\u2022 Transit expansion, housing affordability, and streamlined development processes emerged as critical priorities for the region\u2019s competitiveness.<\/p>\n

\"GreaterJune 2026 \u2014 Greater Fort Lauderdale<\/a> continues to attract residents, businesses, and investment. Healthcare systems are committing billions of dollars to expansion, cities are competing to attract development while addressing housing and mobility challenges, and major infrastructure projects are reshaping how people move across the region. At caa<\/a>\u2019s Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale 8th Edition Leadership Summit<\/a>, public- and private-sector leaders discussed how they plan to sustain that growth.<\/p>\n

Join us at caa\u2019s upcoming leadership summits<\/a>! These premier events bring together hundreds of public and private sector leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for businesses and investors. Find the next summit in a city near you<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Abby Lindenberg<\/a>, founder and CEO of caa<\/a>, opened the summit by reflecting on the publication\u2019s journey covering the market. \u201cEight years ago, we sat down with the leaders of Greater Fort Lauderdale and asked a simple question: What\u2019s really happening here? We wanted the real version \u2014 the deals being made, the challenges being navigated, the vision being shaped from the ground up,\u201d Lindenberg said. \u201cWhat we found was a community that didn\u2019t need a spotlight. It needed a megaphone.\u201d<\/p>\n

The summit marked the official launch of Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale 8th Edition<\/a>, caa\u2019s annual review of the region\u2019s economy and investment climate. (Become a member today<\/a> to access the latest edition of Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale.)<\/p>\n

Capital follows confidence<\/p>\n

\"GreaterThe summit\u2019s first panel, \u201cGround Floor: Why Broward\u2019s development mix is attracting the kind of capital that doesn\u2019t leave, and how key stakeholders are capitalizing,\u201d focused on the changes to the region\u2019s development market.<\/p>\n

Moderated by Sidney Calloway<\/a>, managing partner of the Fort Lauderdale office and co-chair of the Government Law Practice Group at Shutts & Bowen LLP, the discussion featured Austin Fox<\/a>, principal of Austin Fox Architecture; Jason Martin, senior vice president of Moss; and Luis Senra, COO of ANF.<\/p>\n

The conversation highlighted the growing role of public-private partnerships in making projects financially viable, particularly in multifamily and workforce housing. \u201cMany developers are partnering with municipalities and government agencies and leveraging publicly owned land to make projects financially viable,\u201d said Senra.<\/p>\n

Speakers pointed to programs such as Florida\u2019s Live Local Act and the growing importance of workforce housing developments in sustaining economic growth. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen a major emphasis from the state through the Live Local Act on driving workforce housing development,\u201d said Martin. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the biggest needs in South Florida, and certainly in Broward County. We have to be able to provide people with affordable places to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Healthcare emerged as one of Broward County\u2019s defining growth stories during the opening fireside chat between Lindenberg and Shane Strum<\/a>, CEO of Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System. Strum noted that Broward Health and Memorial collectively employ nearly 30,000 people and expect to generate more than $6 billion in revenue this year. He also highlighted more than $1.5 billion in planned capital investments across both systems over the next two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of expecting patients to come to us, we\u2019re bringing healthcare into the community,\u201d Strum said. \u201cWe\u2019ve launched mobile health units and new primary care centers in underserved areas so people don\u2019t have to rely on hospital emergency departments as their primary point of care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Growth requires coordination<\/p>\n

The second panel, \u201cFrom Policy to Place: Creative incentives and use cases that Broward leaders are implementing for intentional growth,\u201d examined how municipalities are balancing incentives, housing, and economic development.<\/p>\n

Moderated by Todd Holt, vice president of business development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, the discussion brought together Mayor Michael Ryan<\/a> of Sunrise, Mayor Josh Levy<\/a> of Hollywood, Mayor Joy Cooper<\/a> of Hallandale Beach, and Carolyn Francis-Royer<\/a>, chief housing administrator for the City of Miramar.<\/p>\n

The panel focused on how local governments compete for investment while maintaining quality of life and expanding housing opportunities.<\/p>\n

Levy emphasized that efficient government processes increasingly influence where developers choose to invest. \u201cWe\u2019ve hired more people and built out a new building division and related development services departments because developers know that cities get reputations,\u201d Levy said. \u201cIf a city has a reputation that you can\u2019t get through plan review or site plan approval, investment is going to skip you and look elsewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GreaterThat theme carried into later discussions about permitting, project delivery, and regional competitiveness during the third panel, \u201cHow Broward Moves: Infrastructure, transit, and the public-private deals that will determine the county\u2019s future trajectory and mobility aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Moderated by Jay Thornton of Lewis Brisbois, the panel included Mayor Joyce Davis<\/a> of Dania Beach<\/a>, Mayor Angelo Castillo<\/a> of Pembroke Pines, Diane Hernandez Del Calvo of Tri-Rail, Coree Cuff Lonergan<\/a> of Broward County Transit, and Greg Stuart<\/a> of the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization.<\/p>\n

Speakers outlined initiatives ranging from transit expansion and station-area redevelopment to major mobility investments, while emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration. Leaders pointed to growing coordination among municipalities, transportation agencies, airports, ports, and economic development organizations as essential to supporting continued population growth and economic development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe economic impact of that kind of investment is significant. The American Public Transportation Association estimates that for every $1 billion spent on infrastructure investment, a program like PREMO can support more than 40,000 jobs over 20 years,\u201d said Cuff Lonergan.\u00a0 \u201cThat is amazing when you think about the economic benefits. Those are immediate opportunities for people who may be unemployed or looking for work, but they are not just construction jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tourism and business attraction took center stage during a fireside chat featuring Stacy Ritter<\/a>, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, and Heiko Dobrikow<\/a>, executive vice president and general manager of The Las Olas Company and Riverside Hotel. Ritter emphasized the importance of strategic investment and long-term planning as the destination works to grow visitation and business activity. \u201cThe people who do generate that tax and entrust it to us are critically important, and they need to know we are thoughtfully and deliberately developing plans to increase business here,\u201d Ritter said.<\/p>\n

The final panel, \u201cBuilt to Scale: What sustainable business growth actually looks like in Broward County and the South Florida region,\u201d shifted the conversation to corporate growth and strategy. Moderated by Ryan Gandolfo, deputy editor at caa, the discussion featured Eve Cann<\/a>, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson; Andrew Sossin<\/a>, CEO and co-founder of Recovery Unplugged; and Mayor Michelle Gomez<\/a> of Tamarac. <\/p>\n

Their discussion focused on talent, regulatory environments, entrepreneurship, and the factors that continue to attract companies to Broward County. \u201cCompanies that are investing the resources to open or operate here, whether locally or throughout Florida, generally intend to be here for the long term,\u201d Cann said. \u201cBy shifting their focus toward compliance, operational efficiency, and sound procedures, they are taking a more proactive approach to managing risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day concluded with a celebration of the region\u2019s brightest, as caa hosted the inaugural Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale Technology & Innovation Awards. Honorees included Dan Lindblade, recognized with the Broward Builder Award for his civic leadership; Michael Goldstein of Entech, who received the Technology Leadership Award; and Julia Lucidi of the Fort Lauderdale Tech Meetup, named the recipient of the Newcomer Innovation Award. Attendees then closed out the afternoon at a lively happy hour, complete with a DJ, networking, and a raffle \u2014 capping a successful first full-day conference for the Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale community.<\/p>\n

Relive the event! More photos<\/a> to come:<\/p>\n

\"Greater \"Greater \"Greater \"Greater \"Greater \"Greater \"Greater \"Greater<\/p>\n

Want more? Read the Invest: Greater Fort Lauderdale<\/a> report.<\/p>\n

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