Economy & Business
Marine Industry
 Marine commerce is the leading industry in Greater Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, accounting for more than 134,000 jobs and $10.78 billion in total economic impact.
With more than 300 miles of waterways, marinas, and marine manufacturing and repair facilities, Greater Fort Lauderdale is a world-renowned port of call for the yachting industry.
The City also hosts the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, an annual event with an economic impact of $650 million.
Tourism Industry
 Tourism is Greater Fort Lauderdale’s second largest industry, representing an economic impact of nearly $8.76 billion.
Last year was another record-breaking year for tourism, with 10.35 million visitors.
For sunny Fort Lauderdale Beach, the future looks breathtaking as a half-billion dollars is being invested along the Atlantic Ocean to create a world-class, 5-star destination.
The new Hilton opened in January 2007, and Florida’s first St. Regis Resort opened in May 2007. In late 2008, both The W Hotel and Trump International Hotel are expected to open.
Trade & Business Development
 Fort Lauderdale has emerged as one of the fastest growing markets for global trade, with more than 40% of local businesses engaged in or supporting international commerce. The City remains at the forefront of South Florida’s emerging “Internet Coast,” a region that is home to more than 6,000 high technology firms.
A growing list of nationally-recognized corporations have established business operations in Fort Lauderdale with corporate or Latin American headquarters, including: AT&T, AutoNation, BankAtlantic, Citicorp, Citrix Systems, Galaxy Latin America, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft Latin America, Motorola Latin America, Republic Industries, South African Airways, Spherion Corporation, SportsLine.com, and Voicestream Wireless.
Fort Lauderdale is recognized as a leading business destination by several industry publications and organizations. In 2004, Inc. Magazine ranked Fort Lauderdale as the seventh best city in America for doing business and Southern Business and Development magazine ranked the City sixth for job growth. Financial services are another vital contributor to Greater Fort Lauderdale’s prosperity. A recent “State Farm Fiscally Fit Cities Report,” the first study of its kind, ranked Fort Lauderdale as one of the top 10 most “fiscally fit” cities in America based on three primary categories: investments, insurance, and quality of life.
|
|
