The Conversations That Matter for the Future of Florida’s Infrastructure will Convene on April 19 in Lake Buena Vista

By: Ananth Prasad, FTBA President, Florida Chamber Foundation Board Trustee and Florida Chamber Infrastructure Coalition Chair 

Over the past year, we have seen the importance infrastructure plays in connecting communities, moving goods and services, and powering businesses and households. We’ve also seen the need to plan for the future as Florida grows by more than 1000 people per day to maintain our quality of life, adequate water supply, be more resilient, and ensure efficient transportation options for all Floridians. The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida Trade & Logistics 2030 Study remains a big part of the roadmap to get there, following the direction of the Florida 2030 Blueprint goals focused on preparing Florida’s infrastructure for smart growth and development.

The upcoming Florida Transportation, Growth & Infrastructure Solution Summit on April 19 in Lake Buena Vista is an opportunity to celebrate our successes and plan for a better future. As Chair of the Florida Chamber Infrastructure Coalition and fellow Board member, I am particularly excited to join the speaker lineup to discuss how federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is being leveraged to address the gaps in Florida’s infrastructure and the opportunities that exist to move Florida forward. I hope you and your team will make plans to join me.

Florida is at the forefront of innovation. After Hurricane Ian, the Florida Department of Transportation worked around the clock to repair bridges to Pine Island and Sanibel Island so residents could quickly assess the damage to their homes. Utility companies quickly restored electricity after more than 2.6 million Floridians were without power. And while the response to Hurricane Ian was swift, we’re already planning for how to better withstand and respond to the next hurricane.

Meanwhile, the Florida legislature understands the importance of recognizing how Florida is growing and is planning for this future growth through 2045. Fortunately, legislators are looking at a multifaceted approach that includes roads and highways, our water supply and water quality, expanding access to broadband, protecting our natural resources, and diversifying our sources of energy.

Also being discussed at the Solution Summit is Governor Ron DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward initiative, which funds an additional $4 billion to expedite 20 road congestion projects across Florida. This plan will fast-track projects that were on the 15 to 20-year plan to be completed in the next four years. This monumental proposal will relieve current choke points on state roads to better move goods and people.

This is just a small glimpse into the topics that will be covered on April 19. If you haven’t already registered, I encourage you and your appropriate team members to sign up today to be a part of the conversation on April 19. Please register to join us by clicking HERE>. If you need hotel accommodations, you may book your room HERE>.

If you are interested in engaging with the Florida Chamber Infrastructure Coalition in preparing Florida’s infrastructure for smart growth and development on the road to 2030, contact Carolyn Johnson at cjohnson@flchamber.com.