Adie Tomer challenges local and state leaders in Florida to leverage its strengths in trade and logistics for a more production-oriented economy—to the benefit of the long-term economic prosperity of the state.
"Florida took a beating during the Great Recession. Like many of its Sun Belt peers, the prominent roles of real estate, tourism, and financial services led to over 650,000 jobs lost between 2007 and 2010. Many of the state’s largest metro areas remain thousands of jobs below their peak levels," according to analysis by Tomer.
Tomer lists the state's advantages in trade and logistics—such as Miami International Airport, 15 deep water ports, and cutting-edge freight policies—yet, "for all its logistics advantages, Florida simply doesn’t make enough of its own stuff." That last point is evident in a $180 billion domestic and international trade deficit in 2010, according to Brookings data.
Tomer also points out more of the state's potential in creating a manufacturing base, and recommends a few strategies, including cultural change, to achieve the recommended goals.
FULL STORY: Can Trade and Logistics Remake Florida?
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Miami's Local Economy Becomes Global
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Planning for Congestion Relief
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Minneapolis Housing Plan a Success—Not for the Reason You Think
Housing advocates praise the city’s move to eliminate single-family zoning by legalizing triplexes on single-family lots, but that isn’t why housing construction is growing.
Car Noise Is Killing Us
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Parks as a Weapon Against Climate Change
The 2022 ParkScore finds that cities are increasingly employing green space as a tool for mitigating heat and extreme weather effects, but the distribution of parks remains inequitable.
Louisiana Capital Shifting to Electric Transit
The Baton Rouge area is now served by a fleet of nine all-electric buses.
New Community Engagement Practices for Seattle’s Comprehensive Plan Update
A major update of Seattle’s comprehensive plan is just getting under way, with new opportunities for local groups to get involved with outreach and engagement.
City of Malibu
EMC Planning Group Inc.
Jefferson Parish
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Rohnert Park
City of Hot Springs
City of Lakeway, Texas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
