Forum to discuss economic reality of the ‘Next Five Years’ in Sarasota-Manatee

SARASOTA, FL (February 5, 2008) – The bursting of the real estate bubble, concern for high property taxes, and citizen hostility to development joined forces in 2007 have put the Sarasota-Manatee area and the entire state of Florida into a tailspin. A long era of prosperity has slowed to a crawl.

 

Is that a crisis or an opportunity? What should state and community leaders be doing to maintain our quality of life in the context of that new reality?

 

To explore the new economic reality of a future with limited or no growth, The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee’s Institute for Public Policy and Leadership is partnering with the Coalition of Business Associations, Sarasota Magazine and Biz941 to create a series of public forums during 2008.

 

The series, entitled “The Next Five Years,” will attempt to project what Sarasota-Manatee will look and feel like in 2013. It will bring together key policy-makers and business professionals for round-table discussions of what should be done now to make the community a better place to live, as well as the implications for the economy, jobs, retailing, and the arts if growth is stagnant.

 

The first forum, set for Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., will be moderated by David Klement, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Leadership, and Pam Daniel, editorial director of Sarasota Magazine.  The round-table discussion will include a distinguished panel made up of: 

·        Brad Edmondson, Population Consultant

·        Jack McCabe, Real Estate Economist

·        Mike Bennett, State Senator, District 21

·        Jim Ley, Sarasota County Administrator

·        Bill Earl, Attorney and community activist.

 

Other forums are projected for May, August and November, at dates yet to be determined.

 

All of the programs will be free to the public, and will be held in Selby Auditorium at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

 

To register for this event, visit www.sarasota.usf.edu/ippl or call the events hotline at (941) 359-4602.  For more information, contact Donna Fitzpatrick-Conard (941) 359-4774.