With the bursting of the real estate bubble in 2007, the perennial debate over growth and development has shifted. In 2008 the focus is on a stagnant growth industry, or, to borrow from a popular soft drink maker, “un-growth.” Now civic, government and business leaders are worrying about how a slowing growth industry will impact jobs, housing, commerce, governance, the arts, tourism and other aspects of daily life in the Sarasota-Manatee area. 

To help frame that discussion, the Institute for Public Policy and Leadership at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is partnering with Coalition of Business Associations, Sarasota Magazine and 941Biz to create a series of public forums during 2008. The series, titled “The Next Five Years,” will attempt to answer the following questions:

• What will Sarasota-Manatee feel and look like in 2013?

• Given the slowdown in building, what should we be doing now to make the community a better place to live?

• What are the long-term implications for the economy?

• How does the anti-growth sentiment reflected in the November 2007 elections affect the diversity of the community?

• Does the slowdown portend a demographic shift, especially for Sarasota?

Panelists include:
Kathleen D. Baylis, CEcD, President & CEO
Economic Development Corporation Sarasota County

Richard J, Lutovsky, President & CEO
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce

Steve Quello, CEO
Nexus Orlando

John Rhodes, President
Stahl & Boyer

Brenda Workman, CEcD, Director of Business
Retention and Life Sciences for Enterprise Florida (EFI)

he series will bring together these panelists for round-table debates related to the economic climate in a series of four sessions. All will be held at Selby Auditorium at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.  

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 4pm-5:30pm

Sarasota/Manatee: The Next Five Years-Part II: How fast can we diversify?"

Click here to register or call (941)359-4602.

More events will be added soon. Please check this page for updates.