The Next Five Years

With the bursting of the real estate bubble in 2007, the perennial debate over growth and development changed dramatically. In 2008 the focus shifted to a stagnant growth industry, or, to borrow from a popular soft drink maker, “un-growth.” In 2008, civic, government and business leaders worried about how a slowing growth industry would 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 partnered with Coalition of Business Associations, Sarasota Magazine and Biz941to create a series of four public forums during 2008. The series, titled “The Next Five Years,” attempted 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?

The series brought together panelists for round-table debates related to the economic climate in a series of four sessions. All were held at Selby Auditorium at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.  

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Sarasota/Manatee: The Next Five Years Part IV: Leadership in Turbulent Times.

Lecture by Mark Wilson, Executive Director, Florida Chamber of Commerce 

Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sarasota/Manatee:  The Next Five Years-Part III:  Climate Change and Economic Opportunity..

Panel discussion featuring marine scientist, energy investor, environmentalist, county administrator and foundation director.

 

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

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

Panel discussion featuring Asheville, N.C., Chamber president, Sarasota EDC president, Economic Gardening expert, business relocation consultant, and Enterprise Florida executive.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Sarasota-Manatee: The Next Five years Part I: Crisis or Opportunity?

Panel discussion featuring demographer, real estate economist, state senator, county administrator, anti-growth advocate and local developer.

T