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Last Thursday, Jacob V. Stuart, President of the Central Florida Partnership and Stuart Rogel, President of the Tampa Bay Partnership, traveled with Shelley Lauten, President of myregion.org to Philadelphia, to meet with Jonathan Barnett of PennDesign (University of Pennsylvania) and officially “launch” Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region. 

This initiative is designed to demonstrate the potential advantages of coast-to-coast connectivity in order to develop a “Super Regional Strategy” for transportation and land use, economic and workforce development, environmental sustainability and quality of life issues.  While in Philadelphia, they also met for several hours, in a classroom setting, with the group of graduate students, being led by Professor Barnett, who will actually be conducting this important work. This project will be completed in time for presentation at the Super Regional Leadership Conference, scheduled for May 26–27, 2010. 

On a related matter, it is widely speculated that an announcement regarding High Speed Rail for Florida will be made this week. In fact, it is confirmed that President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will be traveling to Tampa this coming Thursday, January 28, 2010.  And, although the specific nature of the trip has not yet been disclosed, the conjecture by most is that this visit is related to an announcement regarding High Speed Rail for Florida.

For some time, the “rumor” has been that President Barack Obama would make a statement regarding federal funding for high speed rail during the State of the Union, planned for this Wednesday, January 27, 2010.  Whether or not the President comments on High Speed Rail during his message to our nation, every indication is that an announcement will be made very, very shortly. 

Ed Turanchik, President of Connect Us, is very encouraged when it comes to this important matter and Stuart Rogel, President of the Tampa Bay Partnership, suggests that “good news” may be “right around the corner.”  Let there be no doubt, High Speed Rail for Florida is a “game changer” when it comes to our collective future, and it means jobs, jobs, and more jobs for hard working families living in our state. 

“Needless to say, we’re very excited about “launching” Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region because this project is indelibly linked to High Speed Rail for Florida,” said Jacob Stuart.  “And, we’re very excited about the possibility that the President may give us the “green light” when it comes to High Speed Rail for Florida, providing a spectacular opportunity when it comes to the continued success of our efforts turning “Ideas to Results.”

“If this is the case, Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region is perfectly positioned to respond to this “game changing” opportunity,” added Shelley Lauten. 

Click here to learn more about Connecting for Global Competitiveness: Tampa Bay-Central Florida Super Region.

Central Florida Partnership - Ideas to Results
Improving Central Florida’s economic vitality and quality of life by focusing on transportation, public policy advocacy, regional leadership, entrepreneurial growth and regional planning.   

About the Central Florida Partnership
Click here to learn more about the Central Florida Partnership.
Click here for the Central Florida Partnership Board of Directors.

myregion.org is one of four lines of business by which the Central Florida Partnership focuses on “Regional Research and Resolves.”  By identifying and examining the changing demographics and powerful trends that are shaping the Central Florida Region – myregion.org is helping to identify the issues and challenges that affect our future.
 
Working together with Orlando, Inc. (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce) focused on Regional Entrepreneurship, BusinessForce (Public Policy Advocacy), and Leadership Orlando (Regional Leadership), the Central Florida Partnership is moving “Ideas to Results.”

About myregion.org
Click here to learn more about myregion.org.
Click here for the myregion.org Board of Directors.