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It was standing room only in the Fairwinds Alumni Center on the UCF campus when the gavel fell on the Central Florida Legislative Delegation meeting convened by its Chair, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R-Melbourne), and jointly hosted by the Central Florida Partnership and UCF.

Following welcoming remarks by Central Florida Partnership Chair Jeff Jonasen and UCF President Dr. John Hitt, Chair Haridopolos opened the meeting by recounting how the delegation had met a host of challenges during the difficult economic times of recent years. Haridopolos then welcomed Central Florida Partnership President Jacob Stuart, to the dais as Moderator for the four panel presentations to the delegation members reflecting and in alignment with the Central Florida Partnership’s Regional Priorities.

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With SunRail now becoming a reality, it was only appropriate for Stuart to call forward the first panel of the day composed of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orlando Magic President Alex Martins and the Senior Managing Director for the Tavistock Group, Rasesh Thakkar to discuss the impact of SunRail. Dyer projected 13,000 jobs will be created and a total SunRail impact of $1.5 billion while Martins and Thakkar discussed the future impact of the planned transportation related development along the SunRail route.

The second panel to be introduced by Stuart focused on the "Open for Business" initiative of the Central Florida Partnership and other community partners. Panelists included Congress of Regional Leaders Chair Windermere Mayor Gary Bruhn, JCB Construction President Brian Butler and Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission President Rick Weddle with each indicating they were not content on waiting for the economy to turn around by itself but were intent on identifying what barriers exist that impede economic development and getting Floridians back to work. They suggested, as one helpful remedy, a consistent approach to permitting.

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Concerns about the future of the region’s water supply and a recognition that a regional water strategy is needed was the subject of the third panel composed of Deseret Ranch Vice President and General Manager Erik Jacobsen, Polk County Commissioner Sam Johnson and ReMax Town and Country Broker Kathleen Gallagher McIver who were summoned next to the dais by Stuart. There was a clear consensus among the panelists that local governments alone cannot solve the water problem and smarter solutions on such issues as lawn watering and septic tanks are desperately needed.

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Wrapping up the panel presentations to the delegation, Engineering and Computer Simulations CEO Waymon Armstrong, UCF Incubation Program Executive Director Dr. Thomas O’Neal and Orlando, Inc., President Leslie Hielema were called to the dais to discuss "Innovation and Entrepreneurship." With the newly transformed Orlando, Inc., playing a leading role in fostering a regional entrepreneurial ecosystem to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship, the panelists pointed out some of the real challenges being faced by entrepreneurs which included adequate lending, lack of "angels" and the possibility of further research and development cuts in the federal budget.

Upon conclusion of the panels, Chair Haridopolos opened the floor to comments by delegation members. Among the issues raised and discussed by the delegation members were reapportionment, expansion of gambling and the prohibition of internet casinos, space, greater accountability by economic development agencies and promoting digital media.

In their final act before adjournment, the members of the Central Florida Legislative delegation tapped Rep. Chris Dorworth (R-Lake Mary) and Sen. Andy Gardiner (R-Orlando) to serve as the delegation’s 2012 Chair and Vice Chair respectively.

Central Florida Partnership - Ideas to Results
The Central Florida Partnership is a collaborative of business and civic leaders committed to procuring a better tomorrow for Central Florida's seven counties - Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia. We are thoughtful leaders united by a single, guiding principle - that we have both the power and the responsibility to make change happen.

Working together, through four lines of business – Orlando, Inc. (Regional Entrepreneurship), BusinessForce (Regional Public Policy Advocacy), myregion.org (Regional Research & Resolves) and Leadership Orlando (Regional Leadership) – the Central Florida Partnership is moving "Ideas to Results."

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.