When someone mentions the winds of change in connection with Central Florida, they’re not talking about the weather. Rather, the topic is the extraordinary growth that has taken place over the past three decades, and which continues today.

Central Florida has evolved from a small collection of quiet communities to a major metropolitan region that each year attracts more visitors and residents from around the world. The impact of this growth is what sparked the concept and ultimately the creation and implementation of the unique myregion.org initiative, an in-depth analysis of the systems and assets of each of the region’s seven counties.

The onslaught of new residents and mind boggling numbers of visitors combined with the myriad of needs that accompany rapid growth, has forced Central Florida communities to deal individually with their system and infrastructure issues. In recent years, community leaders have realized that these issues are becoming more regional, providing new and mutually shared management opportunities.

Nowhere is that more apparent than at Four Corners, a community of nearly 60,000 acres that sits right in the middle of Lake, Polk, Osceola and Orange counties. Unincorporated, this community has a population of almost 28,000 residents and by its very nature represents the need for a regional mindset.

From grocery shopping and doctor visits to school selections and public services, residents of Four Corners experience both the benefits and disadvantages of shared boundaries and needs. Critics have faulted the area’s leadership for not planning for or managing the growth.

As an element of a much larger region, Four Corners is attracting attention as the myregion.org initiative progresses by identifying the assets of the communities in the seven-county area. A closer look at the Four Corners phenomenon reveals the embodiment of the overall objective of myregion.org – that of identifying the assets and then constructing a framework to guide the future development and decision making. Few will argue the area needs to become more efficient in providing services to those who live and work here. That can only be achieved through the development of higher levels of system performance. Fractured approaches hinder the progress of any community.

Consultants agree that there is no avoiding the expanding global economy, so the need for a long-range plan of action is in order. Central Florida’s regional development, which is evolving naturally but quite slowly, requires coordinated action by leadership and an informed public to ensure managed and meaningful growth and development.

For more information about myregion.org, sign up for the Essential Activities Workshops scheduled for July 9-12 at The Orlando Science Center, log on to www.myregion.org or call Pam Clancy at 407.835.2486 or toll-free at 1.800.900.5315.