The United States is expected to experience unprecedented growth in the next thirty-five years with an estimated 100 million more Americans. Here in Central Florida - a region defined as Brevard, Lake, Orange Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia counties – the population is estimated to reach 7.2 million by 2050. Now more than ever, the future is about more than location… it’s about how we will live…. and Lake County is being proactive in addressing its own future with its own stakeholders.
Our region’s community leaders and residents have been gaining awareness and perspective on this projected growth through the “How Shall We Grow? – Creating a Shared Vision for Central Florida” campaign, a fifteen-month process that has brought together local, regional and state agencies in a partnership to design our collective future. The Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Department of Transportation, the Central Florida MPO Alliance, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, and myregion.org have combined their professional talents and resources to take this message to the people of our region.
What we’ve learned is that the issues of housing, transportation, energy and water are the same everywhere. Local leaders in Lake County will now convene to discuss a solution-oriented approach to Lake's Growing Concerns, specific to their community.
On April 20, the Lake County League of Cities Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion to support a countywide conversation and visioning exercise. The first meeting of the group, “OUR COMMUNITY - OUR FUTURE,” is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Lake County Agricultural Education Services building in Tavares.
The purpose of the meeting is for the elected leaders of Lake County to assemble and begin a meaningful dialogue on the direction of the community. The Lake Sumter MPO, the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, the Lake County League of Cities, and the Chamber Alliance of Lake County have all agreed that this conversation is pivotal.
The proposed two-hour meeting will begin with a background review and framework of policy issues. Lake County elected officials will be given an opportunity to comment and amend the policy framework. Also planned is an update on what is happening through both myregion.org and the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council regarding the “How Shall We Grow?” regional visioning process. The meeting will close with a commitment toward next steps.
If you are interested in attending this meeting, please RSVP by Wednesday, May 9th to (352) 315-0170 or e-mail NValenzano@LakeSumterMPO.com.
For more information about the “How Shall We Grow?” visioning process, please visit www.myregion.org.
myregion.org - A Regional Development Program - is an organization of citizens and leaders from public, private and institutional sectors who have launched a program to prepare the Central Florida Region to compete more effectively in the 21st century while enhancing the quality of life of its citizenry.
