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Economic Yearbook 2006 - Southeast Florida
Still Packing Them In
Florida's most populous region continues to lead the state in new residents as well.
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West Palm Beach
Key Newcomers
? Office Depot Chairman and CEO Steve Odland arrives in Southeast Florida from Memphis-based AutoZone at a turbulent time for the company and the industry.
? Attracted by Southeast Florida's growing technology sector, Cleveland-based technology solutions firm Agilysys Inc. has announced the relocation of Chairman and CEO Arthur Rhein and his executive team to Palm Beach County.
Boca Raton
Boca once drew large numbers of professionals from Miami-Dade and Broward counties fleeing crime and traffic. But with few high-density urban areas, sprawl is growing. Residents frequently cite traffic as their top concern. ... Florida Atlantic University hopes to get the green light this year for a proposal that includes a 40,000-seat domed on-campus stadium, housing and retail space.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County leads the Southeast region in population growth -- thanks to abundant land for new housing. ... Hispanics are now the largest minority group in Palm Beach County, increasing 45% since 2000. ... With the county commission's decision to back a Jupiter location for the Scripps Research Institute, the institute hopes to focus more on science now rather than site-selection politics. ... Meanwhile, the former proposed Scripps location -- at Mecca Farms -- could still become a target for development.
Key Newcomers
As principal investigator for the Drug Study Institute, Joseph Saponarois building Palm Beach County's reputation in the clinical trials industry.
Monroe County
With strict growth management laws, Monroe County's population growth has been flat and has even declined in some areas. ... State Rep. Ken Sorensen has introduced a bill that would remove the Area of Critical State Concern designation from the Keys, which requires the state to oversee development throughout the county. ... Homebuilding has slowed following an injunction by a federal judge restricting FEMA from issuing flood insurance for new construction and some redevelopment of hurricane-damaged structures because of violations of the Endangered Species Act.
