Jacobs - South Florida Regional Planning Council

The Jacobs Team looks forward to helping the Southeast Florida Regional Partnership (the
―Partnership‖) prepare for sustainable economic prosperity and livability in our region. Our team
represents a broad base of expertise in the myriad areas of social/cultural, environmental,
economic, visual, and technical/planning issues required. We strongly believe in the
importance of the collaborative process in developing holistic and sustainable models for a
better future. It is our expectation that one of the most valuable outcomes of the Southeast
Florida program will be newfound and long-lasting working relationships among Consortium
Members and increased capacity through resource-sharing and continued collaboration among
Partnership members. The expanded capabilities of this far-reaching Partnership will bridge geopolitical
boundaries, allowing for proactive approaches to shared regional issues. Additionally, a
strengthened Partnership will be better equipped to adapt to inevitable climate change and the
cyclic nature of the economy - without sacrificing the diverse, individual character unique to our
communities.
The Jacobs Team leverages the best talents of our firm‘s experience and relationships here in
Florida with a strong global perspective through strategic use of nationally and world-renowned
professionals who have worked on the full spectrum of sustainability issues in many other parts
of the world, and whom are recognized in the profession as the leaders in their respective
expertise. We will support the six Work Groups with subject-matter expertise, providing a ‗deep
well‘ of resources that may be called upon as the work direction demands.
Because of our work in South Florida, the Jacobs Team understands the challenges to achieving
sustainability in our region. Our region will need to accommodate an additional 1.8 million
people by 2040 due to natural increase (more births than deaths) and immigration from abroad.
The high cost of housing near the coast is also expected to spur more inland growth. How we
plan for future growth will be crucial to a sustainable economy. Unemployment continues to be a
serious problem; however, one of the bright spots is ―clean economy‖ jobs which grew in Florida
by over 103,000 jobs since 2003. Putting our population back to work and growing more highquality
jobs that can be filled with skilled South Floridians will be a necessary outcome to longterm
prosperity. We are also aware of the public‘s skepticism concerning global warming,
climate change, and how it affects them. It is in this backdrop that we will consider alternative
future scenarios.
PROJECT UNDERSTANDING – The Partnership has effectively organized itself to benefit
from local expertise from a diverse community that includes advocates and leaders from a
variety of sectors including government, academia, non-profits, and business and industry. We
view the role of Master Consultant as one of strategist and facilitator, while delivering
products in a collaborative manner. In this role, we bring a new dimension to the multidimensional
Partnership that will sharpen the focus of the three-year program and result in a
broad-based, publicly-supported action plan with a centuries-long reach.
The Jacobs Team is ready to assist the Partnership Management Team in this important program
that will serve as a critical base from which future sustainable planning and implementation
efforts are developed in the coming decades. The Partnership‘s all-inclusive work plan
JACOBS July 22, 2011 Page 1