Fla.’s population may grow by 3.5M residents to reach 26M by 2030. A chamber report predicts 1.6M jobs more will be needed and 3M more cars will be on roads.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida’s population is predicted to reach 26 million by 2030, an increase of more than 3.5 million residents, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Florida 2030 Blueprint.
The initiative calls on local governments, businesses and private organizations to address 39 targets ranging from job training to environmental protection. The blueprint estimates that Florida will need an additional 1.6 million jobs by 2030, and roads will need to handle 3 million more cars.
Chamber CEO and President and Mark Wilson notes that Florida’s economy has increased from the 17th largest economy in the world to the 15th in the four years since the blueprint was written.
Paul Owens, president of the nonprofit 1000 Friends of Florida, backs the idea of private investment in public issues, but believes public supervision is necessary. 1000 Friends of Florida also issued an outlook with a horizon of 2070. The report sees risky consequences if development isn’t contained, such as one-third of the state becoming paved.
“That’s going to create all kinds of problems for water quality and flooding,” Owens said. “If properly planned, we could certainly reduce the impact of 3.5 million more Floridians.”
Source: Orlando Sentinel (04/12/22) Fraser, Trevor
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