Business and government leaders from Fort Lauderdale explore how Boston tackles key urban challenges through innovation and collaboration

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – In a week-long initiative to deepen understanding and spark new ideas, more than 100 business leaders, government officials, and community stakeholders from Greater Fort Lauderdale traveled to Boston to study the city’s approach to a wide range of issues that directly impact economic growth and quality of life. The delegation aimed to bring back valuable insights that could be adapted and applied in South Florida.

Organized by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the trip focused on critical areas such as technology, affordable housing, transportation, healthcare, arts and culture, commercial development, workforce development, and resilience. Each of these topics was explored through dedicated team efforts, on-site visits, and conversations with local Boston experts.

“This was an important trip to compare and contrast our work in Greater Fort Lauderdale with the rich history and tradition of Boston,” said Dan Lindblade, president and CEO of the Chamber, who served as part of the Resilience Team. “As it relates to resilience, in many respects we are closely aligned with Boston’s planning. However, both must figure out how to pay for it.”

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The delegation attended several plenary sessions where they heard directly from some of Boston’s most influential figures. Mayor Michelle Wu shared her city’s strategies on climate adaptation, equity, and growth. Business leaders such as Sam Kennedy, president and CEO of the Boston Red Sox; Glen Thornbrorough, president of TD Garden and COO of the Boston Bruins; and Jack Fleming, CEO of the Boston Athletic Association, which oversees the Boston Marathon, provided unique insights into how sports and community identity drive economic and cultural momentum in the region.

While the visit offered a chance to learn from Boston’s longstanding traditions and progressive strategies, it also provided an opportunity for Fort Lauderdale leaders to share their own region’s successes and challenges. Topics such as transportation innovation, real estate development, and small business support were key areas where the two regions found common ground.

Members of the Fort Lauderdale delegation represented a wide swath of sectors and organizations. Leaders from healthcare institutions like Baptist Health South Florida and Cleveland Clinic were present, as were representatives from transportation hubs including Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Port Everglades, and the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Major corporations like Amazon, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and Florida Power & Light (FPL) also played a role in the discussions.

Chamber members who participated included Doug Cohen of Kelley Kronenberg, Maria Hernandez of United Way, Bryce Hollweg from the Florida Panthers, Phillip Dunlap and Coree Cuff Lonergan from Broward County, and Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson from the Community Foundation of Broward. Notably, educators and public school leaders such as Dr. Fabian Cone and Dr. Angela Fulton from Broward County Public Schools also joined to explore how cities like Boston are tackling talent development through inclusive education models.

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Beyond structured presentations, teams spent time visiting cultural landmarks, transportation systems, and innovation districts. These immersive experiences helped the delegation understand how Boston integrates public space, mobility, and social services in ways that could inform future planning efforts in Fort Lauderdale.

A full report detailing the insights and recommendations gathered during the trip will be released in the coming weeks, offering a roadmap for applying the lessons learned back home.

As Broward County and Greater Fort Lauderdale continue to grow, these types of intercity visits remain a vital tool in shaping strategic, inclusive, and forward-looking policies. The Boston visit demonstrated once again the power of collaboration between public and private sectors in building more resilient and dynamic communities.