Over the last few years, residents of Fort Lauderdale welcomed the improvements happening in their communities. The call for continuity, according to the mayor, beckoned.
“I saw a yearning in the community to continue with the changes that were occurring in our city amid the high popularity that we enjoyed,” recalled Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, who was first elected in 2018 and reelected in 2021.
Known as the nation’s swimming capital, Fort Lauderdale has hosted swimming and diving competitions for decades and is home to the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The completed renovation of the city’s Aquatic Center has garnered international acclaim as the city now boasts the first permanent 27-meter dive tower, one of the tallest in the world.
Well connected to the rest of the globe, thanks to the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, the city has developed new residential areas, including dozens of luxury high-rise condominiums by the beach. The ongoing building boom hopes to attract people from around the world and strengthen its brand as an inclusive community.
“We are creating a downtown called Flagler Village. There are a lot of investments in commercial spaces, office spaces and residential housing. For those very reasons, we are on a path towards significant growth. We are creating an environment of hospitality wherein all people feel comfortable,” Trantalis said.
“I’ve also made it a point to go on a number of overseas trips to visit places far away from our home simply to acquaint people with Fort Lauderdale. I think Japanese investors will find it extremely beneficial for them to look at Fort Lauderdale as a significant investment opportunity,” he added.
Reaffirming the city’s successful growth program, several companies have begun moving to the city, including financial services companies and a major Hollywood studio.
“Fort Lauderdale was recently ranked the second-best place in the entire country to start a new business. It is our priority to continue that narrative, ensure the diversity of our employment, continue to attract investments, and improve quality of life,” Trantalis said.
“But we also want to ensure that quality of life is not compromised by growth. We will continue to invest in infrastructure in order to build a safe and secure environment for anyone who wishes to live here,” he added.
