Florida Banking September 2021

STRAIGHT TALK FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

FLORIDA CONTINUES TO GROW

BY ALEJANDRO “ALEX” SANCHEZ, FBA PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

WHAT MAKES FLORIDA SO ATTRACTIVE TO SO MANY?

O ur big, beautiful state of Florida continues to grow. We are so blessed to live here, aren’t we? Over my lifetime, I have had the opportunity to move elsewhere, and have always decided to stay here in what is home for me: Florida. I consider myself a true Floridian, one who knows and understands the diversity of our great state. I have lived in South, Central and North Florida, three distinct parts of the state. Each is different, but we are united as Americans and Floridians. Florida is unlike so many states. We have a little bit of everyone here because our citizens are from everywhere. We are in the South, but we also have the Midwest, and of course we have the Northeast (especially New York) too in our culture. We have the Hemisphere, as many of our citizens and residents originally came from countries south of us. More and more now are we seeing Californians moving here as they seek to get out of the highly taxed, highly congested Golden State. Florida is much more than weather, beaches, Disney and agriculture. Thanks to the great efforts of our current Governor Ron DeSantis, and our past Governors Jeb Bush, Rick Scott and Bob Graham, Florida has become an iconic state and place in the eyes of many globally. Our Governors along with other state leaders have diversified our economy so that our children can now stay here and work and raise their families. Let us not take that for granted; for years I remember those who moved out of state to find good-paying jobs. Now our children are staying here, and they are being joined by the children of out-of-state families, as they move to Florida to make their lives.

What makes Florida so attractive to so many? There are many answers to this question, but one that comes to mind is how easy one is accepted here. Florida had only two million residents in the 1950s, so most of us are from elsewhere. My family and I have always felt welcomed in Florida as we too became Floridians. After my family sought freedom in the United States, from the socialist tyranny of Castro’s Cuba, as did many Cubans, we were welcomed here on the shores of this most beautiful peninsula: Florida. Before moving to Florida from New York City, I remember those TV commercials where the announcer would say, “Come on down to Miami Beach.” As a child living in NYC, I wished my family would move to Florida. I also remember watching the 1960s TV series Flipper. That was my fantasy of Florida, a place that was beautiful and welcoming. When I travel to other states, and people ask me where I am from, you should see the sparkle in their eyes when I say Florida. They say, “Florida, wow we love it there.” I think there are so many that fantasize about moving to Florida. The reality is that thousands do each year. Between April 1, 2020 and April 1, 2025, population growth in Florida is expected to average 308,497 net new residents per year (845 per day), representing a compound growth rate of 1.39 percent over this five year time horizon. These increases are analogous to adding a city slightly larger than Orlando every year. It is projected that by 2030, Florida will have 24.5 million residents. So, if you are reading this column, and you do not live in the Sunshine state, will I see you in Florida? Come on down, you were meant to be here.

6 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING