Fort Lauderdale Featured in Fortune
- DowntownFTL
- 3 days ago
- 1 min read
June 17, 2026
In a featured op-ed in Fortune titled, “Ken Griffin has Miami. Stephen Ross has West Palm Beach. Fort Lauderdale had Wayne Huizenga — and it’s been winning ever since,” FTL DDA President & CEO Jenni Morejon highlighted how Fort Lauderdale's success stems from a broader legacy of sustained investment that continues to attract businesses, residents, and capital from around the world, positioning the city as one of the nation’s most compelling growth stories.
The piece argues that “while the headline-making cities at either end of the Gold Coast have been vocal about what they are building, Fort Lauderdale has been doing the same work with far less fanfare,” building on the legacy of South Florida’s first homegrown billionaire, H. Wayne Huizenga, “who left an unmistakable mark on the city without ever turning it into a campaign.”
“Fort Lauderdale’s marquee billionaire began with a garbage truck, built three Fortune 500 companies, owned three professional sports teams, and ultimately left his name on a riverfront park in the city he loved—yet never felt the need to announce Fort Lauderdale to the world.”
Today, that ethos still shapes the city’s trajectory, where it’s become a destination for long-term investment on its own terms. While big names are certainly welcome, Fort Lauderdale’s strength lies in its collective momentum, civic alignment, and confidence in the city’s future.
As we look ahead to the future, Fort Lauderdale stands poised to build on this momentum and further solidify its role as one of the nation’s most compelling urban growth stories, defined by steady investment and results that speak louder than headlines.
