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Revitalizing Florida Will Take Effort, Investment

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2007

On Nov. 14, I joined other Hillsborough County commissioners in a historic groundbreaking ceremony with Moffitt Cancer Center and drug maker Merck for M2GEN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Moffitt Cancer.

This partnership is the first step in building a state-of-the-art total cancer-care program in Hillsborough County that will develop personalized cancer treatments for patients using molecular technology. M2GEN also will fuel collaborative opportunities with other high-paying biotechnology companies from around the world.

Hillsborough County is anchoring its economic future on the life sciences. Moffitt Cancer, Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr. Alzheimer's Center & Research Institute and the University of South Florida comprise the core of an emerging life science cluster of hospitals, research centers and biotech companies that will power a massive retooling of the region's job base.

Critical to this effort is a strong partnership with the state. By 2011, Florida will be the third-largest state in the nation. Florida's population has soared from 2 million people in 1950 to more than 18 million today, overwhelming our infrastructure (roads, water and sewer), public safety and education systems. Meeting the demands of a growing state and providing a high quality of life for our citizens will require much more than simply cutting taxes. We must build a solid tax base with applied sciences as its foundation. This requires three sturdy planks:

•Mass transit: Florida must develop a comprehensive, statewide mass transit system that connects the state by commuter rail linking Jacksonville, Miami and all critical metropolitan communities in between. This will require regional light-rail and bus rapid transit systems that use the latest in energy-conservation processes.

•Education: High-tech companies require a well-educated workforce, and Florida must build a top-tiered education system that is the envy of the world. Our K-12 system, as well as community colleges and universities, require billions of dollars in investments to make that happen.

•Energy: Florida must build a long-term strategy for reliable, clean energy unfettered from foreign control and unstable pricing. This means nuclear power, clean coal facilities and gas.

Florida's future is bright, but it won't come cheap. We have lived off the myth that millions could move into our state without building the requisite infrastructure and are now paying the price. The solution is creating high-wage jobs and supporting concurrent spin-off opportunities all of our citizens can enjoy and participate.

We took a giant step forward with the Moffitt-Merck partnership. With a reformed tax system and a laser focus on the above three planks, we will hold the key that unlocks Florida's bright future.

Mark Sharpe is Hillsborough County commissioner for District 7.

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