Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority

What Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority does

The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is an independent municipal taxing district established by the Florida State Legislature in 1965 to facilitate investment and development in Downtown Fort Lauderdale (marketed as DowntownFTL). The organization operates under a board composed of commercial property owners within the DDA's geographic boundary and is led by President & CEO Jenni Morejon. Its core function is to drive economic development through stakeholder convening, policy advocacy, public realm investments, and the publication of market intelligence — not to sell a product or service. Over the past two decades, the DDA has facilitated development of more than 20,000 residential units, 4.3 million square feet of office, 2.9 million square feet of commercial space, and 1,200 hotel rooms in DowntownFTL.

The DDA does not operate a commercial technology product. Its primary digital asset is an online data dashboard (ddaftl.org/dashboard) tracking economic, population, and place-based metrics across three lenses — Economy, People, and Place. It also publishes annual reports, market reports (retail, residential, office, tourism), and a bi-weekly FTL Focus editorial newsletter, and maintains an active presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and YouTube. The organization has only 1-10 direct employees and leans heavily on partnerships with the City of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, the ULI, Brightline, the U.S. General Services Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, NSU, the Community Foundation of Broward, and Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale to deliver its programs.

The DDA's revenue model is grounded in a special property tax levy on commercial property within its geographic district, supplemented by federal and state grants (including FTA streetscape grants) and Broward County transportation surtax funds. Its go-to-market approach is B2G and B2B stakeholder engagement — attracting investment, facilitating development projects, and convening property owners, developers, employers, and government partners. Primary stakeholders include commercial property owners (who fund the DDA via property taxes and drive development decisions), downtown employers across technology, banking, professional services, hospitality, and retail, residents (now 21,000-24,000 and growing), developers and investors, and visitors (30+ million annual foot traffic).

Name

Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority

Legal name

Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority

Website

https://ddaftl.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority is a legislatively established independent special taxing district that facilitates investment, development, and public realm improvements in Downtown Fort Lauderdale through stakeholder convening, policy advocacy, and market data publishing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

Keywords

• Urban economic development
• Downtown revitalization services
• Public realm investment
• Special taxing district
• Municipal development authority

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tax Levy Revenue: The Fort Lauderdale DDA is a special taxing district (Downtown Development Authority) authorized to levy property taxes on commercial property within its geographic district boundary. This tax revenue funds the DDA's operations, programs, and capital investments in the downtown area. The organization also advocates for and allocates County transportation surtax funds and pursues federal and state grant funding for capital projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority is a legislatively established special taxing district that facilitates private investment, real estate development, and economic growth in Downtown Fort Lauderdale (DowntownFTL). Its core deliverables include convening commercial property owners, developers, and government stakeholders; advocating for catalytic infrastructure and public realm improvements; producing market intelligence (annual reports, retail/residential/office/tourism reports, and the DowntownFTL Data Dashboard); and administering a public-facing engagement program through events, newsletters, and editorial content.

Product overview

The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is a government economic development agency rather than a product company. It does not offer commercial products or services in the traditional sense. The DDA provides public information resources including the DowntownFTL Focus newsletter/blog series, an online Data Dashboard tracking economic indicators, and publishes various market reports (annual reports, retail reports, residential reports, office reports, tourism reports). The organization also facilitates community engagement initiatives and urban development projects such as Huizenga Park improvements, streetscape projects, and public art programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DowntownFTL Data Dashboard Interactive online dashboard hosted at ddaftl.org/dashboard that tracks economic, population, and place-based metrics across three lenses (Economy, People, Place) for Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Used by employers, developers, media, and the public as a real-time market intelligence and stakeholder tool.
• FTL Focus Editorial Series (Newsletter and Blog) Bi-weekly editorial newsletter and accompanying blog series (FTL Focus) delivering data-driven deep-dive content on DowntownFTL economic trends, market data, and downtown evolution. Distributed via Constant Contact and amplified across the DDA's social media channels.
• DowntownFTL Market Reports Program

Quantifiable outcome

• $30-43 billion in annual economic impact on Broward County and South Florida region
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Urban Land Institute (ULI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2019The DDA sponsored a ULI Advisory Services Program panel in October 2019, bringing eight real estate and land use experts to DowntownFTL for a week of tours, stakeholder interviews, and recommendations on parks and open spaces. The panel's final report provided six key recommendations including climate-adaptive park design, a pedestrian and bike network, and public/private partnership for managing the public realm.
• Community Foundation of BrowardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the A&E District Garage Art Mural project. The Community Foundation of Broward co-funded the iconic mural installation by international artist Arlin Graff on the Arts & Entertainment District Garage, elevating the aesthetics of the parking structure and creating a landmark along Himmarshee Street.
• Broward Center for the Performing ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the A&E District Garage Art Mural project, connecting the mural installation to the surrounding arts and science centers and enhancing the sense of place in the A&E District.
• Museum of Discovery and ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the A&E District Garage Art Mural project, supporting the integration of public art with DowntownFTL's science and cultural institutions.
• Riverwalk Fort LauderdaleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the A&E District Garage Art Mural project, supporting the integration of public art into the broader Riverwalk linear park and cultural district.
• Business for the Arts of Broward (BFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDA and BFA partnered in 2023 to select artist Stephanie McMillan to redesign utility box wraps throughout DowntownFTL as part of the 'Urban Acupuncture' program, celebrating 'Fort Lauderdale of the Future' with local plant and wildlife themes. The original box wrap program was a DDA initiative that expanded county-wide.
• Broward County TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroward County Transit was the direct recipient of two federal FTA streetscape grants and project partner on the SW 2 Avenue Streetscape improvement project between Broward Blvd and SW 2 Street/Himmarshee Street.
• U.S. Department of Transportation / Federal Transit Administration (FTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FTA provided two federal streetscape grants funding the SW 2 Avenue Streetscape project. These grants enabled improvements including wider sidewalks, reduced vehicular presence, new lighting, landscaping, drainage, and artistic elements connecting the Brightline Station to DowntownFTL's districts.
• City of Fort LauderdalecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Fort Lauderdale partnered with the DDA on the SW 2 Avenue Streetscape improvement project, as well as on the new City and County government campuses, the redevelopment of the Federal Courthouse, and numerous public realm improvements including Huizenga Park and Tunnel Top Plaza.
• Broward CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroward County is a key partner with the DDA on the County government campus redevelopment, transportation surtax investments, Broward County Transit projects, and the County's broader growth strategy for the urban core. The County is the parent jurisdiction for the DDA special taxing district.
• Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DDA supports and promotes the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation as a game-changing institution for Fort Lauderdale's tech and startup ecosystem, filling gaps within the local innovation ecosystem and supporting talent and entrepreneurs at all levels.
• BrightlinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrightline's intercity passenger rail service connects DowntownFTL to Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, positioning Fort Lauderdale at the center of a 6+ million-person South Florida region. The DDA advocates for and benefits from Brightline connectivity as a catalyst for economic growth and regional accessibility.
• U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GSA is overseeing the $190M New Federal Courthouse project in DowntownFTL, replacing the existing Federal Courthouse. The DDA has championed this project as a catalyst for private investment and new businesses in the urban core.
• ForbesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerForbes published an article 'Fort Lauderdale Poised For Unprecedented Growth This Decade' (September 2021) featuring quotes from DDA President & CEO Jenni Morejon, contributing to national visibility for DowntownFTL's growth narrative.
• BisnowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBisnow published multiple articles on DowntownFTL's 2030 vision and growth potential, including coverage of Elon Musk's The Boring Co. potential involvement, T3 FAT Village timber office development, and the S.O.L.O. District. DDA President & CEO Jenni Morejon contributed expertise to these pieces.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Detroit Downtown Development Authority: The Detroit Downtown Development Authority is a state-authorized economic development corporation with tax-increment financing powers and a mandate to plan and catalyze downtown investment. It is a direct structural peer as a legislatively created DDA focused on urban-core redevelopment.
• Central Atlanta Progress / Atlanta Downtown Improvement District: Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District operate as a self-taxing district with a similar mandate to advocate for downtown investment, public realm, and economic development. CAP's scale and program breadth make it a benchmark direct peer for how a DDA can professionalize and expand impact.
• Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership combines BID-type services with a public-private development and placemaking mandate akin to the Fort Lauderdale DDA. Both are comparable in leveraging data, public realm projects, and stakeholder convening to drive downtown transformation.
• Nashville Downtown Partnership: The Nashville Downtown Partnership executes on a public-private model focused on downtown vibrancy, residential growth, and public realm similar to the Fort Lauderdale DDA. Nashville's rapid downtown population growth provides a useful comparable trajectory and programmatic model.
• Houston Downtown Management District: The Houston Downtown Management District is a legislatively created special district that levies assessments to fund clean, safe, and economic development programs in downtown Houston. It is a direct peer that operates a similar funding model and service portfolio to the Fort Lauderdale DDA.

Regional players

• Miami Downtown Development Authority: The Miami DDA is the most direct Florida counterpart to the Fort Lauderdale DDA, operating as an independent special taxing district with the same mandate to plan, advocate, and invest in its respective downtown. Both compete for the same regional capital, talent, and tourism along the South Florida corridor.
• Tampa Downtown Partnership: The Tampa Downtown Partnership is a Florida-based downtown management and economic development organization that combines BID-type services with planning and advocacy functions. It is a strong regional peer given shared Sun Belt urban growth dynamics and similar downtown revitalization missions.
• West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority: The West Palm Beach DDA is a Florida-based independent special taxing district that shares the Fort Lauderdale DDA's mandate of facilitating downtown investment, public realm improvements, and economic development. It is a direct regional peer competing for development pipeline and talent within the broader South Florida region.
• Downtown Orlando (DDB + DPA): Downtown Orlando's economic development bodies (Downtown Development Board and Downtown Orlando Partnership) operate with a similar urban-core revitalization and placemaking mandate as the Fort Lauderdale DDA. They are comparable as Florida urban-core authorities competing for similar residential, office, and tourism investment.

Others

• International Downtown Association (IDA): The IDA is the trade association for downtown management organizations and awarded the Fort Lauderdale DDA its 2020 Established Downtown tier recognition. As the industry body that defines DDA best practices and benchmarks, it is a thematically related peer/ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ddaftl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ddaftl
• Facebookfacebook.com/ddaftl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ddaftl
• Instagraminstagram.com/ddaftl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority