Blue Tech Jobs: Policy, Investment, and Workforce Development in SE Florida

Join the South Florida Regional Planning Council and the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council for the 2026 regional conference, "Blue Tech Jobs: Policy, Investment, and Workforce Development in Southeast Florida"

Conference Goals:

• Demonstrate to local officials and other regional stakeholders the potential for, and the challenges faced by Blue Tech
• Explore different ways of supporting Blue Tech through land use and regulation, workforce systems, commercialization, demonstration projects, and innovative partnerships
• Spark a broader conversation about the Blue Tech economy and support its expansion in Southeast Florida through the identification of implementable next steps

Draft Agenda:

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration and Networking

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Welcome and Conference Framing

Opening remarks on why Blue Tech matters to Southeast Florida's ocean economy, workforce strategy, and joint regional economic development priorities.

9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Blue Tech Implementation Overview

Brief presentation connecting the CEDS process to the Blue Tech Jobs agenda, defining and framing Blue Tech as the innovation layer of the regional ocean economy, identifying the implementation questions for the day, and summarizing the local government survey.

9:30 a.m. – 10:25 a.m. Panel 1: What Blue Tech Companies do in Southeast Florida

This panel will showcase Blue Tech through company examples rather than abstract definitions. The focus will be on local firms, products, services, and technologies. Speakers will explain what they build, who buys it, how it helps ports, local governments, coastal managers, researchers, or private industry, and where public sector involvement may be useful.

10:25 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. Networking Break

10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Panel 2: Workforce, Credentials, and Employer Commitments

Focus on the workforce systems needed to support Blue Tech job growth. Topics will include credentials, apprenticeships, incumbent worker training, employer commitments, university and college pathways, and workforce board programs.

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch and Keynote

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Panel 3: Regulatory Pathways, Permitting, and Local Government Tools

This panel will examine the regulatory and land use tools that help Blue Tech companies test, deploy, and scale technologies in Southeast Florida. Topics may include permitting pathways, pilot deployment zones, temporary approvals, flexible zoning, model ordinance concepts, and lessons from the St. Petersburg Innovation District or similar models.

2:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. Panel 4: Research, Commercialization, and Capital

This panel will be framed as research-to-market and commercialization. Topics may include university research, commercialization pathways, port or local government demonstration projects, corporate partnerships, federal and state funding, venture capital, and what makes a Blue Tech company investable or bankable.

2:55 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Implementation Discussion and Next Steps

A closing session that identifies the next practical steps from the conference. Possible outputs include a Blue Tech policy blueprint, candidate pilot project areas, and workforce action items.

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Closing Remarks

3:30 p.m. Adjourn

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Contact Eralda Agolli at eagolli@sfrpc.com to learn more.

Sponsorship details can be found here: https://sfregionalcouncil.org/blue-tech-jobs-policy-investment-and-workforce-development-in-southeast-florida/