The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Broward County’s official public-private partnership for economic development, announced the launch of a new “Work Hard, Live Better” campaign highlighting the top advantages of living and working in Greater Fort Lauderdale—as told by Florida Panthers star forward Matthew Tkachuk. An Alliance CEO Council initiative produced in partnership with the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers, the new campaign aims to attract prospective talent and companies to Florida’s Greater Fort Lauderdale area.
In the interview-style spot filmed at the Panthers new Baptist Health IcePlex practice facility in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Tkachuk spotlights perfect weather, beach proximity, and the state’s financial advantages as some of the area’s most compelling offerings.
“I’m obviously very happy down here in Fort Lauderdale every day. I get to play the sport I love for a job and I get to live in the most beautiful city in the world,” says Tkachuk. “It doesn’t matter who you meet or where they’re from. I think they all come down here for the way of life.”
An Arizona native who grew up just outside of St. Louis, Missouri, Tkachuk has resided in Fort Lauderdale since joining the Florida Panthers in 2022, and played an instrumental part in the team’s 2024 Stanley Cup victory.
Regarding the advantages Greater Fort Lauderdale has brought to his professional career, Tkachuk says, “I’ve noticed as a hockey player, as an athlete down here, your body just feels better waking up,” and also notes, “when it comes to financials and taxes down here, it’s obviously a huge benefit.”
Recognized by Area Development as a Top 2 U.S. metropolitan area for economic strength, with several multibillion-dollar sectors, including aviation/aerospace, global logistics, biopharmaceuticals, and financial services, Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to more than 200 corporate, regional and international headquarters, and has also been recognized as a Top 5 U.S. market for tech business growth by CompTIA. Offering a robust pipeline of high-value workers supplied by South Florida’s premier educational institutions and training programs, in addition to zero personal state income tax, Fort Lauderdale was named one of the Top 100 Best Places To Live in the U.S. by Livability.com
“Talent is the new currency of economic development – and talented people want to be part of a winning community,” said Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance President and CEO Bob Swindell. “Matthew Tkachuk exemplifies winning on and off the ice, both in the spirit of our Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers, and in the way he has fully embraced Fort Lauderdale’s ‘work hard, live better’ way of life. In this way, he’s become a natural ambassador for our community, and we couldn’t be more honored for him to share what he loves most about working hard and living even better down here.”
With an annual GDP of nearly $163 billion, Broward County’s job growth and labor force participation rates have both continued to outpace the nation over the last five years. In Fort Lauderdale alone, more than $22 billion in major development projects are currently underway, including more than $10 billion in the development pipeline for Downtown Fort Lauderdale – one of Broward County’s top three economic engines with an annual economic output of $36 billion.
The Florida Panthers are members of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance CEO Council, a group of top local businesses who invest in the Alliance’s work to further economic growth and high-value job creation in Broward County through the investment, expansion, and relocation of out-of-state companies to the area.
“The Alliance serves a vital role in the continued economic development of Broward County by providing unparalleled support to both our locally established businesses, and companies who are relocating to our vibrant community,” said Florida Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell. “There’s no question that Greater Fort Lauderdale offers countless advantages – from a thriving, collaborative business climate, to an unbeatable lifestyle. Down here, you really can have it all.”
