ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES ON PALM BEACH COUNTY Tony Villamil The Washington Economics Group, Inc. INDUSTRY APPRECIATION Business Development Board of Palm Beach September 21, 2006

Economic Drivers of Palm Beach County Economy Local and state business climate U.S. economic activity Global economic activity

“Stars” Properly Aligned for Strong 2006 Business climate one of the best in the nation Expanding clusters of innovation, especially life sciences U.S. economic driver; five years of above average growth Global economy expanding strongly, especially key trade partners of Palm Beach

South Florida: Leading Florida in payroll employment growth RESULTS: Solid Industry Expansion as Reflected in Regional and County Economic Numbers South Florida: Leading Florida in payroll employment growth 57,400 jobs created over 12 months ended in August Twice as fast as national average growth Among leading growth industries in Palm Beach are professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, life sciences, educational services and knowledge-intensive manufacturing

Palm Beach County vs. Florida Employment Expansion 2006 Industry Job Gains (State)  % Palm Beach vs. State ( %) Construction 38,400 6.6% Moderately higher Manuf. (knowledge intensive) 1,700 4.0% Strongly higher (aerospace) Financial Services 15,800 3.0% Professional & Business Services 64,800 4.9% Slightly higher Educational Services 4,100 3.5% Strongly higher Health Care Services 25,200 3.1% Leisure & Hospitality 35,600 4.1% Sources: WIA and WEG estimates

A Look at 2007 Strengths and Challenges Population-driven economic growth Economies of agglomeration (clusters) U.S. economic expansion Real interest rate estate environment Global business partners expanding Favorable exchange rate environment Business climate issues “Smart” growth Property taxes Commercial insurance Workforce housing Moderately slower economic expansion U.S. and global Tax and budget reform commission

Examples of Growing Life Sciences Clusters of Palm Beach Scripps Research Institute and Scripps Florida were awarded $10.4 million by the National Institutes of Health to establish The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center. Boca Raton's Nabi Biopharmaceuticals opens the first-ever vaccine manufacturing plant in the southeastern United States, a 12,000-square-foot facility. Florida Atlantic University scientists win $4 million to research HIV, heart disease, and cancer from the National Institutes of Health Source: Business Development Board, Palm Beach County (www.bdb.org) Courtesy of EFI-September 2006

Examples of Growing Life Sciences Clusters of Palm Beach (cont.) The cornerstone of the new Poinciana Biopharmaceutical Park will be the MediVector Biopharmaceutical Centers headquarters, a training and manufacturing facility, projected to create more than 1,500 jobs in the next five years UF start-up, NovaMin Technology, receives $4 million in venture capital to further NovaMin®, its discovery offers consumers whiter, less sensitive teeth while protecting them from tooth decay The Life Sciences industry employs more than 50,000 people in Palm Beach County. The cluster is comprised of companies involved in the manufacturing of drugs, medical instruments, supplies and health care services Source: Business Development Board, Palm Beach County (www.bdb.org) Courtesy of EFI-September 2006

Concluding Observations Outstanding industry leadership assures continued economic success for Palm Beach From cyclical perspective, next 12-18 months will be more challenging, but Palm beach faces the business climate challenges from a position of strength An expanding FAU and new additions to the 50,000 employee strong life sciences cluster adds a high-wage, knowledge-intensive dimension to Palm Beach