About APA Florida
Welcome to APA Florida!
Whit Blanton, FAICP
Thank you for visiting our website! Planning is the key to a prosperous future for all Floridians. It unlocks economic opportunity, helps preserve our wonderful natural environment, and enables communities of all sizes to meet their challenges and needs for a better tomorrow.
As the professional association of Florida planners in both the public and private sectors, APA Florida works to provide its 3,000 members with career development and training opportunities, a voice for legislation and policy in Tallahassee, and a strong network for mentoring, partnerships, and social activities. We are among the largest and strongest of the American Planning Association’s 47 chapters, demonstrated through award-winning activities and member service. We are guided by a professional ethics code of conduct through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).
Our signature events include our Florida Planning Conference, Public Policy Workshop, Great Places competition, and our newest initiative: the Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) to help communities realize their potential. With our large membership and geography, we have subdivided the state into 12 Sections that offer an array of local events throughout the year. All in all, Sections hosted more than 100 events last year to help members network, socialize and learn. Be sure to visit your Section page to learn more.
If you haven’t already, we hope that you join APA Florida so that you can take advantage of all that we have to offer. APA Florida membership is included in your APA membership, but you can also join APA Florida independently as a Chapter-Only member.
If you have questions about membership or the work of APA Florida, please feel free to contact me at president@floridaplannig.org or (407) 620-5984.
Sincerely,
Whit Blanton, FAICP
APA President
Our Mission
APA Florida provides statewide leadership in the development of sustainable communities by advocating excellence in planning, providing professional development for its members, and working to protect and enhance the natural and built environments.
About APA Florida
The American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners, are organized to advance the art and science of planning and to foster the activity of planning — physical, economic, and social — at the local, regional, state, and national levels.
The objective of the Association is to encourage planning that will contribute to public well-being by developing communities and environments that meet the needs of people and of society more effectively.
The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association serves APA members in the state. APA Florida is the state-level resource for networking and professional development. When you join APA and reside in Florida, you automatically become a member of APA Florida.
The Florida Chapter provides members the opportunity to share experiences with colleagues and to broaden perspectives. The chapter holds an annual conference, educational workshops, AICP exam preparation courses, and produces a newsletter. APA Florida also conducts legislative programs, sponsors training workshops, conducts an awards program, and provides public information to and about the planning profession.