EDC’s programs drive growth

Reginald Alceus
Outlook Staff Writer

For years, the Tallahassee and Leon County Economic Development Council has strived to enrich the social stability of the region’s existing businesses while working toward attracting new ones. As the current local and national economy remains troubled, the Council continues to find and develop strategies to sustain Florida’s grand capital.

“The council began as a program of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce in 1992. Afterward, it was incorporated as the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee and Leon County, Inc.,” said Jordan Jacobs, director of communications and marketing for the Chamber and EDC. “The EDC works toward the benefit of the Tallahassee community by bringing together community stakeholders in industry, education and local and state government,” Jacobs said. “By promoting the attraction, creation and preservation of quality jobs, companies and investment opportunities achieved through business retention, expansion and attraction activities help to enhance the local quality of life.” The EDC operates a comprehensive program of work that provides federal, state and local resources for businesses at all stages of development. From startups to large corporations, the EDC works to assist businesses, both domestic and international.

Kim Williams, chairman of the EDC, said he is particularly focused on FAMU and FSU research to expand Tallahassee’s high-tech marketing sector to help businesses grow. “We did a study into what are our strengths and unique attributes that would make a business want to locate here and be successful in business. As you might imagine, the researchers and their research are two very strong draws that make businesses want to locate here,” Williams said.

Implementing the Entrepreneurial Excellence Program, a developed plan to use the resources available at Florida State University, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College, will support high impact business incubation in the Tallahassee region. The program will utilize a $450,000 U.S. Small Business Administration grant. Williams said the council has traveled to Orlando and Gainesville to see programs of work where universities and local government are collaborating to commercialize the research and create local jobs. He noted that many of the jobs created help retain the graduates of the universities in the communities where they are located.

“I believe this community has a heart and soul. The heart of our community is small business, and the soul is our academic community. Working with business to support and retain a quality workforce, expand and grow businesses, to ensure job retention and job growth is job number one,” said Karen B. Moore, chair-elect for EDC. Moore said in addition, continuing the recruiting of talent and clean industry will bring new opportunities to the region. The EDC’s leadership works to be “a catalyst for building partnerships” in its support, recruitment and retention of businesses. This is done to encourage and leverage the academic resources of \FAMU, FSU and TCC to strengthen the local economy and drive its quality of life,” Moore stated. The addition of qualified business development personnel and a business incubation program will allow current and future small businesses emerging from research institutes and high-tech private sector companies to transition into the traditional business model of sales and revenues.

“That will mean more jobs and additional capital investments in our four-county region,” said EDC Executive Director Beth Kirkland. “Tallahassee is a Capital City on a major east/west interstate within 1 hour of the Gulf Coast,” Jacobs said. “We have a highly educated workforce, a vibrant quality of life and a strong economic base on which to build. We need strong, positive leadership in local government to work with the business community and our education systems to ensure jobs for today and future generations.”

Reginald Alceus can be reached at realceus@capitaloutlook.com