Workshop to Shape Future Local Economic Growth

Workshop to Shape Future Local Economic Growth
Business Input Sought on Community-Wide Economic Development Strategic Plan

The Tallahassee/Leon County Office of Economic Vitality (OEV) is hosting its first of several Economic Development Strategic Plan listening and networking sessions on Wednesday, May 25, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 211 N. Monroe Street. This is an opportunity for all local small businesses to get involved in the strategic planning process that will define success for economic development in Tallahassee/Leon County.

This session is hosted as part of the 33rd National Small Business Week from May 23-27. The week celebrates how entrepreneurs and small business owners create jobs, drive innovation and increase America’s global competiveness.

"Building on the actions taken by the County and City Commissions in February, an opportunity exists to smartly grow our economy," said Ben Pingree, Director of Tallahassee / Leon County Planning, Land Management, and Community Enhancement (PLACE). "Our community has never been in a better place than now to create a long-term economic development strategic plan. And the next step is to get input from the citizens we serve to get the best plan possible."

The upcoming sessions will engage stakeholders from across the community, such as local businesses, institutions of higher education, and other public and private partners. Key areas of focus will be workforce development, targeted industry sections, commercialization, business incubation, minority women and small business expansion, entrepreneurial activity, and business expansion, recruitment and retention.

Once developed, the economic development strategic plan will be presented for approval to the County and City Commissions that make up the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency. Citizen input at each of the listening and networking sessions is critical to help shape the future of the community’s economic development efforts.

For more information, contact Cristina Paredes, Deputy Director of the Tallahassee/Leon County Office of Economic Vitality, at (850) 300-7559.

About the Tallahassee / Leon County Office of Economic Vitality (OEV):
A joint office, the Tallahassee / Leon County Office of Economic Vitality is the community’s central economic development hub. The OEV is a one-stop shop to coordinate economic development efforts among community partners, implement a strategic plan, and create a sustainable economic ecosystem.

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