A Call to Build Tallahassee’s Next Economy From Michael Dalby, President CEO – Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce When I stepped into my role as President CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, I did not come with a predetermined plan. I came to listen. Over the past several months, I have met with business leaders, educators, public officials, and community voices across Tallahassee and Leon County. I have heard from those building companies, those training talent, and those working every day to strengthen this community. I have also drawn from my experience leading chambers in Naples, Florida, Columbus, Ohio, and other markets where similar questions about growth and alignment have shaped the future of a region. What I have heard here has been consistent. Tallahassee has the right ingredients. But we are not yet working from a shared recipe for success. A Strong Foundation That Is Not Growing We are fortunate in many ways. We are the capital of one of the fastest-growing states in the country. We benefit from a stable public-sector economy anchored by state government. We are home to exceptional institutions like Florida State University, Florida AM University, and Tallahassee State College, which produce an incredible pipeline of talent. And we offer a quality of life that is increasingly rare and valuable. By many measures, our economy is good. But it is not growing. The data and the conversations point to the same conclusion. Our private-sector economy is largely flat, particularly when it comes to high-skill, high-wage job creation. I hear it from students who do not see a future for themselves here after graduation. I hear it from parents who worry their children will have to leave to find opportunity. I hear it from business and community leaders who know we can do more. This is not a crisis. But it is a moment that calls for clarity and action. Our Opportunity I believe Tallahassee is uniquely positioned to build a different kind of economy. One that is more resilient, more innovative, and more inclusive. We already have what many communities are trying to create. We have a top-tier research university producing talent, patents, and ideas. We have a strong and stable government presence that shapes policy and procurement. We have a community that people want to live in. The challenge in front of us is not whether we can grow. It is whether we are willing to align around how we grow. For me, the path forward involves leveraging and building upon assets, aligning our vision, and sticking with the plan for 10, 20, 30 years. That’s how good cities become great cities. When we intentionally connect our universities, our government, our entrepreneurs, and our sense of place, we create the foundation for a modern, growing economy. Where We Must Focus Turn Research into Companies We must fully embrace our universities as engines of private-sector growth. That means accelerating research commercialization, supporting startup formation, and creating clear pathways for ideas to become companies that stay and scale here. It also means improving access to early-stage capital, building proof-of-concept funding, and strengthening partnerships between researchers and industry. What success looks like: A steady pipeline of startups emerging from our universities, more patents turning into products, and founders choosing to build and grow their companies in Tallahassee instead of leaving. Where we’ve seen this work:Communities like Raleigh-Durham and Austin built thriving economies by turning university research into companies, not just graduates. Their institutions became front doors to innovation, not exit ramps for talent. Build an Innovation Hub We need a visible, physical center for innovation. A walkable, mixed-use district connecting campus and downtown can become the place where students, founders, and businesses intersect. This should begin with a focused, high-quality space that attracts activity and builds momentum over time. What success looks like:A vibrant, recognizable innovation district where entrepreneurs, students, and investors gather daily, and where new companies are launched, funded, and scaled in plain view of the community. Where we’ve seen this work:St. Petersburg’s Innovation District and Chattanooga’s downtown tech corridor both started with focused investments that created visible momentum and helped reshape how their cities are perceived.   Activate Government as a Market We must rethink how we engage with state government. Government is not just an employer. It is a powerful economic driver. By positioning Tallahassee as a leader in GovTech, HealthTech, CivicTech, and InsurTech, we can connect innovators with real problems to solve. This includes fostering agency partnerships, encouraging pilot programs, and exploring regulatory sandboxes that allow innovation to flourish. What success looks like:More companies launching and growing by solving real government challenges, stronger partnerships between agencies and innovators, and Tallahassee gaining recognition as a hub for government-focused innovation. Where we’ve seen this work:Cities like Washington, D.C., and Sacramento have built ecosystems where proximity to government fuels entire industries, from policy-driven consulting to technology companies serving public-sector needs.   Focus on Target Industry Clusters We need to align growth with our strengths. By focusing on sectors like applied data science, healthcare, risk and insurance, and the creative economy, we can build momentum where we already have an advantage. This means aligning recruitment, incentives, and partnerships around these areas and removing barriers for high-growth companies. What success looks like: A growing concentration of companies and talent in key sectors, new employers choosing Tallahassee because of its expertise, and a reputation for excellence in the industries we choose to lead. Where we’ve seen this work:Nashville leaned into healthcare. Charlotte focused on financial services. Huntsville doubled down on aerospace and defense. Each built a national reputation by committing to what they do best.   Invest in Place and Talent Economic growth follows great communities. We must continue investing in our downtown and key districts, expand attainable housing options, and make talent attraction and retention a central strategy. If people want to be here, businesses will grow here. What success looks like:More graduates staying, more professionals relocating here, a more vibrant downtown and surrounding districts, and a community that is widely seen as a place to build both a career and a life. Where we’ve seen this work:Greenville, South Carolina, and Bentonville, Arkansas, transformed themselves by investing in quality of place, making them magnets for both talent and business growth.   The Commitment Ahead None of this happens by accident. It requires alignment. It requires consistency. And it requires a shared commitment across sectors to move in the same direction. I believe we need to come together around a clear, long-term vision for the next ten years and commit to executing it with discipline. That means working across traditional boundaries, setting aside smaller differences, and focusing on what will create lasting opportunities for this community. We do not need another slogan. We do not need another plan that sits on a shelf. And we cannot rely on the idea that one major corporate relocation will change everything. What we need is a Tallahassee-built strategy. One that leverages who we are, plays to our strengths, honors the environment, and creates real economic opportunity for more people. A 5-Year Action Framework To move from vision to execution, we will focus on: ●   Aligning stakeholders around a shared economic development strategy ●   Partnering with our universities to accelerate commercialization and startup growth ●   Championing the creation of an innovation district and entrepreneurial ecosystem ●   Prioritizing industry clusters where Tallahassee has a competitive advantage ●   Advocating for investments in housing, infrastructure, and quality of place ●   Strengthening relationships between the private sector and state government as a market     What We Can Build Together We do not have to guess what success looks like. We have seen it in communities across the country. Regions like Raleigh-Durham, Austin, Nashville, and Huntsville made a choice. They aligned their institutions, invested in their strengths, and committed to a long-term strategy. Over time, that alignment turned into growth, opportunity, and national relevance. There is no reason Tallahassee cannot do the same. We have the institutions. We have the talent. We have the quality of life. What we need now is alignment and execution. This is where the Chamber will lead. ➢    We will convene business, government, and education to define a shared economic strategy. ➢    We will advocate for the policies and investments required to support private-sector growth. ➢    We will champion entrepreneurs and companies building here today. ➢    We will track progress, measure outcomes, and keep this community focused on results. And we will do it with consistency, not just conversation. Because the future we are talking about will not be created by a single project or a single announcement. It will be built over time through coordinated action. The question is not whether Tallahassee can grow smartly. The question is whether we are willing to align around the work required to make it happen. Your Chamber is ready to lead that effort. Join us.The post A Call to Build Tallahassee’s Next Economy first appeared on Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.The post A Call to Build Tallahassee’s Next Economy appeared first on Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. ...read more read less