Since the dismantling of the Tallahassee/Leon County Economic Development Council*, there has been much public discussion about what should replace it.
As of the end of February 2016, an Intergovernmental Agency made up of Leon County and Tallahassee Commissioners, will form under the direction of County Administrator, Vince Long, and Tallahassee City Manager, Rick Fernandez.
The purpose of the organization is to grow economic development in our area. Since the new agency will be housed in the newly reorganized City/County Planning Department's section called P.L.A.C.E, it will most likely focus on the expenditure of over $90 million in Blueprint sales tax revenues. Activities will be directed by Ben Pingree, the former executive director of the old EDC (Economic Development Council*).
In an January 2016 article in the Tallahassee Democrat, the Mayor comments on
the area's "pretty pitiful" track record of attracting new businesses, Mayor Andrew Gillum suggests splitting the area's two largest business-advocate organizations — the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County and the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.
To set clearer economic development goals, Gillum told the Tallahassee Democrat editorial board on Thursday, there needs to be a change.
While the City leans on the investments made by the Danfoss Turbocore operation in Innovation Park, it seems that other achievements have been sparse. Yes, there has been a recent growth in businesses locating in the Tallahassee region, retail and restaurants comprise the majority of this growth. These establishments bring minimum wage jobs to area, with a few managerial positions. To date, no impact has been made to the rate of unemployment in Tallahassee's southside neighborhoods.
A year ago, this author brought to light the City of Tallahassee's economic segregation and lack of vital economic development accomplishments.
“The capital of the quality of life” does not acknowledge the extreme poverty located primarily in the Frenchtown and Southside neighborhoods. To get an idea, one has to get off the main streets. In Frenchtown, Brevard Street was a hub of the black business community during segregation, and looks pretty good today. To see the conditions where people live, you need to walk or drive along the streets without sidewalks, the “D” streets, Dade, Dent, Dewey, etc. South City looks even worse. Yes, we have ghettos in Tallahassee.
There are at least two separate Tallahassee’s.
