Stories
Stories

Opinion: Love Your Local This Holiday Season

December 1, 2020

Cristina Paredes This year, local, small businesses have been faced with many unprecedented challenges. The impact of COVID-19 on small businesses has been nothing short of devastating as owners have had to innovate and reimagine their operations considerably when COVID-19 hit the community in March. Restaurants, like Jeri’s Midtown Café and Catering with Care, shifted […]

Love Your Local campaign looks to support community businesses for the holidays

Kristian Thomas, ABC27 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Highlighting businesses that have had a tough year with the pandemic is what the Love Your Local campaign aims to do. For many, COVID-19 is still impacting their ability to make money. Some are dealing with a tough reality that they might not make it through the holidays. […]

‘Black Owned Friday’ brings optimism for Tallahassee’s holiday shopping season

TaMaryn Waters, Tallahassee Democrat Twice as many Black-owned businesses were forced to close this year compared to white-owned businesses as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic.  However, some local economic experts say 2020 — the year of racial reckoning — may be ripe for “Black Owned Friday” to stop the decline.   LaTanya White, an entrepreneurship instructor at Florida A&M’s […]

‘Love Your Local’ push supports Small Business Saturday shopping

TaMaryn Waters, Tallahassee Democrat The Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality (OEV) has three words for residents this year — Love Your Local.  Sounds simple, but the sentiment when put into action can plunge desperately needed dollars into Tallahassee’s bruised economy amid the coronavirus pandemic.   OEV Director Cristina Paredes said the “Love Your Local” concept is about spreading […]

Small Business Certifications & Why Your Business Needs One

Shanea Wilks Are you a small business owner with an interest in local government contracting? Are you seeking the opportunity to compete against like-sized firms for projects smaller in scale?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Tallahassee-Leon County Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program may interest you. The SBE Program, administered by […]

Innovation and Local Entrepreneurs

Richard Fetchick Tallahassee boasts great assets that serve as springboards to innovation. Florida A&M REACH, ACT House, Innovation Park, Domi Station, Tallahassee Community College Center for Innovation, and Florida State equip thousands of bright minds every year with tools that can lead to new, commercializable ideas. In 2019, Leon-County-based tech startups brought in $823,000 in […]

Moving MWBEs Forward

Fall 2020 will mark a new chapter of the activity in the expansion of the MWSBE Division of the Office of Economic Vitality. The $65 million Tallahassee Police Department will be the largest construction project since the consolidation of the MWSBE programs of the City of Tallahassee and Leon County Government and the implementation of […]

My Take: Love Your Local

June 15, 2020

By Cristina Paredes, Director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality Tallahassee-Leon County has a special place in my heart. From the award-winning parks and outdoor adventures to the innovation that thrives from our world-class universities and research institutions, there are a lot of incredible and unique qualities that keep our community beating strong. […]

OEV Preps Local Businesses for Reopening with Impact Survey, PPE Site

May 12, 2020

This week, under Governor Ron DeSantis’ Executive Order 20-112, certain businesses across Florida will slowly begin to open their doors to customers. Here in Florida’s capital, local businesses that are choosing to re-open are taking extra precautions to be safe as Florida’s recovery begins.

Blueprint Activates $1M Grant for Non-Profits Impacted by COVID-19, Awards 71 Additional Businesses

April 22, 2020

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Yesterday, the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency Board of Directors (IA Board), comprised of Leon County Commissioners and City of Tallahassee Commissioners, activated a $1 million grant program to assist local non-profits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Local Emergency Assistance for Non-profits (LEAN) grant program, which will be administered by the Tallahassee-Leon County […]

Upcoming Events
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February 28, 2026

Presented by the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality and Mega Ace Media, we are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Black Business Expo Tallahassee (BBET) will take place on February 28, 2026, at The Moon! Registration is officially open, and we encourage you to secure your spot today! This year, BBET will be more dynamic and impactful […]

March 3, 2026

MDSM is the world’s leading conference & expo focused on the latest technical advancements in motor, drive systems, motion control, magnetic applications, technology, and rare earth materials. This is a once-a-year opportunity for professionals to hear world-class content in design, efficiency, and application advancements in automation, robotics, manufacturing, utilities, automotive, medical, consumer, aerospace & defense […]