Area Assets
Area Assets

Tallahassee-Leon County is widely recognized as both the State Capital of Florida and a college town. The seasonal ebb and flow of policymakers, industry experts, and university scholars afford businesses the unique experience to collaborate with and train the very best. In fact, our community is the most educated city in the state and the 17th most educated city in the nation (Source: WalletHub). Tallahassee is not just home to a dynamic community anchored by several institutions of higher learning, but also home to a strong digital infrastructure, where companies of all sizes can benefit from our hi-speed fiber connectivity.

In addition, Tallahassee-Leon County’s location makes it ideal for connecting with other major markets in the southeastern United States. Our community serves as the center point for Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Pensacola, and Atlanta. Simply put: Tallahassee-Leon County is in the middle of it all. Our North Florida location also offers four distinct seasons that demand outdoor enjoyment year-round.

Economic Factors

In 2018, the Tallahassee Metropolitan Area (MSA)’s Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was $16.3 billion, up 2.8 percent from 2017, placing the Tallahassee MSA among the top 40 percent of metro areas nationwide in the annual rate of growth. Between 2005 and 2018, total merchandise exports from Tallahassee MSA more than quadrupled, with an average annual growth rate of around 14 percent. In FY 2019, Tallahassee had 2,438,959, up 3 percent from FY 2018. Direct expenditures of visitors amounted to $659.1 million in FY 2019, an increase of 14.4 percent from FY 2018.

Infrastructure

Florida’s Capital shares a deep-rooted history and culture with unparalleled natural adventure and an upbeat vitality. Tallahassee leads the state for coordinated public infrastructure and amenity investment fueled via a penny sales tax. Under the direction of the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency’s Board of Directors (IA Board), the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency has been tasked with over 32 community infrastructure projects, that will be underway over the next five years. The projects total a value of more than $528 million and will be implemented to positively impact the quality of life, natural environment, and economic vitality for all Tallahassee residents and visitors. Blueprint’s promise to improve safety, increase pedestrian & bicycle facilities, reduce congestion on roadways, and increase parks and open spaces will be met by or before Fiscal Year 2026. These projects – found all throughout our community – have ushered in a new era of quality of life, transportation, and infrastructure services. With an average commute time of 20.6 minutes, it is easier than ever to live, work, and play in Tallahassee.

Demographics

Tallahassee offers much more than its warm skies and southern hospitality, it offers economic opportunity for industry-leading companies. Our community remains youthful and vibrant with the second-highest percentage of the population between the ages of 18 and 24 in the state at 20.9 percent. To support the growth of business and industry, Tallahassee provides a rich pipeline of talent. The population of prime working age (25 to 64) accounts for 49 percent of the population, minors and college-aged residents account for 37 percent and those 65 and older account for 14 percent. Tallahassee represents a well-educated and ready workforce with more than 55 percent of the population having an associate degree or higher, exceeding state and national averages.

Research Services

The capital region is home to some of the world’s greatest research and development laboratories. These include the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory which houses the Applied Superconductivity Center, the High-Performance Materials Institute, and the Aero-propulsion, Mechatronics, and Energy Center. All of these world-class laboratory centers are located in close proximity within the Innovation Park Research Center to foster collaboration.

The only facility of its kind in the U.S., the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) is the largest and highest-powered magnet laboratory in the world. Every year, more than a thousand scientists from dozens of countries come to use the unique magnets with the support of highly experienced staff scientists and technicians. Thanks to funding from the National Science Foundation and the State of Florida, these researchers use the facilities at no cost, probing fundamental questions about materials, energy, and life. Their findings result in more than 400 scientific publications a year in peer-reviewed journals such as Nature, Science and Physical Review Letters.

The Applied Superconductivity Center advances the science and technology of superconductivity, and particularly, superconductivity applications. This is done by investigating low temperature and high temperature materials through our research grants and through our collaborations with other universities, national laboratories and industry. They continually educate post-graduate, graduate and undergraduate students through the research and public service.

The High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) is a multidisciplinary research institute at Florida State University that strives to recruit, develop and retain top quality faculty and staff who will develop HPMI into a center of excellence for research and education in the field of advanced materials. Leading edge, revolutionary technology comes as the result of creativity, vision, talent, dedication and teamwork. Currently, HPMI is involved in four primary technology areas: High-Performance Composite and Nanomaterials, Structural Health Monitoring, Multifunctional Nanomaterials Advanced Manufacturing and Process Modeling.

The Aero-propulsion, Mechatronics, and Energy Center (AME) was formed to meet the needs of rapidly evolving and highly competitive fields. The Center aims to train and sustain a much-needed highly skilled workforce, to design and develop new technologies and products, and to transition technology to applications in a timely and efficient manner.

Innovation Park is the premier research and development park in the North Florida region with the mission to foster the attraction, start-up, and growth of private innovative companies that create high wage jobs by working in affiliation with Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee Community College, City, County, and private sector leaders to promote our region’s research and development assets.

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