State & Local Government

As a public/private partnership between the City of Tallahassee, Leon County and private business investors, the EDC is part of a unique collaboration that encourages long-term economic development that benefits the entire community.  To encourage a healthy business climate, EDC staff and volunteer leadership meet regularly with government, education and business leaders about how to best address challenges and opportunities that face the region. The result has been a thriving business environment that would not be possible without a unified effort.

As Florida’s capital city, we have unmatched access to elected state lawmakers and officials, which allows the EDC and our partners to inform the local legislative delegation about our efforts, as well as showcase the diverse economic-development opportunities in our community, including a growing workforce and expanding training programs. Our location also allows Tallahassee business leaders to provide testimony to legislative committees and serve as key participants in industry days at the Capitol.

The EDC regularly contributes to the legislative agendas of statewide economic-development organizations through input from six targeted industry sector roundtables. The legislative agendas serve as a road map for tracking issues and involving affected businesses in the legislative process.

History and Structure

Tallahassee, named Florida’s capital in 1824, is midway between the then-largest cities in the state, St. Augustine and Pensacola. Florida’s Capitol comes alive each spring for the legislative session, where lawmakers and power brokers meet to determine the state’s business agenda and budget. Lawmakers may live here only 10 weeks out of the year, but state workers and agency heads remain to carry out the state’s mission.

The City of Tallahassee is governed by a city commission comprised of a leadership mayor and four at-large commissioners, all elected to staggered four-year terms.

Leon County is governed by five district and two at-large commissioners who are elected to staggered four-year terms. The chair of the Leon County Board of Commissioners rotates annually among commissioners. The Clerk of the Court, Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Tax Appraiser, and Supervisor of Elections also are elected to four-year terms.