Our Region Tomorrow Presents Opportunity for Collaborative Vision

Unlike many other areas in Florida, there is still a lot to be said about how our region will look in 10, 20 or even 50 years from now. And it is a future that is too important to leave to chance. At least that is the thought behind a new initiative spearheaded by the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce known as Our Region Tomorrow.

Our Region Tomorrow is a regional visioning and long-range action planning effort created to encourage and facilitate cooperation amongst the public and private sectors of north Florida and south Georgia. According to ORT Executive Director Matt Doster, the goal of the initiative is to ensure sustainable economic growth and protection of our natural resources in order to strengthen the quality of life enjoyed by residents and visitors.

To accomplish that goal, Our Region Tomorrow will focus on regional cooperation between areas in north Florida and south Georgia through a board of business, governmental and environmental leaders from across the region. It will tackle issues that include future growth, quality health care, education, economic development, ensuring a strong workforce and ensuring that our environmental assets are protected.

Doster said that while the specifics will take some time to establish, it is already apparent that they will be much better tackled on a regional basis. “What is becoming clear is that the challenges which face each community cut across city, county, and even state lines,” he said. “A regional approach will ensure that everyone can contribute to a collective vision and that we adopt sustainable strategies that protect our future."

Thinking bigger that what we can see today will be important for the overall success of the initiative, according to Doster. "While it may be a natural inclination to focus on solving problems or preventing mistakes, we should remember that Our Region Tomorrow can be the opportunity to declare our aspirations,” he said. “This region of Florida should only increase in its beauty, its vibrancy, and its promise for future generations. ORT hopes to amplify the efforts already taking place and provide a forum for new ideas."

According to Advisory Committee Chairman Randy Hanna, the nature of the project requires patience by all involved. “I am excited about where we are headed, although this is the kind of project that does not show immediate results,” Hanna said. “It takes months and years to fully appreciate the full benefits. As the area grows, it is important to realize that we have needs on a regional basis. Our Region Tomorrow can help by bringing together government and business leaders to focus on issues such as transportation, wastewater facilities and a vibrant health care delivery system. That is worth waiting for.”

While the Chamber has taken an advisory role in developing the concept and its evolving into a reality, it will work only if all the relevant entities are equal partners in the process, according to Tallahassee Chamber Chair Ron Sachs. “If this region is to reach its fullest potential, it will need to be a collaborative, cooperative effort,” he said.

The benefits of this effort will be realized by everyone, including local business owners, Sachs contends. “As we look at opportunities to work together, small business in our community will have new opportunities to grow their client or customer bases by being part of a regional-think,” Sachs said. “They will have access to new markets without prohibitive costs, but with the potential for new profit centers and additional sales. That is exciting to us.”

Sachs is quick to credit Hanna, a former Chamber Chair, for having the vision for Our Region Tomorrow. “Randy made this issue a priority,” Sachs said. “It is a great legacy to see it through to funding and setting up the structure for it to become a reality.”

That funding, courtesy of the Knight Foundation, has allowed Doster to get the process started. “As a staff person, creating the vision for this region is not my job, rather it is my job to make sure that the right people have the opportunity to do that together. That’s what makes this so exciting."

"We will know we have been successful when we see increases in our already positive quality of life. That is our bottom-line objective."

Welcome to the Our Region Tomorrow Website!

"It is my pleasure to introduce this exciting initiative and begin a dialog that will one day result in a dynamic, collective vision for the future of this region. We are at the very beginning of the process, and I look forward to working with all who care about enhancing our quality of life and ensuring a bright future for north Florida and south Georgia."
-Randy Hanna, Advisory Committee Chairman


There is something special about this region. Here, there is a unique balance between creating opportunities for economic development and the protection of our natural resources. There is a longstanding commitment to develop opportunity without sacrificing the quality of life that draws so many here. But there are challenges ahead that require a new kind of thinking to protect what we hold dear.

Over the next 50 years, Florida’s population is expected to double at the same time it is addressing current issues such as rampant sprawl, rapidly vanishing natural areas and overcrowded roads. And as much as we would like to avoid it, north Florida is predicted to suffer from urban sprawl that will greatly impact not only the visual character of the area, but the sense of place enjoyed by its residents. Without action on the part of local leaders, inadequate and congested transportation options, demands on water resources and degrading environmental quality will inhibit the ability of the area to enjoy sustained economic growth.

But how can leaders from a region that includes Tallahassee (Leon County) and eight surrounding counties in north Florida and south Georgia work together to transcend the city, county and even state boundaries that govern them? How can planning occur for issues such as transportation, water, waste and energy that are not historically managed regionally? The issues are simply too large and complex to be solved by localities acting on their own. It is time to change the way we think. It is time to work together.

Our Region Tomorrow is a regional visioning and long-range action planning effort that will encourage and facilitate cooperation amongst the public and private sectors of north Florida and south Georgia. Our goal is to ensure sustainable economic growth and protection of our natural resources in order to strengthen the quality of life enjoyed by residents and visitors. The efforts of this venture will result in strengthening a sense of confidence in the marketplace that our region is a place to do business. It will ensure regional competitiveness in a global economy while offering quality opportunities, services and amenities that are important to all who live here.

To ensure future economic competitiveness and livability, regional cooperation is vital. Therefore, it is imperative that an initiative such as Our Region Tomorrow develop a long-term, community-supported plan that will address issues such as transportation and land use, economic growth, environmental responsibility and cultural appreciation. Creating a consensus-based vision and action-oriented plan can be used to unite the regional community, guide future growth and development, and protect working and natural landscapes and ecology – all while enhancing and expanding regional services and opportunities for economic growth.

Regional cooperation and regional-scale solutions are required to address our most critical growth-planning challenges. They are challenges that will test us, but it is through the process and ultimate implementation of the solutions that we will discover together that we will ensure our long-term success and enhance our quality of life for all.