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.