From the Tallahassee Democrat
Poaching potential talent out of Tallahassee isn’t going to happen without a fight.
A tweet from ChooseATL — a subgroup of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce — made a subtle dig at the capital city and other college towns across the nation. The promoted tweet said, “Say farewell to Tallahassee and say hello to an awesome job and a hot music scene. Welcome to ATL”
Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Vice President Jay Revell wasn’t having it. Not a bit. So, he defended Tallahassee with a fiery Facebook response.
“If you want to build something special, something that stands out from the crowd, I’ve got a city for you,” Revell posted. “It’s Tallahassee you want to choose.”
For Revell, the attempt to poach means other cities are seeing the potential in Tallahassee graduates and young professionals.
“There are other communities that are recognizing how much talent we have in Tallahassee,” he said in an interview with the Democrat.
Tallahassee is dear to Revell. He graduated from Florida State in 2009. He watched as some of his friends leave for different cities. While he said that hurt, it’s motivated him to help change the city’s image to a destination that retains talent.
Last week, the Chamber held a forum with its members and leaders of the career centers from FSU, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College so local companies know how to connect with graduates. It also hosts the Tally Job Hop, which takes students directly to tour local companies.
“It’s been my experience that if you wake up every day in Tallahassee and let it be known you want to live your life here, people will help you chase that dream,” Revell said. “They’ll help you make connections and help you build that life.”
