TALLAHASSEE, FLA.. — Leadership Tallahassee announced today that it will produce and market a study evaluating the retention of college graduates in the Tallahassee area, thanks to the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
There is no question that Tallahassee experiences a brain drain every year with its college graduates. However, no concrete data exists to support the theory. Tallahassee is home to two state universities, a community college and several post-secondary schools. Leaders believe retaining these graduates is vital to Tallahassee’s plans for growing and developing in a positive and creative way.
“Leadership Tallahassee is proud to be the recipient of this $125,000 grant from Knight Foundation and we look forward to the outcome of the study. We anticipate it will help us keep talented young professionals in the community who add value to the business, cultural and philanthropic environment that citizens of this area enjoy each and every day,” said Alan Williams, chair of Leadership Tallahassee.
The results of this study will answer questions such as what percentage of college graduates remain in the area or relocate somewhere else after graduation, and why. Most importantly, these results will give Tallahassee the information needed to know what it can do to keep this young, talented population in the area.
“As a local businessman, I am extremely excited that Knight Foundation is giving us this chance to get a deeper understanding of our local students’ perceptions about our community as a place to stay and build careers after graduation. I am sure stakeholders in every corner of our city will learn from the results,” said Chapin Frazee, chair of Leadership Tallahassee’s Retention Study Committee.
The study’s results and recommendations will be available to groups that may find them valuable in planning and implementing programming and economic development and public policy decisions to improve the ability to attract and retain this demographic.
“This study is an important component of Knight’s efforts in Tallahassee to find ways to create the sense of place that will attract and retain young professionals,” Mike Pate, Knight Foundation’s Tallahassee program director, said. “The study can be used by organizations throughout our community to find ways to stop the brain drain and build our economy. It is appropriate that Leadership Tallahassee will take a leadership role in these efforts.”
Leadership Tallahassee (LT), a division of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, has for over 25 years provided leadership development training for individuals that has resulted in them becoming agents of change in the area of economic development. With over 700 graduates in the Tallahassee area, these individuals have used the relationships formed and the information and skills acquired through the LT class year to create initiatives and foster a business climate that has contributed to increased economic development in the area. Visit www.leadershiptallahassee.com for more information.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of the U.S. communities where the Knight brothers owned newspapers. Knight Foundation focuses on projects with the potential to create transformational change. For more, visit www.knightfoundation.org.