OEV
Newsletter 

May 1, 2026

From Pit Lane to Supply Chain: Inside A&E Wholesale with Ana Melendez

What does racing supercars have to do with running a distribution company? More than you’d think.

In this episode of Economic Vitality Unplugged, Ana Melendez takes us inside A&E Wholesale, a business that quietly powers over 1,200 retailers across North Florida and South Georgia. From same-day deliveries to navigating rising costs, she shares how speed, precision, and strategy drive success in both racing and supply chains.

Tune in to hear how she’s building a high-performance business—and what’s next on the horizon.

Leon Works Expo Connects Hundreds of Students with High-Demand Career Opportunities

Leon County Government and the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality (OEV) connected more than 550 high school students in the Big Bend region to local skilled workforce opportunities at the 11th Annual Leon Works Expo. Students from Leon and Liberty counties explored high-demand career paths and engaged directly with more than 100 employers in the areas of health, business and information technology, creative, trade, and more. 

“The Leon Works Expo gives students a front-row seat of some to the fastest-growing, high-demand careers in our region,” said Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban. “Success doesn’t follow a single path, and not every journey requires a four-year degree. This event highlights the many opportunities available for students to build meaningful, rewarding careers right here in our community.”

From Caps and Gowns to Local Jobs

As local colleges and universities hold graduation ceremonies this week, thousands of new graduates are entering the job market. This highlights how many talented people are produced locally, but also raises the question: how many graduates actually stay in Tallahassee-Leon County?

During the 2023/24 academic year, 3,092 students graduated from Tallahassee State College (TSC) and 1,137 from Lively Technical College. Of these graduates, about one-third from TSC and one-quarter from Lively remained in the area, with 21% of TSC and 13% of Lively recent graduates securing full-time employment in Leon County by Fall 2024.

In the same academic year, 15,048 students graduated from FSU and FAMU. University graduate retention was 15%, with 11% of graduates employed full-time in Leon County by Fall 2024. The average annualized wage for these recent university graduates was nearly $57,000—about 92% of the county’s average annual wage for 2024. Notably, the percentage of recent graduates employed full-time in Leon County (11%) closely mirrors the proportion of incoming university students from the county (11.2%), suggesting a steady cycle of workforce renewal that aligns with local labor force and employment growth.

Source: Florida Dept. of Education, Florida Education Training and Placement Information Program (FETPIP)

City’s PowerTLH EV Fast-Charging

Station Opens

The City of Tallahassee celebrated Earth Day with the opening of its first zero-emission electric vehicle fast-charging station. Equipped with Level 3 DC fast-chargers, this uniquely designed canopied station features the fastest and most powerful commercially available EV charging technology—capable of charging up to four vehicles simultaneously and delivering a full charge in as little as 20 minutes.

“With the opening of our first PowerTLH EV fast-charging station, we can see significant progress toward a cleaner, more connected Tallahassee. As we celebrate Earth Day, we’re proud to highlight how our strategic investment in innovative, sustainable services is vital to shaping a brighter future for our community,” Mayor John Dailey said.

Notable News

FAMU Partners with 14 HBCUs to Launch National Research Coalition to Accelerate Innovation and Expand Impact 

Alonda Thomas
FAMU News

In a tight job market, small businesses may offer opportunities for new college grads

Jessica Dickler
CNBC

Women Wednesdays: Midweek Meetup, After Hours at Domi Station

Join Domi Station for a special Women Wednesdays: Midweek Meetup, After Hours in partnership with the Tallahassee-Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. This evening edition brings a new energy to the Midweek Meetup series with a dynamic panel featuring women working in male-dominated industries. Hear their stories, gain insight into the challenges they’ve navigated, and learn how they’re building, leading, and breaking barriers in their fields.

Kidpreneur Summer Business Program

The Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region, Inc, is pleased to announce the 6th annual Kidpreneur Summer Business Program. This free program runs June 25 – August 4, which includes kit pick-up, orientation, weekly evening workshops, a community market, and program awards dinner. Application deadline is Monday, May 18.

Eligible participants must be ages 8–12 and live in one of the seven service counties: Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, or Wakulla.