Lauren Poe
Mayor, City of Gainesville
Gainesville’s comparative advantages to other communities of equal size and demographics are impressive. Our biggest advantage is the incredible talent coming out of the University of Florida, which we are working hard to capture by developing an economic environment that provides places for creative entrepreneurs to stay, work and start their businesses.
The goal of our City Commission is to position our community to become a national model of the “New American City.” We are focused on nothing short of becoming the most citizen-centered city in the U.S.A. This will enable Gainesville to grow not only in traditional health care and higher education sectors, but in technology, biotechnology and innovative light manufacturing industries, creating a spectrum of jobs from entry-level positions that require no specialized training, to researchers doing Ph.D.-type jobs.
Equally important in making Gainesville a great place to live, is continuing our tradition of being an inclusive community for all. Gainesville is proud to be the first official “Welcoming City” in Florida. This contributes immeasurably to the quality of life we enjoy as a truly diverse community. In this special place called Gainesville, we recognize that “The purpose of our city is the people of our city!”