Initiatives
The Mayor has five primary areas of interest. Within each is a myriad of programs and initiatives he believes best serves the Tallahassee community. Click on each of the links below to find out more.
Arts and Culture
Mayor John Marks is a firm believer in the power of arts and culture and the positive impact they have on our community. As Mayor of Tallahassee, he has laid a plan to improve the economic environment of this community and arts and cultural enhancement is a key component to that plan. Mayor Marks is involved with various community organizations working to bring diverse arts and cultural opportunities to Tallahassee. Further, the Mayor participates with national organizations that support and advocate on behalf of arts and cultural findings, education and research.
Community Initiatives
Mayor Marks enthusiastically serves the community through a variety of community outreach programs. The Mayor strives to develop initiatives that address emerging community issues, while also involving various organizations and citizen groups in determining needed activities and resources. His current programs include Tallahassee: A Community that Reads and the Big Bend Mentoring Initiative. The Mayor invites volunteers from the community to assist in the development of these and other endeavors.
Economic Development
Economic Development in the City of Tallahassee is the Mayor's number one priority. The Mayor and City Commission are working diligently to encourage, foster and facilitate appropriate economic development efforts for our community. The Mayor is currently involved in several efforts involved with economic development, and continually endeavors to find new opportunities that can benefit the community.
International Affairs
The City's "Sister City Program", formerly housed in the Economic Development Department, is now a part of the Mayor's Office. The City of Tallahassee embraces globalization as one way to become more competitive, and endeavors to become a global community. "Sister Cities" promote cultural understanding between the two cities, while also encouraging partnerships in health and medicine, education, culture and arts, sports, and economic development, to name a few areas.
Local Business Saturday
To strengthen our economy and promote the benefits of local shopping, Mayor John Marks and local business leaders have created a new initiative called Local Business Saturday, which occurs on the second Saturday of every month.
Technology
The Mayor and City Commission have made technology an important focus for the city of Tallahassee. As the capital city of the fourth largest state in the United States, the Mayor believes Tallassee businesses and citizens should have access to the latest technology and emphasizes this in all his policy decisions. The Mayor and City Commission have endeavored to integrate technology into city government in a variety of forms, providing services that are faster, more efficient and environmentally friendly.