Leon County to Review Domi Entrepreneurial Community Impact Report

On March 18, 2025, the Leon County Commissioners will hear a status report from Domi Education Inc. about the impact of their programs and initiatives.

Domi entered into a public-private partnership with Leon County in 2013 to help stimulate economic growth. Per Domi’s website, their “incubation programs are designed to equip entrepreneurs to launch and scale their ventures.” As part of that agreement, they have a lease for a building that houses Domi Station, a “co-working” environment that encourages creativity, innovation, and productivity. The lease was extended in 2022 for another 5 years.

Per the partnership, Domi must provide annual status reports to the county commissioners.

The report states that the Center for Economic Forecasting & Analysis (CEFA) at FSU conducts annual economic impact analyses of Domi Station activities, utilizing financial statements from startups served, with a breakdown by industry, sales, investment, and job creation.  As a result of recurring operational expenditures and sales by businesses served, the impact analysis found a total economic output of $55.6 million in FY 2024.  Employment generated by this activity amounted to 261 jobs in FY 2024 ($18.8 million in income or wages).

The report also states that since its inception, “Domi has nurtured 396 companies that have scaled beyond their support, significantly expanding their impact.  These entrepreneurial success stories have empowered individuals to develop critical skills, launch thriving businesses, and drive substantial economic growth by creating jobs and fueling local economic activity. “

In one example, the report highlights Call Simulator, Inc., a company that uses artificial intelligence to teach clients conversation skills. In 2024, Call Simulator was able to secure several Fortune 500 clients and launch their first mobile app.

The agenda item states that in FY 2025, Leon County’s Office of Economic Vitality will collaborate closely with Domi’s leadership to maximize its impact on Leon County’s economic development.  These efforts will include facilitating the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FAMU to provide entrepreneurial development opportunities for students and provide access to OEV marketing intelligence and data tools to help Domi startups make informed scaling decisions.