NEBA “Strongly Encourages” Commission to Approve Hospital Agreement

The Board of Directors for the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA), an independent business group, sent a letter to city commissioners on Tuesday that “strongly encourages the Tallahassee City Commission to approve the agreement transferring the City’s hospital assets to Florida State University to establish an academic medical center under FSU Health.”

The Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce sent a similar letter last week encouraging commissioners to support the agreement.

NEBA, which was created in the early 1990’s and holds monthly meetings with guest speakers, periodically takes positions on important community issues.

The city commission is scheduled to vote on the agreement on Wednesday, March 11, at City Hall.

The NEBA letter noted that “Academic medical centers are powerful engines of innovation and economic growth, drawing leading physicians, biomedical researchers, healthcare startups, and life-science investment into the communities they serve. For entrepreneurs, employers, and investors, these institutions help create the type of environment where businesses want to locate and grow.”

The Board of Directors gave credit to TMH for their years of service. The letter stated, “the partnership recognizes the extraordinary work of Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, whose leadership and commitment to patient care over the past four decades have positioned our community for this next stage of growth.”

NEBA Letter Encouraging Support for Hospital Sale

The Board of Directors of the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA) strongly encourages the Tallahassee City Commission to approve the agreement transferring the City’s hospital assets to Florida State University to establish an academic medical center under FSU Health.

For the business community, access to world-class healthcare is not simply a medical issue, it is an economic development imperative.

The proposed partnership will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment into our local healthcare infrastructure, expand specialized medical services, and attract research funding and talent to Tallahassee.

Academic medical centers are powerful engines of innovation and economic growth, drawing leading physicians, biomedical researchers, healthcare startups, and life-science investment into the communities they serve.

For entrepreneurs, employers, and investors, these institutions help create the type of environment where businesses want to locate and grow.

This agreement also ensures the continuation of our hospital’s critical community mission by protecting indigent care policies, maintaining access to healthcare for all residents of our region.

At the same time, the partnership recognizes the extraordinary work of Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, whose leadership and commitment to patient care over the past four decades have positioned our community for this next stage of growth.

This proposal represents a rare alignment between healthcare advancement, economic development, and community impact.

Tallahassee has an opportunity to strengthen its position as a regional leader in academic medicine, medical research, and advanced patient care. Opportunities of this magnitude do not come often, and we believe the long-term benefits to our community are significant.

For these reasons, the Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates respectfully urges the Tallahassee City Commission to vote “Yes” on the proposed agreement.

This decision will help ensure a stronger hospital, a stronger economy, and a stronger future for our community. 

Respectfully,

NEBA Board of Directors