It would be really interesting to see another chart comparing how much our F500 companies invest back into the city, as compared to similar metro areas.
I'd also would like to see how some of the larger privately-held companies in town stack up as well(We have LOTS of those)
There has been a lof of talk about public/private partnerships this election cycle, but I can think of a few companies that have been really engaged in such activity.. and others not so much.
It is my observation that most companies in Florida do not invest in their respective cities as much as in some cities. Executives in our local companies do give back, no denying that, but I really think that their companies can do more.
It is my observation that certain companies really do huge bits for their cities. Retailers, financials, banks, telecom, healthcare, category killers like Home Depot and UPS, airlines, processors (the big Midwestern companies), energy companies, large real estate firms, and life companies literally sponsor their respective cities.
Winn Dixie is falling by the wayside and I am surprised it is holding on like it is. I think we will be saying bye bye in the not too distant future. CSX as a company does jack squat. Bill Foley and a few individuals do behind the scenes work in our city (albeit imho not to the amount they can), but Fidelity does not do so much as an entity.
There are a few cities whose "evil" corporations built up their cities into something incredible. In the first half of the 20th century several cities were literally Made by their companies (Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, etc). Some of these cities are enjoying a rebirth largely due to philanthropic companies there (Pittsburgh for instance...PNC and Heinz do quite a bit).
In the 1980s it was Houston, Dallas, Tulsa, and Denver. Of course Houston enjoyed a smaller repeat in the late 90s/early 2000s, largely due to Enron. OK City and Omaha are enjoying the philanthropic nature of their native firms as we speak. Same with Dallas, which has so many cultural venues going up sponsored by firms and their CEOs it's not even funny.
San Diego has enjoyed this.
Charlotte is what it is because of BOA, Wachovia, Duke Energy, Lowe's, and those companies' CEOs.
Of course not on the same level of F500s and billionaire CEOs as Houston or Dallas, but Atlanta is as much a city built on its locally grown brands as its visionary leadership/large airport. Went to the High this weekend and Cousins has a section, Delta has a section, bla bla bla. Home Depot and Coke brought the Olympics and HD sponsored the Olympics. Delta has certainly grown with the city. Cox Enterprises is all about the city. Chik Fil A is all about the city. Suntrust has its name plastered on everything. CNN and Ted Turner. Intercontinental Hotels Group even does its part. It's expected of every company, every major law firm, and every wealthy individual to give back big time.
I had an editorial come out today, so it's kind of becoming a monthly thing, but I have developed another editorial calling on more corporate leadership for Jacksonville. It's necessary, especially since we have hardly any other leadership.
