Florida's Gold Coast Aims for Corporate Crown with Billionaire Backing

THE GOLD COAST, Fla. – May 01, 2026 – An audacious, multi-million-dollar campaign to rebrand Florida’s Gold Coast as the definitive epicenter for American business is escalating its national push, adding former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez to an effort already supercharged by two of the nation's wealthiest billionaires. The “Ambition Accelerated” campaign, seeded with $10 million from Citadel’s Ken Griffin and Related Companies’ Stephen M. Ross, is making a high-stakes play to lure companies and capital away from traditional hubs like New York, Chicago, and Silicon Valley.

Suarez, whose tenure as mayor was defined by his relentless and successful courting of the tech and finance industries, joins the Florida Council of 100’s initiative as a Senior Advisor. His appointment comes just as the campaign prepares for its largest activation yet at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, a venue chosen specifically to place its message directly in front of a global audience of C-suite executives and investors.

The campaign's premise is bold: that the next great chapter of American economic growth will be written not in the skyscrapers of Manhattan or the campuses of California, but along the sun-drenched stretch of coastline from Miami to West Palm Beach.

The Billionaire Bet on Florida's Future

The driving force behind the campaign’s financial muscle comes from two figures who have bet their own fortunes on Florida. Ken Griffin, who famously relocated his $50 billion hedge fund Citadel from Chicago to Miami in 2022, and Stephen M. Ross, the real estate magnate behind the Miami Dolphins and massive developments in West Palm Beach, each contributed $5 million to seed the initiative.

Their involvement is more than philanthropic; it’s a strategic investment in the ecosystem they now call home. Griffin, who is developing a $1 billion waterfront headquarters for Citadel in Miami's Brickell district, has been a vocal proponent of Florida's business-friendly climate, frequently citing Chicago’s crime and tax policies as catalysts for his move. Ross, whose Related Companies is transforming West Palm Beach into a financial hub dubbed “Wall Street South,” has billions invested in the region’s commercial real estate. For them, attracting more high-value companies and talent is a tide that lifts their own considerable ships.

The campaign’s messaging directly reflects their rationale, targeting executives in high-tax, high-regulation states with a pitch centered on Florida’s lack of a state personal income tax and its ranking as having the second-lowest business regulations per capita in the nation. It’s an institutionalized version of the same arguments that convinced them to relocate.

Can Suarez Replicate the 'Miami Miracle'?

The addition of Francis Suarez is a calculated move to add a proven evangelist to the campaign’s roster. As mayor, Suarez became a national figure by actively recruiting tech founders and venture capitalists, famously tweeting, “How can I help?” His efforts are credited with helping attract an estimated $2.5 trillion in assets under management to Miami and pushing the city to the top rank for tech job growth and migration in the country.

Now, his mandate is expanding. Instead of pitching a single city, Suarez is tasked with selling an entire region. He will leverage his personal story as the son of Cuban immigrants and his track record to convince decision-makers that the “Miami moment” was not an anomaly but a preview of the Gold Coast’s potential.

“I grew up here, I led this city and I’ve seen firsthand how Florida’s Gold Coast rewards people who choose to build,” Suarez said in a statement. “What’s different now is the scale. When West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami are working together, the region offers something no single city can, which is real depth of capital, talent and connectivity. This campaign is about making sure decision-makers across the country see that clearly.” His role will be to transform C-suite conversations at high-profile events like Formula 1 into concrete commitments.

Beyond the Racetrack: Substance Behind the Spectacle

The campaign’s activation at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix is designed for maximum impact. Inside the exclusive Paddock Club, executives will find a custom-built immersive race simulator and limited-edition merchandise. But behind the glamour and high-octane marketing lies a data-driven strategy to close what campaign organizers call a “perception gap.”

“This campaign started with the simple observation that while Florida’s Gold Coast offers winning conditions for winning companies, many decision-makers at these companies can’t visualize themselves here yet,” said Mike Simas, President and CEO of The Florida Council of 100. The F1 event, he noted, is about getting directly in front of those executives to change that perception.

Beneath the surface of the pitch are compelling economic figures. The Gold Coast region has delivered the highest GDP growth over the past three years compared to other major metropolitan areas and ranks first in new business formations per capita. The state's university system is ranked number one in the nation, feeding a talent pipeline that has made the region third in talent attraction among major metros.

Once the roar of the engines fades, the campaign shifts to a “concierge-style outreach program” designed to handle the practicalities of relocation. This service connects interested executives with resources to navigate everything from school options and commute times to office space and local regulations, turning the initial intrigue generated by the high-profile event into actionable plans.

This two-pronged approach—combining high-visibility marketing with substantive economic arguments and logistical support—forms the core of the effort to cement the Gold Coast not just as a desirable destination, but as an inevitable one for the next generation of American enterprise.