The "Ambition Accelerated" campaign, launched with $5 million contributions each from billionaires Ken Griffin and Stephen Ross, represents a strategic shift in how South Florida markets itself to corporate America. Debuting at the WSJ Invest Live conference in West Palm Beach on February 2, the initiative targets CEOs and founders in high-cost cities with messaging that positions the Gold Coast as a unified economic corridor rather than competing individual markets.
Larry Mastropieri, CEO of The Mastropieri Group, explains that the campaign reflects recognition that South Florida's economic transformation requires coordinated messaging. "The campaign frames the Gold Coast as one unified corridor, which fundamentally changes how executives evaluate relocation decisions," Mastropieri notes. This approach addresses a historical challenge where Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton have often competed against each other rather than collectively positioning against traditional business capitals.
Beyond traditional advertising, the initiative includes concierge services connecting relocating executives with practical infrastructure details that determine whether discussions convert to actual moves. These services provide workforce data, office inventory, school timelines, and neighborhood guidance through resources like https://discoversouthflorida.com. The timing aligns with measurable corporate migration patterns, with over 140 companies relocating to Palm Beach County in the past five years, creating 13,110 jobs and $1.12 billion in capital investment.
The campaign targets specific pain points driving corporate exits from traditional business centers. New York and Chicago executives face state and local tax rates that can exceed 13%, while Florida maintains zero state income tax. Office space costs in Manhattan average $80-100 per square foot versus $35-45 in West Palm Beach. Beyond economics, the campaign emphasizes lifestyle factors that have become more relevant in post-pandemic corporate location decisions, including climate, recreation, and international connectivity without the density of traditional business capitals.
D-Wave Quantum's decision to relocate its global headquarters from Palo Alto to Boca Raton's Innovation Campus exemplifies the migration trend the campaign aims to accelerate. The quantum computing firm leased 25,000 square feet with transition expected by end of 2026, joining California companies departing partly driven by the state's proposed 5% wealth tax. Florida Atlantic University committed $20 million to install a D-Wave Advantage2 quantum computer on campus, creating direct talent pipeline between university and tech corridor.
For South Florida's real estate markets, sustained corporate migration creates upward pressure on office, residential, and hospitality sectors simultaneously. Each relocated company brings executives requiring housing, employees seeking rentals, and visiting clients needing accommodations – multiplying economic impact beyond initial job creation numbers. West Palm Beach experienced a 112% increase in millionaires over the past decade, with Miami recording 94% growth – both surpassing New York as the world's fastest-growing wealth hubs.
The $10 million investment signals confidence that coordinated regional marketing can accelerate corporate migration trends already in motion, potentially creating self-reinforcing momentum as each successful relocation makes the next decision easier for companies evaluating similar moves. As Mastropieri explains, "This isn't just about one quantum computing company – it's about infrastructure, talent pipelines, and the kind of ecosystem that keeps companies anchored long-term."
