YOUR COMPETITIVE SOLUTION
Northwest Florida is home to six major military installations, all with aviation/aerospace-related missions, which have a huge impact on the industries, R&D and talent pool in the region. Defense contractors, manufacturers, and high-tech businesses located in the region benefit from the skills of the 6,000 service members that separate each year.
The region also has several shovel-ready sites off Interstate 10 and around key transportation corridors, from which manufacturers and distributors can benefit. A Northwest Florida location can help your business become even more competitive while giving you piece of mind that you and your employees are in a safe and beautiful place to live and raise family.
ADVANTAGES
UNPRECEDENTED FINANCIAL RESOURCES
$1.5 billion Triumph Fund dedicated to Northwest Florida and $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund for economic growth and diversification.
SKILLED LABOR FORCE
1.2+ million within 1-hour drive time, including 6,000 active duty military separating each year, can help ensure your business remains competitive.
LARGE CUSTOMER BASE
1+ million Northwest Florida residents, 58 million within an 8-hour drive time and 116+ million Florida tourists a year can be your customer base.
ACCESSIBILITY
3 deep-water seaports and 3 commercial airports reaching U.S. & international markets; Class 1 Rail CSX and I-10 connecting to I-65, I-75 and I-95 to reach the rest of the Southeastern U.S.
SPEED TO MARKET
Available buildings and certified/shovel-ready sites, and a Northwest Florida economic development team to help you get up and running quickly.
INDUSTRY LEADERS
Home to leaders such as Boeing, Eastern Shipbuilding, Eastman, General Dynamics, International Paper, Lockheed Martin, Navy Federal, Trane, and many others, as well as industry-driven councils to support your business growth.
REGIONAL AND LOCAL SUPPORT
$1.5 billion dollars for the region, a regional strategy that aligns local leaders, and a region wide attitude that supports business growth.
QUALITY OF PLACE
Beautiful beaches, year-round outdoor activities, cultural amenities, a variety of neighborhoods, and southern charm makes Northwest Florida a great place to live.
DATA THAT MATTERS
Northwest Florida Region
Northwest Florida has old Florida charm – miles of undeveloped beach, fresh local seafood and welcoming communities – but dig a little deeper and you’ll find forward-thinking communities working to grow our tech, aerospace, defense and manufacturing industries. Through infrastructure development and focused workforce training, the region is on the cusp of being the next global hub for these targeted industries. We invite you to build on our successes and become part of the fabric of our growing communities.
Click on any county to learn more
OKALOOSA
Okaloosa County is home to Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, giving it a built-in workforce for high-tech employment, including aviation, aerospace and defense businesses. Bob Sikes Industrial Airpark is ideally suited for these industries. Yet the county is also known as a family-friendly community with white sand beaches and world-class golf.
BAY
Home to The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Tyndall Air Force Base and the deep-water Port Panama City, Bay County also has 27 miles of beaches for year round snorkeling, fishing, boating and diving. Bay is also home to many family attractions, the famed Shell Island and St. Andrews State Park.
CALHOUN
In Calhoun County, businesses will find pad-ready sites directly served by the county’s airport. The county is also home to several unique ecosystems along the Apalachicola River where you can enjoy year-round boating, fishing and exploring its many canoe and kayak trails.
ESCAMBIA
Home to Naval Air Station Pensacola, the Blue Angels, Port of Pensacola and America’s oldest settlement, Escambia County has a large population of military retirees and educational and training institutions including University of West Florida and Pensacola State College.
FRANKLIN
A part of the “Forgotten Coast,” Franklin County offers a relaxed lifestyle in its many coastal communities. Franklin is also home to the Apalachicola Air Park at the Franklin County/Apalachicola Regional Airport where there is ample industrial and commercial land available for development.
GULF
Gulf Country is home to Port St. Joe and has several industrial parks and industrially zoned sites, some with direct water access for marine industries. From the ancient cypress forests of Dead Lakes to the white sands of Gulf of Mexico, the county offers world-class golf, hunting, diving and fishing.
HOLMES
Holmes County is a friendly rural community, rich with natural beauty with forests, lakes, creeks and the Choctawhatchee River, Ponce De Leon Springs State Park and Vortex Springs. Here you’ll find a more relaxed lifestyle just a short drive to the beaches and major tourist destinations.
JACKSON
Jackson County has a long history as a manufacturing and distribution center and has the infrastructure, sites and skilled workforces to support new development. It’s also home to Chipola College. The county’s natural features include Florida Caverns State Park, the only walk-through caves in the state.
LIBERTY
A mostly rural county, Liberty is home to the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee Rivers and 836-square miles of Apalachicola National Forest. The county balances it’s invaluable natural resources with expanding business and an industrial base that leverages the county’s abundant pine resources.
SANTA ROSA
One of the fastest growing counties in the country, Santa Rosa has ready-to-build sites and a trained and experienced workforce. Home to both beautiful beaches and a fast-growing tech community, Santa Rosa County is an ideal location for aerospace, aviation, tech or manufacturing industries.
WALTON
Walton County’s fully-developed industrial parks and enterprise zones and proximity to the deep-water Port Panama City and its foreign trade zone make it a great place to do business. Its 26 miles of sugar-white sand beaches, four state parks and family-oriented communities mean it’s also a great place to live.
WASHINGTON
Washington County is ready to help you grow your business! This growing county is home to Florida Panhandle Technical College and has forward thinking local governments ready to work with new and expanding businesses. The county is also home to the scenic Falling Waters State Park, seaside horseback riding trails, golf and the Seacrest Wolf Preserve.
LATEST NEWS
Leaders Across Region Move Forward Together to Transform Northwest Florida’s Economy
Last week, nearly 100 leaders from across Northwest Florida came together to mark the progress made on the Northwest Florida FORWARD strategic initiative which was launched one year ago.
Florida Governor invests $11+ million in Northwest Florida from Florida Job Growth Grant Fund
Florida Governor Rick Scott invests more than $11 million in six Northwest Florida projects from the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. The Fund was established by Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature last year to enhance economic development across the state.
North Florida Counties Partner to Grow the Super Region for Manufacturing & Logistics
Today, four leading Florida regional economic development organizations announced the creation of the North Florida Manufacturing and Logistics Corridor to augment their regional efforts promoting corporate growth across 34 counties, from Pensacola to Jacksonville.
CONTACT US
Florida’s Great Northwest is here to provide you the practical, on-the-ground resources and support you need for your business location/expansion project. From incentives to site selection to workforce development, we’ve got the expertise and connections to help your business be even more competitive with a Northwest Florida location.
