Okaloosa County

Top Assets

• Significant concentration of high-tech employment, particularly in aviation, aerospace, and defense businesses. 
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport continues to be one of the nation’s fastest growing airports, with service on American Airlines, Delta, United Express and Allegiant. Direct routes include Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleaveland, Columbus, Concord Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Lexington, Louisville, Memphis, Nashville, Newark, Northwest Arkansas, Oklahoma City, Peoria, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, Springfield, St Louis, and Washington DC. 
• Efficient transportation network ideally suited for business and industry including Interstate 10 and Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad.
• Okaloosa offers a competitive site portfolio which includes the Okaloosa Industrial Air Park (Florida First Certified Park), Shoal River Ranch Properties (10,000 acre mega site) and the Fort Walton Beach Commerce and Technology Park (where three of the nation’s Top 10 largest defense contractors have facilities).
• Eglin AFB is responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, and deployment of all air-delivered weapon systems and also home to the training wing for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter. 
• Hurlburt Field is the headquarters of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and several other units supporting the special operations mission. 
• Okaloosa County School District has the largest share of ‘A’ Rated schools than other 67 counties. Okaloosa ranked #2 in the percentage of A+ schools in the State. 
• Proven training and workforce development partnerships with Northwest Florida State College, University of West Florida, Okaloosa Technical College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, University of Florida School of Engineering, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University School of Pharmacy.