Posted: July 06, 2026
Port. St. Joe, FL —Gulf County’s maritime economy is gearing up for a massive upgrade following the first approval of a $23.5 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast. This funding secures the significant financial foundation needed to start construction on a state-of-the-art floating dry dock at Eastern Shipbuilding Group’s Port St. Joe Shipyard. The project represents a collaborative victory across local, regional, and state levels, backed by an additional $6 million from FloridaCommerce’s Job Growth Grant Fund and $4 million from the Rural Infrastructure Fund.
The introduction of a world-class floating dry dock will position the Port St. Joe Shipyard as a premier hub for vessel sustainment, maintenance, and repair. This infrastructure expansion directly addresses the regional ship-servicing shortage by establishing a permanent, year-round shipyard. The project is projected to generate substantial economic impact, creating 400 high-paying, skilled jobs for local tradespeople and driving long-term economic growth throughout the region.
Florida’s Great Northwest is the regional economic development organization for the 13-county region of the Florida Panhandle. The organization's purpose is to promote Northwest Florida for economic growth and diversification, to advocate for economic development issues that affect the region, and to collaborate to improve regional competitiveness. Beyond our beaches, Northwest Florida offers business competitive, bottom-line advantages in workforce training, upgraded infrastructure, access to a host of defense assets, and a diverse base of industries that already call the region home. For more information, visit www.floridasgreatnorthwest.com.
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