In a recent Beyond the Build podcast, Jennifer Conoley, President and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, detailed how her organization’s regional coordination approach has attracted major economic development projects across 13 counties. Since taking the role in March 2020, Conoley has overseen the generation of over 1,500 announced jobs through direct leads, with significant aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and maritime projects underway.
The region’s strategy avoids internal competition by packaging opportunities and directing them to local economic development professionals. This approach has already yielded results, including Field International’s global headquarters relocating from the United Kingdom to Pensacola and Point Blank Enterprises’ 300-job body armor manufacturing facility in Wakulla County. Notably, Birdon announced plans for a potential 2,000-job maritime manufacturing expansion at the Port of Pensacola.
A key competitive advantage is the region’s military talent pipeline. Six military bases within a two-and-a-half to three-hour radius generate approximately 5,200 military separations and retirements annually, with an average age of 38. A University of West Florida study commissioned by Florida’s Great Northwest found that 47% of separating service members want to stay in the region, and another 19% are undecided. “Companies feel more confident in selecting our region,” Conoley noted, based on quantifiable data rather than estimates.
Kelvin Enfinger Jr., Vice President of Greenhut Construction and immediate past chair of ABC Florida, highlighted the broader applicability of this talent pool. “Retired service members have a skill set that crosses over many industries. Businesses are beginning to see that as part of a way to fix what we’re facing in our industry.”
Site readiness is another critical factor. Conoley emphasized that site selectors look to eliminate properties, so presenting a truly ready site is essential. The region benefits from the $1.5 billion Triumph Gulf Coast fund, created from Deepwater Horizon settlements, which receives $80 million annually through 2033. While funds cannot go directly to companies, public-private partnerships have successfully attracted major industrial investments without aggressive cash incentives.
Looking ahead, Conoley warned against complacency. Florida’s Great Northwest recently received a $4.7 million Triumph grant to enhance its regional strategy for the next 5, 10, and 15 years. “Where I see Northwest Florida in the next 5 to 10 years is really being even more well known in that Gulf Coast corridor for both aerospace and maritime work,” she said. “Keep your eye on Northwest Florida. The pipeline is full.”
For developers and investors, the combination of regional coordination, a quantifiable military talent pipeline, available industrial land, and patient capital sources makes Northwest Florida a compelling location for aerospace, maritime, and advanced manufacturing projects. More insights are available on the Beyond the Build podcast, hosted by Kelvin Enfinger Jr. and available on major platforms and YouTube.
