PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

As business heats up, so does the weather. Life is good in Bay County and we have a lot to be thankful for.

We’re positioned for another record-breaking tourism season and our diversified economy continues to flourish with other new business and industry coming to Bay County.

Although there’s never a good time for bad news, as employers continue to look for new employees, the announcement of the closure of WestRock will assist other employers in need of workers in Bay County. In this issue of Bay Biz, you’ll find a story that is a tribute to the role “The Mill” has played in building a better Bay County.

Your Chamber team jumped into action with the coordination of a virtual meeting among our area manufacturers and their HR departments just days after the announcement of the closure. WestRock HR was able to answer questions from the group as the affected employees are prime candidates for hundreds of open positions within those manufacturing plants.

That meeting included a briefing by CareerSource Executive Director Kim Bodine as to the benefits available not only to employees, but the potential employers, who could be eligible for training dollars and more. Becca Hardin, President of the Bay EDA was also in attendance and emphasized the opportunities.

No matter what circle you’re in, there is usually at least one person touched by the impact of The Mill. I, for one, am a Paper Mill Baby. My father dedicated 43 years to that facility and is what my family was built on. Although I was very young in the beginning years of his tenure there, I do remember when he was on the graveyard shift when mama and I would ride out (it seemed like in the middle of the night) and take him dinner sitting in the parking lot. To this day when I hear that 7 a.m. whistle, I think of him and the memories that mill has given my family and me. Whew, okay, that just made me emotional.

In the same vein of the need for employees, so is the need for a stronger education system. At the beginning of the year, the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee formed an Education Task Force to take a look at the issue as identified in our 2022 Business Plan.

A mission statement was developed that outlines the concerns and opportunities of the issue- “Quality Education is important to the success of any community. Bay County business leaders must take the lead in supporting and holding our district leadership accountable to higher standards and demand excellence in our public-school system. A top-rated school district is vital in the recruitment of new workforce, ensuring the future of our military installations and for existing business to thrive.”

With that, this summer the Bay County Chamber has moved forward with the roll-out of its plan to gain business leader involvement in mentoring, on the school board and at the superintendent level. It’s time for us to build an education system of the future.

Our Military Affairs Committee (MAC) remains active. A reception was held to welcome the F35 Activation Team to Tyndall as the rebuild continues and preparations are being made for the arrival of the first F-35 aircraft in fall 2023. Speaking of Tyndall, MAC members were treated to a tour of the base where members could see first-hand the massive rebuild taking place. The MAC had the same opportunity at NSA PC, where members were brought up to speed on its role in the defense of our country and the research and development transpiring right here in Bay County.

As I said in the beginning, life is good in Bay County and we look forward to working to build it even better. We thank all of our investors in supporting the role of this great organization.

Carol A. Roberts President/CEO

Paradisehas arrived

ON THE EMERALD COAST

LIVE THE LIFE YOU’VE DREAMED AT LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE WATERSOUND!

Sunshine and cool breezes. Palm trees and margaritas. Welcome to Latitude Margaritaville, a 55-and-better community inspired by the legendary music and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett, built on food, fun, music and escapism.

Escape to the place where fun and relaxation meet. Escape to island-inspired living as you grow older, but not up. Escape to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, located on Hwy 79, less than 8 miles from the beach.

New Homes from the high $200s

sales center and 13 models open daily! Latitude Margaritaville Watersound (866) 594-3298

9201 Highway 79, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 Mon. - Sat. 9:00am - 5:00pm | Sun. 11:00am - 5:00pm

Visit online for more information LatitudeMargaritaville.com

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THE OFFERINGS. Latitude Margaritaville Kentucky Registration Number R-201. For NY Residents: THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS FOR THE SALE OF LOTS ARE IN THE CPS-12 APPLICATION AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR, LMWS, LLC. FILE NO. CP20-0062. Pennsylvania Registration Number OL001182. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118 and with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required and has not been completed. The facilities and amenities described are proposed but not yet constructed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans. Development plans, amenities, facilities, dimensions, specifications, prices and features depicted by artists renderings or otherwise described herein are approximate and subject to change without notice. ©Minto Communities, LLC 2022. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored, or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Latitude Margaritaville and the Latitude Margaritaville logo are trademarks of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and are used under license. Minto and the Minto logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. St. Joe and the St. Joe logo are trademarks of The St. Joe Company and are used under license. CGC 1519880/CGC 120919. 2022