BAY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEMBER TO KNOW

Each of these companies employ hundreds of people and inject millions of dollars into the local economy every year. These companies need to have confidence in the Port’s ability to provide them with the facilities and services they need today and in the future. The Port Authority is committed to the kind of steady responsible growth and improvements that gives these companies the confidence to rely on the Port as they make their long-term investment decisions.

The Port Authority is also making the needed investments to attract new industry to Bay County. In addition to constructing the distribution warehouses at the Port’s IDC, the Port Authority has partnered with the City, the Bay County Chamber, the EDA and Gulf Power to develop attractive “shovel-ready” certified industrial sites. These sites are essential to the community’s efforts to attract new industry to Bay County. It is impossible to know when another manufacturing company will build a new plant in Bay County. However, the availability of these attractive industrial sites at the IDC “sets the table” for such a development. Based on past experience with the large manufacturers who have settled in Bay County, manufacturing companies are likely to invest tens of millions in plant and equipment and provide good permanent jobs over many years. There is an emerging consensus that American companies should bring their manufacturing plants back to the U.S. This trend, combined with the growing U.S. - Mexico trade and the general benefits of locating new plants in the Southeastern United States, bodes well for bringing new manufacturing jobs to Bay County.

Community Support and Dedicated Employees

The Port Authority’s commitment to growing our Port, promoting trade, and supporting industrial development seems to be the right formula for our region. However, the Port can only succeed if it has the broad support of the community. Fortunately, the Port has consistently had support from local government, our congressional representatives, and from the community at large. The Port Authority board members

and the port management understand the value of this support and work hard to earn it year after year.

The Port also depends on the ongoing dedication and commitment of its employees. These men and women work hard every day to provide the Port’s tenants and shippers with the highest possible level of services. The success of the Port is a testament to their hard work and commitment. The Port’s employees and the other men and women who work on the port really are essential workers and make a big contribution to the community.

Port Panama City, USA belongs to the community and is here to serve the community. With the right focus, with community support, and dedicated employees, the Port Panama City, USA expects to keep growing. With this growth, the Port will continue to produce significant economic benefits for Bay County and all of Northwest Florida.