SPECIAL REPORT
2021 Santa Rosa County Business Journal AN 850 BUSINESS MAGAZINE SPECIAL REPORT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | WHITING AVIATION PARK | NAVARRE GROWTH
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER G PHOTOGRAPHY (GRANCAGNOLO AND OGLETREE) AND COURTESY OF LEONARDO COMPANY AND SANTA ROSA COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
Santa Rosa County Business Journal SPEC I A L R EPORT
No Rest for the Winners Persistence lands Santa Rosa County prospects BY HANNAH BURKE
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or many, the world since March 2020 has been one of uncertainty. Some businesses thrived, some endured, and others were not so lucky. But even as the pandemic reconfigured most everything, economic developers in Santa Rosa County forged ahead, the best way they knew how. For Shannon Ogletree, executive director at the Santa Rosa Economic Development Office (SREDO), the key to success has always been connections. “Business is business, but in business, you deal with people,” said Ogletree. “Relationships matter. I once had a college professor who told me it’s hard to be mad at someone if you know their kid’s name, and that’s true. I want to get to know you and how you run your business.” Though Zoom meetings and phone calls have been unavoidable and while he much prefers face-to-face meetings, Ogletree said the pandemic’s forced seclusion was, ironically, uniting. Conferences with site selectors, typically held in office settings, originated from participants’ homes and often featured cameo appearances by restless spouses or children. People were more likely to engage in casual conversation, Ogletree said. He learned how contacts from Dallas or Philadelphia were faring. They would discuss their children’s virtual schooling or local conditions before
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Shannon Ogletree, executive director of the Santa Rosa Economic Development Office, has gotten used to conducting conferences with business site selectors virtually but looks forward to the full reopening of the economy and the resumption of face-to-face meetings.
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER G PHOTOGRAPHY (OGLETREE) AND COURTESY OF LEONARDO COMPANY
seguing into the advantages of one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. And, the advantages are abundant. “The county’s aggressive land pricing, cash incentives, lower property and personal income taxes and quality and quantity of available labor are pushing people to look to Santa Rosa County,” Ogletree reported. As the product of activity in the past year alone, Ogletree anticipates that about seven groundbreakings will take place over the next two to three years. Big names are rolling in, but local businesses, too, are flourishing, thanks in part to the SREDO’s rolling out of COVID-ı9 business relief grants. And, Santa Rosa County continues to grow “leaps and bounds,” said Ogletree. “In terms of growth census data that will come out later this summer, I’d say we’re growing between 2.5 to 3 percent per year. There are over 3,000 counties, and we should be in the top 5 percent as one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.” Ogletree estimates new data will put Santa Rosa County’s population at about ı80,000. That total includes some 80,000 people in the workforce, 45,000 of whom report to jobs in Escambia County for employment.
Leonardo Helicopters will become the first tenant at the Whiting Aviation Park. An agreement between Santa Rosa County and the U.S. Navy and a Triumph Gulf Coast grant were critical to the park’s realization. 850 Business Magazine
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Santa Rosa County Business Journal SPEC I A L R EPORT
Santa Rosa is looking to change the latter figure. “My biggest hope for Santa Rosa County is that we are no longer a bedroom community to Escambia County,” he said. “For so long, we’ve been the little brother. When people think Northwest Florida, I want them to think Santa Rosa County.” The solution lies in creating highend, high-paying jobs that will establish Santa Rosa County’s presence and create attractive opportunities for its residents. The Triumph Gulf Coast board, Ogletree said, has helped set that effort in motion. 24
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Triumph has doled out millions of dollars in grants to fund infrastructure at Santa Rosa County’s three large industrial parks. Without Triumph’s backing, Ogletree said, “We’d have nothing but slabs of dirt, a hope, a dream and a prayer.” At this writing, the Whiting Aviation Park in Milton is wrapping up Phase I of its $ıı million infrastructure project, which has helped attract its first tenant, Leonardo Helicopters. The international manufacturer has committed to a ı00,000-square-foot facility within the aerospace and aviation park and pledges to create 40 to 50 highwage jobs upon its completion.
A $6 million infrastructure project is currently underway in Santa Rosa Industrial Park East. The ıı2-acre park, which targets manufacturing, already has three companies joining its first tenant, Cape Horn, a creator of high-end, offshore fishing boats. They are: n Project O’Brother, a company specializing in industrial powder coating. n Project Hard Metal, a metal stamping and computerized numerical control (CNC) machine manufacturer. n Project Induction, industrial manufacturers of renewable energy systems.
PHOTOS BY STEPHAN VANCE / RPI FILE PHOTOS
The Santa Rosa Industrial Park, already home to the boat builder Cape Horn, will soon see the arrival of three additional companies: a company specializing in industrial coatings; a metal stamper and computerized numerical control machine manufacturer; and a maker of renewable energy systems.
The future tenants will make capital investments totaling more than $22 million at the park and employ ıı0 people in above-average-wage jobs. Too, ı5 acres at Santa Rosa Industrial Park East will become home to Pensacola State College’s new truck driver training facility. Ogletree said talent developed there will surely land jobs at the Northwest Florida Industrial Park at I-ı0, which hosts logistics and distribution operations. The use of $3.5 million in Triumph funds has brought about 88 project-ready acres at the I-ı0 industrial park. The park offers immediate access to the northern
Gulf Coast region via the interstate, and the Pensacola International Airport, offering direct flights to major cities, is only a 25-minute ride away. That matters said Ogletree. “A company in one of our existing industrial parks, Gulf Cable, has headquarters in the New Jersey/New York area, and we know having direct flights helps them. And, it helps us see what cities we should be looking at.” So far, the I-ı0 industrial park has confirmed two occupants. Project Yummy will see to the construction of a $2.5 to $3 million, 25,000-square-foot distribution facility that will employ 30 workers. “Project
Lionheart” will employee 90 people upon the construction of a $5.2 million, ı00,000square-foot distribution center for pharmaceutical and medical devices. Both entities have promised jobs that pay well over the average wage in Santa Rosa County. Ogletree likens attracting business in Santa Rosa County to catching lightning in a bottle. “It’s about being at the right place at the right time, and making sure you’re ready” he said. “Obviously, we don’t try to put all our eggs in one basket. But, we had a strategic plan done a few years ago with a site consultant who said, ‘No product, no project.’ If we didn’t have the assistance of Triumph, none of this would be possible.” Interviewed in April, Ogletree said the SREDO has three to four proposals ready to bring before the Triumph board in May. He suggested one would involve partnering with various educational institutions to bring about an all-purpose training school that will significantly feed into the county’s industrial parks. “It’s Lexus’ pursuit of perfection,” said Ogletree. “Santa Rosa County can never be good enough. If we think we are, then somebody’s passing us by.” 850 Business Magazine
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Santa Rosa County Business Journal SPEC I A L R EPORT
Erica Grancagnolo, the associate director at Santa Rosa Economic Development, heads up infrastructure development at the Whiting Aviation Park. Despite the pandemic, the project has proceeded on time and on budget.
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Ready for Takeoff Aviation park adds to county’s attractiveness BY HANNAH BURKE
PHOTOS BY JENNIFER G PHOTOGRAPHY (GRANCAGNOLO) AND COURTESY OF SANTA ROSA COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (SIGN)
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rica Grancagnolo was fresh from a meeting with the Santa Rosa County Commission where conversation took place about a potential project at the Whiting Aviation Park. Such discussions are happening regularly now that the first phase of construction at the 239-acre commercial/ industrial park is nearing completion and attracting the attention of potential tenants. Grancagnolo, the associate director of the Santa Rosa Economic Development Office (SREDO), doesn’t mind. As a woman committed to doing what she can to make Santa Rosa County a better place for people to live and work, she is excited by the seeds of economic development and the potential that they represent. “I’m excited to report that construction is in full swing, and we expect it to finish on time and on budget by early summer,” said Grancagnolo, who heads the Whiting Aviation Park infrastructure project. “The park looks really beautiful. The massive stormwater pond has been installed, and most of the water and sewer infrastructure is in. The earthwork has been taken care of, and it’s looking great out there.” She’s giddy about the road currently being paved to Don Salter Boulevard, which leads to the park and bears the name of the longtime county commissioner who devoted 20 years to working to make the project happen. But as construction at the park’s first 68 acres ends, an even bigger undertaking begins.
“While we don’t have a start date or all the funding lined up for Phase II, we will turn our focus to constructing a taxiway that will enable civilian tenants of our park to utilize the runway and control tower on the base,” Grancagnolo said. “Because we’ll be building on U.S. Navy property, it’s going to require a lot of coordination.” Construction of the Whiting Aviation Park, which lies adjacent to Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, relies upon a limited-access use agreement between Santa Rosa County and the Navy. The agreement allows for up to 75 operations by civil aircraft per day, including access to 6,000 feet of the Navy’s two, bi-directional runways.
The Whiting Aviation Park, which adjoins Naval Air Station Whiting Field, was a dream that County Commissioner Don Salter worked for many years to realize. He long saw the potential for synergies between the Navy and the private sector. An agreement provides for runway sharing. 850 Business Magazine
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Funding for the $ı0 million infrastructure project came by way of Triumph Gulf Coast, whose investment in Santa Rosa County has been “transformational,” Grancagnolo said. “We’re looking forward to their continued support and know we wouldn’t have this project without them. Companies won’t come if we don’t have shovel-ready sites.” That is, unless, you’re Leonardo. The aerospace company, with U.S. headquarters in Pennsylvania, is the eighth largest defense contractor in the world and Whiting Aviation Park’s first official tenant. Upon winning a contract in 2020 to replace the Navy’s fleet of TH-57 training helicopters, Leonardo committed to construction of a ı00,000-squarefoot customer support center that will employ up to 50 people. “Attracting a big name like Leonardo certainly puts us on the map,” said Grancagnolo. “I know for them time is of the essence, and they’re moving as quickly as possible to establish their presence here in Santa Rosa County.” 28
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According to Shannon Ogletree, director of the SREDO, the facility’s construction has an ı8- to 24-month timeline. In the interim, he said, Leonardo is set to operate out of a new hangar at Prince Peter Airport in Milton by early June. “Leonardo’s CEO was just here (this spring) and like what they’re seeing,” said Ogletree. “Our focus now is working with them on the placement of the Whiting Aviation Park facility and all its nuances.” Ogletree said Leonardo put their faith in Santa Rosa County, recognizing its strong military presence and abundant, experienced workforce. (The area is currently home to about 34,000 military retirees and gains around 2,400 retirees per year.) A strong talent pipeline from the area’s military installations isn’t the only incentive for the park’s potential tenants, however. “Our board of county commissioners has been very forward thinking in terms of economic development, and that’s
why we have successes like Leonardo,” said Grancagnolo. “One thing our board has approved is land pricing guidelines for our industrial parks, so we’re able to discount land based on the number of jobs created, the wages of those jobs and capital investment.” Too, there is the opportunity of establishing a relationship with Space Florida, an economic development association devoted to shaping the state’s next generation of aviation and aerospace businesses. Grancagnolo said Space Florida will work with the park’s companies on facility and equipment financing, which will result in many long-term benefits. Ogletree said that while no new companies have yet committed to Whiting Aviation Park, two entities are currently “kicking the tires.” “Now that we have Leonardo, people are starting to see that something must be going on in Santa Rosa County,” he said. “We’re getting a lot more looks from companies that wouldn’t have even considered us before.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEONARDO COMPANY
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PROMOTION
Annual Economic Symposium gathers region to discuss development, growth Peter Zeihan
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he future of Northwest Florida and its growth and development are the topics of discussion at Gulf Power’s annual Economic Symposium, hosted at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Sept. 14–15. “Our Economic Symposium is THE regional event with a robust agenda focused on building and growing a sustainable business climate in Northwest Florida,” said Sandy Sims, external relations director and emcee for the event. “It’s important to have the conversations that focus our attention on the impactful elements that move our region forward.” The annual event brings together local, regional and state business and community leaders for networking and discussion on Northwest Florida. Topics range from economic outlook to motivational issues. This year’s day-and-a-half-long event will feature speakers on a variety of topics, from the region and state economic outlook to geopolitical strategy. Frequent guest Florida Chamber Foundation Chief Economist Dr. Jerry Parrish will discuss economics, while geopolitics expert and keynote speaker Peter Zeihan will be returning to the 2021 event, having spoken at a previous Symposium.
To register for the 24th annual event, check out the Gulf Power Economic Symposium website at GulfPowerSymposium.com.
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There are alsozoning breaks on sales and use taxes forexperience logistics implementation te iaison taxequipment development permitting skill incentives population transportation development expe and electricity. access site selection access trained certification gas acreage owner water site selection access tr personnel results industry owner logistics location distribution cut red tape acreage electricity av transportation results implementation workforce manufacturing zoning connection certific ndustry location distribution electricity certification results workforce manufacturing expe Find out how Rosacut County can industry sweeten skill transportation electricity results develop zoning connection siteSanta selection red tape access tax personnel water your bottom line. Giveacreage us a call owner today. logistics population location distribution skill ind workforce electricity transportation certification results manufacturing cut red tape experience z connection location implementation liaison aviation permitting skill population aviation ince Contact Shannon Ogletree today. development expediting water access site selection trained personnel gas acreage ownership lo (850) 623-0174 • shannon@santarosa.fl.gov workforce cut red tape location industry transportation results labor certification water distrib or visit SantaRosaEDO.com manufacturing electricity connection location zoning experience aviation implementation te Business Magazine | SUMMER 2021 | 31 permitting development skill population transportation incentives850expediting access liaison pers
Santa Rosa County hits the incentive sweet spot for aviation and aerospace companies.
Santa Rosa County Business Journal SPEC I A L R EPORT
The Navarre area’s natural assets include spectacular Gulf beaches that account for strong bed tax collections. Navarre Beach is rich in places to watch the water and, in season, that football rivalry that can’t come around often enough.
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Growth Management For some in Navarre, the time for incorporation has come BY HANNAH BURKE
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANTA ROSA COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
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ccording to T.J. Goulet, there’s never been a better time to be in business in Navarre. The entrepreneur, business consultant and former Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce CEO points to restaurants, such as Samurai Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, who have experienced record years and can’t seem to hire enough people. Tourism has fully rebounded to pre-pandemic numbers, propelling retailers such as Broxson Outdoors, a fishing charter and sporting goods rental company, toward unprecedented sales. Goulet’s 6-month-old plumbing business is so busy, he can hardly keep up. His established auto sales and rental company is selling vehicles as fast as he can get them. He’s not sounding an alarm, but for Goulet, this success sparks urgency. “We have to make sure we’re investing in Navarre now so we continue to enjoy this activity ı0 to ı5 years from now,” he said. Today, Navarre is a smallish, unincorporated, censusdesignated community along U.S. 98 that about 37,000
people call home. Although it trails Pensacola with the second-largest population along the Emerald Coast, Goulet said the Navarre area will never be like its “bigger, wealthier neighbor.” And that, he says, is just fine. “We don’t have the size or the desire,” Goulet said. “But, we have to plan for what we really want, which is for our beaches to stay uncrowded and for our lifestyle to stay simple and enjoyable but capable of generating revenue for the county.” A future focus on the tech sector, Goulet said, may be just the ticket. Discussion of a Navarre area technology center for education and business development began during Goulet’s chamber tenure, around 20ı9. The pandemic all but halted such conversation, he admitted, but he’s not giving up hope. “Mediacom, Cox and AT&T were all chamber members, and Cox had just come into the area with their fiber optic cable,” Goulet said. “We were able to get a great understanding of fiber optics and how, in Navarre, 850 Business Magazine
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Santa Rosa County Business Journal SPEC I A L R EPORT
it runs in one directional from east to west. If one line goes down, we have another in place, and that’s unique.” Goulet, who established a career in Philadelphia as a web developer, said his office next to Westchester University didn’t have such an advantage, and it was located within a technology park. After living in Navarre from ı999 to 2002, Goulet expressed interest in moving back to the area in 20ıı, but the data infrastructure in place at the time wouldn’t support his job. The introduction of fiber optic connectivity changed that, and in 20ı4, Goulet headed south. “I’m the example of who we can attract to south Santa Rosa County,” he said. “There are going to be millions of people who, as the pandemic ends, aren’t going to go back into the office. And if you don’t have to go back into the
While recognizing that the Navarre area relies heavily on tourism dollars, proponents of economic diversity believe the area has the potential to attract businesses in sectors including technology.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SANTA ROSA COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
office, you don’t have to live in the suburbs. You can live on the beach and bring your job with you.” As jobs become less tethered, Goulet recommends that Navarre make an effort to capitalize on the financial service industry. It might have a strong future in attracting banks, finance companies and mortgage lenders, he said. A close friend of Goulet once managed 90 people with offices on two floors of the Wells Fargo tower in Minneapolis. About two years ago, the department went remote. “Now the only person on those two floors is a custodian who passes through once a week with a dust mop,” Goulet said. “That team has one face-to-face meeting per month, and that’s happening everywhere. The key to getting those type of folks who make six figures or more is having access to communications, and Navarre has that.” Of course, he’s not ignoring the success of the tourism industry. According to Julie White, tourist development director at the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office, visitation to Navarre plays a vital role in growing Santa Rosa’s economy. “As we look at the recent bed tax collection over 20ı9 and 2020 and into the first quarter of 202ı, collections in Navarre Beach, specifically, lead among the county’s three regions,” White said. But, Goulet feels Navarre has potential for much more. Navarre boasts a beautiful beach but also comparatively affordable housing and quick access to the region’s interstates and airports. He expresses frustration in the county’s lack of investment in Navarre and its frequent dismissal of the area as a center of tourism, while Milton, Gulf Breeze and Pace are geared toward industry. Too, he believes Navarre’s unincorporated status hurts the community both financially and representationally. “Navarre was close to becoming a city, but the pandemic hit and disrupted the timeline,” Goulet said. Incorporation proponents “literally couldn’t collect a signature and, basically, had to start the process over.” Incorporating a city costs money, Goulet said, for marketing efforts and signature gathering. “There have to be reasons for individuals and businesses to write checks,” Goulet said. “I’m in favor of incorporation because I believe Navarre needs a strong voice that is closer to the people, versus one voice for the entire zip code at the county level.” That local voice might see to adequate investment in transportation infrastructure, Goulet said, and in recreational spaces and parks that would help attract more residents. Taxes might increase, he concedes, but progress would be made. “People are going to keep moving to Navarre, and we’re going to keep growing,” said Goulet. “The question is are we going to do so haphazardly, or are we going to take it by the reins? “If the beach is all Navarre ever is, we’re going to have the same problems tomorrow that we’re having today.”
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