VISION AIRLINES COMES TO FORT WALTON BEACH - NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNTIES ON THE HORIZON

Again, as I have told many of you. The eyes of the country and world are upon us. I only wish many of you could be with me at some of the meetings I attend, where plans for the future are being discussed. Many of the plans over the last couple of years are now being implemented and some of the more exciting things are yet to be released. With all of the troubles of the country and world, our area is poised to lead the country out of them. Housing starts and sells are flourishing with some of the ordered military making plans to arrive early before increase home prices, CONDO sales are increasing, yes, I said CONDO’s, commercial ventures are being planned to accommodate the BRAC troop movement, military technology is being given commercial application, which will increase jobs, and recent information from the DEP is the Oil Spill did not adversely affect of eco-system. With this being said, the futures bright for our area and we have a responsibility to make our tens of thousands of new residents welcome by providing them quality housing, shopping, and just plan “Southern Hospitality”.


By DUSTY RICKETTS
Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4448 dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  

Vision Airlines’ arrival at Northwest Florida Regional Airport will not only bring more tourists to the area, but will help boost business as well, according to local experts. Vision announced Wednesday that it will start offering twice-weekly flights to and from Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Miami. Paul Hsu, chairman of Hsu Enterprise Group and a member of President Barack Obama’s National Advisor y Council on Minority Business Enterprise, said those were good locations. Both sites open up new business hubs, especially Miami, which is a gateway to South America. “If you look at the (World Trade Organization), the trade between us and the South Americans will definitely increase over the next couple of years,” Hsu said. “The Miami connection is really going to seal that.” Larry Sassano, president of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, agreed. “We’ve never had a direct flight to Miami,” Sassano said. “I’ve been here since 1973 and I don’t remember any airport in Northwest Florida having a direct flight to Miami.” David Goetsch is vice president for community relations and workforce development at Northwest Florida State College and a member of Northwest Florida Regional’s strategic planning team. He said the South Florida and upstate New York locations are important hubs for local business people. “There’s not a downside to this airline coming here. It’s all good,” Goetsch said. “It opens up a whole new avenue of access for them,” he added. “It works in both directions, too. That works for people coming here as well as people going from here to wherever they have to go.”