JOB GROWTH ON THE RISE IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA

The following is a story by the Pensacola News Journal on January 9, 2011 addressing the jobs growth and influx of the 7th Special Forces and F-35 Training program. As noted, these decision will greatly impact the Northwest Florida in a major way. As I have noted on previous Blogs, the indirect impact is growing as more and more people are giving the Northwest Florida a strong look for both residential and commercial opportunities. Another note, this is not wishful thinking, it is happening NOW and to be honest, we are not ready now, however, things are happening to try to catch up.

Jobs march, fly into Pensacola area

Troy Moon • tmoon@pnj.com • January 9, 2011

The Army is marching into Northwest Florida, long a hotbed of Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel. The 7th Special Forces Group is being relocated from Fort Bragg, N.C., to Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County, bringing about 2,200 soldiers and their 3,800 dependents to Florida's Gulf Coast by September. Add to that an expected influx of about 1,500 airmen and their 2,500 dependents to Eglin as a result of the Department of Defense establishing its first F-35 Lightning II training wing at the base. That mean means 10,000 new Northwest Florida residents in 2011. And it's also the best jobs news for this area as the new year begins. Not just the jobs that the soldiers and airmen will fill. But the additional jobs that must be created to accommodate the needs of all the new residents. Unemployment still hovers between 10 percent and 11.6 percent, and there are at least 235,000 people unemployed in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Most of the new residents are expected to live in Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties, but there will be spillover to Escambia County. "There will be a direct effect on the Pensacola Metropolitan Area as a result of that move," said Jim Hizer, CEO of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. "They're bringing in 500 soldiers every month. And they're bringing their families. You're talking about 1,000 people a month moving to Northwest Florida. There's going to be an effect on housing. Small business is going to feel it. Secondary jobs will be created as a result.

More families, more jobs

The military additions at Eglin will create 3,389 secondary jobs across Northwest Florida this year and a projected 4,279 new jobs by 2015, according to a study by the Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development at the University of West Florida. The heaviest gains will be in construction (422 new jobs this year), retail services (910 new jobs) and business and financial management (363 new jobs). The 7th Special Forces Group is expected to complete its move into Northwest Florida by Sept. 15. "We're looking at 100 to 150 families moving into Santa Rosa County," said Pete Gandy, Team Santa Rosa's military affairs consultant. "Some are already here and looking for homes. And some of the dependents will be looking for jobs. And their addition will create jobs as well." Jim Breitenfeld of the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County said the Army's move into Eglin will have a projected $506 million impact on Northwest Florida this year, rising to more than $560 million by 2016. According to an Economic Development Council study, each new soldier will have a $230,000 annual impact on Northwest Florida. "By the year 2015, there will be many more jobs," Breitenfeld said, adding that those jobs are in addition to the military positions moving to Eglin. "It's a good thing. There's no negative that we can see at all."