PANAMA CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DRIVING BUSINESS TO OUR AREA

The Panama City International Airport ground opening is next month and is already showing a lot of promise and attention to our community. It is still amazing when you speak to some business leaders and visitors and they still have doubt that the Panama City International Airport is opening next month. I say folks, take a drive and visit the Airport. It is here and almost ready to open. The question will be, who is going to be ahead of the curve and take advantage of this growth. This is no pipe dream. Our Emerald Coast is a treasure for the world, but some just don't get it. Maybe they should leave this country and you will understand why. With all of the troubles our country might have, it is still the GREAT PLACE ON EARTH. If you don't believe me, ask some of the workers around here from other country doing all of the service work. Once they get here, they appreciate what we have and don't want to leave.


Piloting Growth in NW Fla.By Charlotte Crane - 5/1/2010

Set to open late this month, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is already showing promise as the economic catalyst that business leaders want for the region.

Janet Watermeier, executive director of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, says one company, Coast WET of California, has already moved its headquarters to the area; two others are considering airport locations. "We're out in the market now talking to real estate and corporate executives," says Kevin Johnson, St. Joe vice president for economic development.
St. Joe itself is moving its headquarters to a site adjacent to the airport, relocating from its 75-year home in Jacksonville. The new headquarters, scheduled for completion by summer 2011, will also consolidate offices from Tallahassee, Port St. Joe and south Walton County.

Business leaders predict the airport eventually will form the nucleus of an entire new central business district. The facility also will help capture tourists from far outside the southeast market and lead to a surge in industrial development, they say. "It will be an airport city," says airport director Randy Curtis.

The airport, Florida's newest, encompasses 1,300 acres and a 130,000-sq.-ft. terminal, both twice the dimensions of the airport it replaces, and with room to grow. Service will include first-time daily non-stop flights to Houston, Nashville, Baltimore and Orlando by prized new connector Southwest Airlines.

"This will allow us to reach audiences that can come and experience Panama City Beach for the first time," says Bay County Tourist Development Council executive director Dan Rowe. Bay County and the Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council together have pledged more than $3 million per year from a fifth penny on bed taxes for use in joint marketing with low-fare airlines, 90% dedicated to Southwest.

The airport's West Bay site is part of 75,000 untapped acres owned by St. Joe Co., of which 40,000 acres are designated for preservation and more than 33,000 programmed for development; 1,000 acres are targeted to be occupant-ready within two years. Runway proximity gives the site appeal for aerospace, transportation and logistics industries. Altogether, says Johnson, "I don't think there's another asset in our region remotely close to what we have."