COUNTY COMMISSIONER HARRIS REPORTS SOME 6000 PEOPLE COMING TO AREA WITH 7TH SPECIAL FORCES MOVE

In a recent briefing to my NW Florida Military Officer's Association by Wayne Harris, Okaloosa County Commissioner and Executive Director of the Crestview Chamber of Commerce noted below, big things are happening. With the 7th Special Forces Post ahead of schedule and troops being moved early to Crestview or some deciding to buy while now while rates and prices are low, you can see the area changing with restaurants, retail and other commercial popping up all over the place. It should be noted, this is just the group of the Army, we not even become to talk about what is happening with the massive military construction going on right now with the F-35 Training School at Eglin, which will bring approximately the same impact to the area if not more. When investing in the area, you need to understand your customer and I can tell you, our new customers have some unique needs and they will have a lot of money. Example, the Army Special Forces Group get a lot nice bonuses to stay in and when deployed to a hostile area, which they do, their salary during that time is tax free. With some 300 days a year deployed, that is over 75% of their pay tax free. A lot more deposable pay for things like a house, cars, electronics, and other investments. Need to learn more, give me a call.

Harris: Army Special Forces will have huge impact
Some 6,000 people are expected to make the move from Fort Bragg
By DUSTY RICKETTS
Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4448 dricketts@nwfdailynews.com   FORT WALTON BEACH — The look of Okaloosa County is changing.

Okaloosa County Commissioner Wayne Harris was the guest speaker Wednesday at the Northwest Florida Military Officer’s Association breakfast at Westwood Retirement Resort in Fort Walton Beach. Harris updated visitors on the latest reports of military growth related to the incoming Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). The 7th Special Forces Group, which includes 2,200 soldiers, is moving to Northwest Florida from Fort Bragg, N.C., as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure law. An additional 3,800 family members are expected to accompany them. The Army group will be based just south of Crestview on Eglin Air Force Base land. “The study we did showed the bulk of the folks will be coming to Okaloosa County, about 90 percent, and about 65 percent of those are projected to go to the north end of the county,” Harris said. “Three percent is expected to go to Santa Rosa County and 7 percent to Walton County. “That’s just projections,” Harris added. “That doesn’t mean that’s where they’re going to move. They’re going to go where they want to go. I just talked to a Realtor the other day who said they came in and went right to Pace.” The deadline to complete the move is Sept. 15, 2011. The largest influx of soldiers and family members is expected to arrive next July. Although Northwest Florida is accustomed to having a strong military presence, Harris said things differentiate the Army group from other military personnel in the area. Harris said most 7th Special Forces troops are away from home about 300 days a year. The mortality rate also is much higher than what the area is used to seeing, he added. It will be important for schools to be prepared to help with that situation. Harris also said the incoming troops and their families will have a huge financial impact on Okaloosa County and will help keep tax rates down. “The forecast for growth because of BRAC is about 10,000 jobs by 2015,” Harris said.