WHY IS NORTHWEST FLORIDA SO ATTRACTIVE TO BUSINESSES?

In a recent Florida Trend news story in October 2011, writer describes why Northwest Florida is so attractive to businesses. Read on and learn why yourself.

Northwest Florida
By Christine Jordan Sexton - 10/10/2011

Florida's capital city Tallahassee boasts two public universities, a highly educated workforce and a growing R&D sector. Northwest Florida's abundant pine forests, meandering rivers, natural springs, sugar white beaches and nearly year-round sunshine have long made this region a favorite destination for visitors. Along with a thriving tourism economy, the 16-county region is also home to strong aviation/aerospace and defense sectors and a burgeoning market for research and development. And this region is growing by leaps and bounds. U.S. Census data shows that seven Northwest Florida counties grew 15% between 2000 and 2010; Santa Rosa, Walton and Wakulla swelled by 25%.

Affordability may well be the reason. Most housing in the region is priced below the state's median home value of $211,300. And Northwest Florida's population is younger than in many other regions in Florida, which translates into a ready and growing workforce adept at using the latest technologies.

Who Lives Here:
Northwest Florida has a labor force of more than 661,000. It is home to four of the state's 20 MSAs, including Florida's capital city, Tallahassee. The area also boasts bustling urban centers like Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City.

Military personnel: Approximately 40,000 well-trained military personnel. Some 8,000 retire or resign from military service to enter the region's workforce each year — many of them with advanced technical training and highly desired industry credentials.

Students: 60,000-plus students in the region's eight colleges and universities, including Florida State University, Florida A&M University and the University of West Florida.
A growing creative class: In Tallahassee — Florida's state capital and the region's largest city — the share of the workforce with college degrees is almost double the national average.

Northwest Florida: At A Glance
Regional Assets
Universities/Colleges• Chipola College• Florida A&M University• Florida State University• Gulf Coast State College• Northwest Florida State College• Pensacola State College• Tallahassee Community College • University of West Florida
Airports• Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport • Northwest Florida Regional Airport • Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport• Tallahassee Regional Airport
Seaports• Port Panama City• Port of Pensacola• Port St. Joe