BIG PLANS FOR OKALOOSA ISLAND (FORT WALTON BEACH) WITH A GULF COAST MARINE LIFE CENTER AND ADVENTURE PARK

It looks like Fort Walton Beach and the surrounding areas are coming alive. Tourist have been in abundance with new visitors experiencing for the first time what the Emerald Coast has to offer.


Ideas hatching for Okaloosa property
=By KARI C. BARLOW 315-4438
@KariBnwfdn kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com  

OKALOOSA ISLAND — The county has received proposals to build a fish hatchery and an adventure park on a portion of the old Island Golf Center property. Okaloosa began advertising in January for revenue-generating ventures that would benefit the public and cover the cost of maintaining the property. Up for lease are a 2.8-acre tract along U.S. Highway 98 and a 4.4-acre parcel just east of the Emerald Coast Convention Center. The Destin-based nonprofit AquaGreen said they want to build the Gulf Coast Marine Life Center on the larger parcel. Dominion Capital, a partnership of three Destin area businessmen, has proposed building Wild Willy’s Adventure Island on the smaller tract. “We’ve had great success in the restaurant industry, and we feel like we can carry that over to this concept,” said Blake Rogers, manager of business development for Dominion Capital. According to the documents submitted to the county, Dominion plans to invest about $1.5 million in the development of the “family-oriented” entertainment center. Wild Willy’s would feature an almost 300-foot zip line over a lagoon, a ropes course, a hamster ball pool, a 30-foot rock wall and a Euro trampoline. “We’d leave the (existing) golf course,” Rogers said. “We’d remove that building. … We just want to build something that’s new and fresh, make some upgrades to the putt-putt.” Dominion also would build a 3,000-square-foot complex to house a Salvati’s Pizza Factory and a separate 600-square-foot facility for Moogurts, a frozen yogurt shop. Wild Willy’s could employ up to three full-time managers, 15 fulltime staff and up to 30 part-time workers. “We want to hire locally so that theoretically all the money that’s paid out … would be spent back in the community,” Rogers said. “It’s always good to hire locally.” Dominion has proposed paying the county $65,000 a year to lease the 2.8 acres for 10 years with two 10-year renewal options and an annual 3.5 percent increase every five years. Dominion is composed of Rogers, Paul Barcus and Bruce Morriss. The Gulf Coast Marine Life Center would include a fish hatchery with a proposed multiyear, 5,000,000 juvenile fish stock enhancement program of a variety of species, including cobia, Florida pompano, flounder, mahi-mahi, amberjack, red drum, speckled trout and sturgeon. The center would construct shellfish reefs to improve water quality and sea grasses and the use of re-circulated water and fish nutrients. The facility would be open to the public, offering aquatic exhibits, classrooms and research labs. The center would work in conjunction with several leading universities including the University of Florida, the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and the University of New Hampshire. “It’s a huge opportunity for this area to get that kind of expertise,” said Patrick Barcus, director of business development for AquaGreen. Patrick Barcus and Paul Barcus are brothers. Barcus said the old Island Golf Center property is well-suited to a hatchery because it’s close to Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. “For a hatchery to work, you’ve got to be close to a pass,” he said. “The farther you get away … your water quality goes down.” Barcus said the 4.4-acre parcel is among a handful of properties AquaGreen is considering for its marine life center and hatchery. The project “is not contingent” on leasing the Island Golf Center land, he added. “Hatcheries, if managed properly, are job incubators,” Barcus said. “I look at the hatchery as the start of the aquaculture industry in this area.” AquaGreen has proposed paying the county $75,000 a year to lease the 4.4 acres for 10 years with two 10-year renewal options and an annual 3.5 percent increase every five years. Dominion Capital also has pledged to donate a percentage of its profits — a market value of $36,000 — annually to AquaGreen. Both development proposals must be approved by Okaloosa County Commissioners. AquaGreen and Dominion Capital representatives will make presentations to commissioners at their June 5 and June 19 meetings.

F-35 PROGRAM IS ALIVE AND WELL, WITH THE INTERNATIONAL PILOTS ON THEIR WAY TO EGLIN AFB

Well my folks, as noted below, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is alive and well.  I have commented many times before, the impact of this training program being headquarters here at Eglin will have a tremendous impact on our local economy.  In fact, many have not truly understand it yet.  As we receive the international pilots, their families and support staffs to the area this summer, I can assure you there will be many more eyes on this area from around the globe.  There will be delegations from United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Turkey, Canada and Norway visiting and supporting their countrymen in their quest to pilot the most advanced aircraft in the world.  This will not be something we will see for just a year or two, it will be for many years to come.  As we speak, the U.S. is in negotiations with Japan, Israeli, and other U.S. allies in selling them the F-35, who will need their pilots trained. Basically, not only will we benefit from the technology and jobs this program will bring to the area, the tourism will increase, as well, as news reports identifies this area as the home for this program.  So, in closing, all these new visitors will want to enjoy what we have to offer, so let us show them why we are the “Emerald Coast”.

Eglin F-35 program beginning to take off

2 more jets arrived Thursday, another one expected next week

By DUSTY RICKETTS

315-4448 | @DustyRnwfdn  dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  

EGLIN AFB — Of the 25 F-35s that have been released to the Department of Defense, 11 of them have arrived and a 12th is expected early next week. Eglin Air Force Base’s latest F-35s, the fourth and fifth short takeoff-vertical landing Marine variants of the fighter jet, arrived Thursday afternoon. They will be used for pilot and maintainer training at the F-35 Integrated Training Center. A sixth F-35B was at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on Friday, but could come to Eglin as early as Monday. “It’s cleared its (U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency testing). We’re just waiting to make sure it can get down there with the weather,” said Michael Rein, director of communications for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program.        The local Joint Strike Fighters have been busy. Since the first flight March 6, they have flown 35 sorties and have logged 47.1 flight hours as of Friday, Rein said.  “We’re happy with the process so far,” he said. “We’re just really thrilled at how things are going at Eglin, and we only look for brighter and better days ahead.” This year is shaping up to be a big one for the F-35 program at Eglin. The first carrier variant of the fifth generation fighter is expected to be delivered by late summer or early fall, Rein said. Eglin also soon will host some of the program’s international partners. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Turkey, Canada and Norway have contributed to the development of the F-35 and have been involved with the program since 2002. They have committed to buying a total of about 800 of the jets. The United Kingdom’s first F-35 took its first test flight April 13 and is undergoing a series of company and government checkout flights before its acceptance by the U.K.’s Ministry of Defense. When those tests are completed, the jet will be flown to Eglin, where British pilots and maintenance crews will begin their training.

NEW GULFARIUM ADVENTURE PARK TO OPEN IN FORT WALTON BEACH MEMORIAL DAY

A further transformation of Fort Walton Beach and the adjacent Okaloosa Island is in the works to meet the enormous tourist demand placed on this area.  Other things are in the works, such as, the expansion of  “Fudpuckers” on Okaloosa Island, a favorite of locals and visitors.  Congratulations to all concerned.  Stay tuned, more updates to follow.

Gulfarium to reopen with new name

Added attractions will take the stage when the marine park reopens Memorial Day weekend

From staff reports

OKALOOSA ISLAND — A renovated Gulfarium will reopen Memorial Day weekend with new attractions and a new name.  The Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park will feature new exhibits, including the Penguin Feed, the Stingray, Bay Snorkel, Dolphin Splash Encounter and Ocean Odyssey. “People have known the Gulfarium for generations,” General Manager Patrick Berry said in a news release issued Thursday. “What we have done, with the new name and new look, is preserve the adventure and entertainment everyone has come to expect from us, but to expand and improve what we are doing. “I think people, tourists and locals alike, will find what they’ve always loved but will also be impressed with the renovations and new interactive programs.” The marine park has been closed since January while renovations have been under way. With the new exhibits, visitors will be able to swim with dolphins or stingrays, feed and pet a harbor seal, play with otters or spend five hours working side-byside with a marine mammal trainer.  The park also has an updated and more whimsical look, the news release said. “The look represents both the fun we offer while also with the color scheme and look that almost makes someone feel they are submersed in an aquatic world,” Berry said in the release.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER ON OKALOOSA COUNTY AS PROVIDED BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF OKALOOSA COUNTY

I really don’t see to say more.  Read on.

The Economic Development Council

of Okaloosa County, Florida

Kay Rasmussen kayr@florida-edc.org

VP Community & Economic Development www.florida-edc.org

January 2012

1

Okaloosa County 2011 Economic Position

With a population of 180,822, and housing the largest military installation in the United States,

Okaloosa County’s primary economic generator is the military; #2 is tourism supported by our

sugar-white beaches and endless water-sports activities. These two industry sectors are

supported by a strong service sector infiltrated by the technology-based industries. Okaloosa’s

population is projected to top 198,000 by 2015.

Military Impact

Joint Strike Fighter Initial Training Center

59 F-35 Aircraft

· $375 Million in MILCON

· 1,563 Personnel

o 1,716 dependents

· $2.1 Billion total 2010-2016

· $593 Million sustained in 2016 and beyond

· First Plane: 2011

· Last Plane: 2016

JSF Economic Impact

Cumulative Impact (2010 – 2016) 59 Aircraft

Gross Regional Product (Millions $) $1,668.9

Associated Population 4,432

Associated Employment 4,104

Year 2016 Impact and Beyond

Gross Regional Product (Millions $) $399.4

Associated Population 225

Associated Employment 11

7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

2011 Beddown

· $332 Million MILCON

· ~2,200 Personnel

o ~3,867 dependents

· First Battalion Arrives April 2011

· Last Battalion Arrives September 2011

7SFG(A) Annual Economic Impact

· 2011: $506,300,000

· 2016: $566,300,000

Okaloosa County and its neighboring counties offer a desirable workforce supplemented by the

retiring and otherwise separating military personnel that have chosen to stay in the area.

Okaloosa County Veterans and Total Population Comparison

Veteran

Population

Total

Population

Veteran % of

Population

2007 34,470 184,250 18.7%

2014 32,469 193,804 16.8%

2019 30,330 202,501 15.0%

Source: UWF Haas Center, EDC Retired and Separated Targeted Transition Study, 2009

County Veterans Retirees Annual

Santa Rosa 21,642 5,843 645

Okaloosa 34,634 10,401 2,711

Walton 6,415 1,694 34

Total 62,691 17,938 3,390

Source: Dr. Rod Lewis, UWF Haas Center 2010

Okaloosa County 2011 Defense Impact

Defense Spending ($Millions)

Procurement $ 1,431.0

Salaries 677.3

Pensions & Transfers 645.7

Total Defense Spending $ 2,754.0

Average Earnings Per Military Job $87,300

County Economic Impact1 $ 5.2 Billion

Employment 58,811 Jobs

Sales Activity $ 4.0 Billion

Consumption $ 3.3 Billion

Capital Investment $ 495.1 Million

Source: UWF Haas Center January 2011

Eglin AFB

Active Duty Military 9,283

Civilians 5,710

Hurlburt Field

Active Duty Military 8,000

Civilians 700

Northwest Florida Defense Impactlions)

Procurement $ 2.4

Salaries 1.7

Pensions & Transfers 2.1

Total Defense Spending $ 6.2

Average Earnings Per Military Job $83,168

Regional Economic Impact1 $ 14.3 Billion

Employment 178,758 Jobs

Sales Activity $ 12.8 Billion

Consumption $ 10.7 Billion

Capital Investment $ 1.9 Billion

Source: UWF Haas Center January 2011

Tourism

Florida received 82.3 Million visitors in 2010 with 10% of those visiting Northwest Florida's

Emerald Coast. Okaloosa County is in the Top-Five destinations for auto visitors; we are a

drive-to community.

Technology-Based Industry Sector

In August 2011, Forbes Magazine ranked Okaloosa County, the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-

Destin Metropolitan Statistical Area, in America’s Top-Twenty “Geekiest” Cities. The current

definition of “geek” is any worker with a bachelor’s level of knowledge and education in science

or engineering-related fields or workers in occupations that require some degree of technical

knowledge or training. The Science and Engineering Indicators utilized by Forbes, ranked the

top 20 cities in the United States by the percentage of workers with jobs in science, technology,

engineering and mathematics; the STEM industries.

Okaloosa County is the technology hub in Northwest Florida with over 275 technology-based

companies in centralized areas of Crestview and Fort Walton Beach; and growing! The highgrowth,

high-wage STEM industries are targeted for Okaloosa’s growth and recruitment. These

high-growth, high-wage industry sectors for the next five years include manufacturing,

information technology, professional business services, medical sciences, and financial based

industries.Despite the national economic condition and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, Okaloosa

County, located on the eastern Gulf of Mexico, has experienced significant growth in its existing

technology-based industries, as well as the recruitment of new companies into the area. In the

last year, Okaloosa has incurred new job growth of over 500 with a retainment of almost an

equal amount providing a median wage of $53,000.

On the horizon is a planned research and development center outside Eglin’s West gate which

will garner thousands of new jobs in a professional mixed-use development servicing hightechnology

commercialization. The ripple effect that will result from this development will

include service and supply industries contributing to the STEM clusters within Okaloosa County.

Future 100 acre Emerald Coast Technology & Research Center to be built in Shalimar, Florida

adjacent to the University of Florida Research and Engineering Education Facility.

Adjacent to this research center is a planned autonomous vehicle research, development and

testing facility. This innovative collaboration will sustain hundreds of jobs and facilitate

multiple spin-off industries; both horizontally and vertically.

JOBS, JOBS, AND MORE JOBS BEING PLANNED FOR CRESTVIEW

As promised, the economic future of Crestview gets brighter and brighter. All I can say, and continue to say, you haven’t seen anything yet, as many more initiatives to bring more prosperity to Crestview and the surrounding area are in the works. With this said, one of the biggest challenges will be, where are these people going to shop? Hopefully, lending world will cooperate to assist our local developers in the local area to meet this targeted growth in the Crestview area.

Firms eyeing Crestview could bring hundreds of jobs
Growth potential is ‘phenomenal’ in the area, EDC representative says
By BRIAN HUGHES
682-6524 @cnbBrian brianh@crestviewbulletin.com  
CRESTVIEW — Four companies could bring more than 300 jobs to town, according to Kay Rasmussen, vice president of community and economic development for the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council. Rasmussen made the announcement at a recent Crestview City Council meeting. Of the 25 projects the EDC is pursuing, half are in the Crestview area, said Rasmussen, who noted that “four are strong candidates.” Because of confidentiality laws, she could not identify the firms, although it is known that “Project Pill” is an ongoing effort to lure Alabama-based Southern Pharmaceutical to open a plant in Crestview. “Project Pill is in the final stage of negotiations,” Rasmussen said. “Project Pill has restructured what they are looking for. It would result in an increased capital investment as well as an increased number of jobs. The EDC is working with them on their needs. We’re very confident this is going to happen and we’re working with them to meet their new needs.” Project Clark, an effort to lure a business to open in Crestview’s city limits, and Project Indian, another effort to locate a firm just outside the city, are new undertakings. Their combined projects “will contribute over 300 new jobs,” Rasmussen said. “Project Qwest II, this is a very promising project,” she also reported. “It would locate a corporate headquarters here along with a 100,000-square-foot refurbishing center and would create approximately 75 to 100 new jobs.” Rasmussen said the expansion of Qwest Air Parts, one of Bob Sikes Airport’s newest tenants, possibly might be accomplished with BP funds from the Restore Act, which allocates money to create new jobs in areas affected by the 2010 oil spill. “The trend that everyone is seeing is the growth potential that is actually taking place in and around the city,” Rasmussen said after the presentation. “It is phenomenal.”

MORE FOLKS IN THE COUNTRY HAVE FOUND THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA A PLACE TO VACATION - TOURISM RECORDS CONTINUE TO BE BROKEN

As Mark Bellinger of the Tourist Development Council has noted, The Emerald Coast should have a record breaking year. Our sister company, Southern Resorts, one of the top vacation rental companies in our area, has reported reservations for deep into the year and have been made. As seen by the large amount of traffic in the Fall and Winter, it is quite obvious a large amount of Baby Boomers/Snow birds are making the Panhandle a place to call home during this time of year.

Strong spring tourism buoys hope for summer
By MATT ALGARIN and JORDAN SWANSON
The Destin Log
DESTIN — Spring breakers come for the sun, surf and sand. But they stay for the shopping and snacking. “We’ve spent a lot of money at the restaurants at HarborWalk,” said Marlee Ketelaar, 16, from Howell, Mich., who was lying out on the beach behind Jetty East recently with her family. Ditto for Ashley Petty from Louisville, Ky. “I would say, for our family, we’ve probably spent $150 a day going to breakfast, getting gas, buying food, shopping at Target — $150 to $200 a day,” said Petty, who was tanning on the beach behind The Islander with a large group of friends and family. It all adds up to a successful 2012 spring break. “The Emerald Coast 2012 spring break period’s average overall lodging occupancy percentage and total visiting guests number will come in ahead of goal,” Okaloosa County Tourist Development Director Mark Bellinger said. “Emerald Coast bed tax collections for the spring break period are estimated to be a 17 percent cumulative increase in 2012 compared to the same period in 2011.“ Bellinger said he expects similar numbers for the next few months. “TheTDCstill anticipates a record-breaking summer season for attendance, but predicts tourism-related discretionary spending will decrease,” he said. HarborWalk Village, Destin Commons and Silver Sands Factory Stores reported strong sales. “The spring season was an encouraging and enthusiastic launch of what we hope to be the best all-time season in Destin Harbor tourism/visitor history,” Hall said. Still, the beach was the place to be. Destin Beach Safety Chief Joe D’Agostino said that before April 6 the beaches saw almost 300,000 visitors in the first 30 days his lifeguards were on duty. “It was certainly a record-breaking pace,” he said. If those numbers hold for the eight months lifeguards patrol the beaches, it would be a record 2.4 million people. The spring saw one drowning near the jetties, an area not patrolled by the beach safety team. Michele Nicholson with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office said spring break went pretty smoothly. She said one significant difference this year was that many students rented houses in the Crystal Beach area and had large parties in which they could walk from house to house. “There were several weeks, especially at the beginning of the season, that were exceptionally busy on the beaches due to great weather and many of the SEC schools having simultaneous breaks, but no major crime-related issues,” she said.

TOURIST FLOCK TO THE PANHANDLE OF FLORIDA IN RECORD NUMBERS IN FEBRUARY 2012

Another record breaking month for tourism in the Panhandle of Florida. With the help of BP with their marketing dollars, many more areas of the country have found the Panhandle of Florida to be a place to visit and get away from it all. In a meeting with Southern Resorts, one of the area’s Vacation Rental Company; they noted they are expected to have a banner year.

Okaloosa bed tax collections set February record
Walton, Santa Rosa revenues also rise
By DUSTY RICKETTS
315-4448 @DustyRnwfdn dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  
Having a county break a record for the amount of bed taxes collected in a given month now happens so frequently it’s beginning to be the norm rather than the exception. The trend continued in February when Okaloosa County collected $437,614 in bed taxes, a 19.7 percent increase from last year and the best February on record. While not record-breaking, Walton and Santa Rosa counties also posted gains over last year. “Everybody is doing really, really well,” said Kate Wilkes, executive director of the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council. “The predictions for spring break have been great and summer reservations are up. Everybody is thrilled. You can just tell by the cars around. It’s amazing.” Bed taxes are collected on short-term rentals in Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties. The revenues are used primarily to promote the area to potential tourists. Martin Owen, regional marketing director for ResortQuest, said a strong snowbird presence contributed to the good winter season this year. ResortQuest operates more than 3,000 vacation rentals in Northwest Florida and southern Alabama. “We were certainly up on the previous year (in February),” Owen said. “It’s been a good snowbird season for us. We’ve had more of them from wider destinations and they stayed longer, which is nice.” In Walton County, $444,324 in bed taxes was collected in February, an increase of 23 percent from February 2011 and only about $55,000 shy of its top February in 2007. “It was very exciting for us to see the numbers the way they came in,” said Dawn Moliterno, executive director of Walton’s Tourist Development Council. “We’re very fortunate to have good bed tax collectors that partnered with us, and as a result the marketing was very strategic.” Santa Rosa’s bed tax collections were up 5.7 percent, from $44,322 collected in February 2011 to $46,834 this past February. Tourism professionals in all three counties expect the strong winter and spring season to carry over into summer. “Overall, advance lodging reservations on the Emerald Coast are still looking strong for this summer season,” Mark Bellinger, executive director of the Okaloosa County’s Tourist Development Council, wrote in an email. Owen said ResortQuest is working with Visit Florida and local tourist development councils to promote the region in the Washington/Baltimore area to take advantage of US Airways’ new direct flights between Northwest Florida Regional Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The company also hopes to beef up summer traffic by promoting outside the normal drive-to destinations, including some international locations. “At the moment, things are shaping up very well,” Owen said. “It looks good for us. We’re having a very good spring break and we’re seeing good signs for the summer. We’re not relying purely on the traditional markets. We’re trying to expand our market and go into new markets, and hopefully that’s having an effect on ResortQuest