What are our county leaders doing for us.

[30ashopper]

We do have a signifigant military component that has attracted a number of big tech contractors to the area. Expanding on that might be a possible direction. A business related tech center somewhere along I-10 might help, people working there could live anywhere along I-10 between pensacola and PC. There are plenty of ways to boost basic interest in something like that such as tax incentives, cheap land, and good infrastructure. The biggest road block is probably a lack of an educated work force. We could address that by improving tech related education at local schools.

 

[Smiling JOe]

We do have a signifigant military component that has attracted a number of big tech contractors to the area. Expanding on that might be a possible direction. A business related tech center somewhere along I-10 might help, people working there could live anywhere along I-10 between pensacola and PC. There are plenty of ways to boost basic interest in something like that such as tax incentives, cheap land, and good infrastructure. The biggest road block is probably a lack of an educated work force. We could address that by improving tech related education at local schools.

From what I understand, there is only one reason why Eglin is still in operation and growing, and maybe that is what daughette Matt was wanting -- Congressional pull.

As for addressing the educated workforce, Bay County leaders have recognized this, too, and is working with GCCC and FSU-PC. Walton County has only the Defunk campus of NW FL College (or whatever the new name is), and will soon be getting two buildings for a South Walton campus. Walton County offers tax credits, land, and decent infrastructure, with more on the way, and is very close to the newly coming PCB airport, as well as Eglin AFB. We just need a connected Congressman to twist arms of people to bring contracts and business to Walton County. In this troubled economy, there are only two types of businesses which thrive -- 1) Government and 2) Government support businesses. Washington DC is probably the only city in the USA which is still churning left and right, and always will.

 

[DuneLaker]

Why would you want to have a redundancy of ports? Freeport can handle large barges, and Port Panama City is huge. It is easy enough to truck any goods to either of these locations, without great costs.

From Walton County's Freeport port along Highway 20 to the new airport is a short direct path. Is Freeport closer/better than the Panama City port to the new airport in west Bay County? Will new proposed roads make the trip shorter, better or more direct for Walton County versus Bay?

 

[beachmouse]

Eglin's big advantage for general use is that they're got both land and water ranges, and that combination doesn't really happen elsewhere in the AF land holdings. So there are certain things that happen there because they can only really happen there.

The problems in recent years with holding jobs have come with attempts to peel off functions that could go elsewhere relatively easy. The big deal in recent years was an attempt to move weapons testing and development (which is a big deal high wage/high skill job base in the area) to Vandenberg in California in a back-handed way that was outside of the recently-completed BRAC plans of the time. Florida's congressional delegation did a good job of apparently getting that squashed.

 

[Smiling JOe]

dunelaker, Port Panama City is already up and running, with cranes to unload containers, etc. No need to reinvent the wheel. Trucking will be easy enough to either port. I don't understand how or where it is being planned, but I've read that plans are for the new PCB airport to have a more direct route for moving shipments to Port Panama City. I have no idea if this is by planned rail, or new road, or underground rail, or something totally different.

My only question, is what will we be producing in Walton County that we need to ship to the rest of the world. Any ideas?

 

[BeachSiO2]

My only question, is what will we be producing in Walton County that we need to ship to the rest of the world. Any ideas?

Widgets and RoundTuits would be my recommendation.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Just a thought, but if "we" developed intellectual technology, the technology could be shipped anywhere without freight, instantaneously, via the internet.

 

[DuneLaker]

dunelaker, Port Panama City is already up and running, with cranes to unload containers, etc. No need to reinvent the wheel. Trucking will be easy enough to either port. I don't understand how or where it is being planned, but I've read that plans are for the new PCB airport to have a more direct route for moving shipments to Port Panama City. I have no idea if this is by planned rail, or new road, or underground rail, or something totally different.

My only question, is what will we be producing in Walton County that we need to ship to the rest of the world. Any ideas?

Isn't there a significant import/export business - Blue Ridge right there on Highway 20 in Freeport? I think they already have big contracts with national toy stores and discount stores. I don't know if they have plans to expand or what they are doing today.

 

[Matt J]

We do have a signifigant military component that has attracted a number of big tech contractors to the area. Expanding on that might be a possible direction. A business related tech center somewhere along I-10 might help, people working there could live anywhere along I-10 between pensacola and PC. There are plenty of ways to boost basic interest in something like that such as tax incentives, cheap land, and good infrastructure. The biggest road block is probably a lack of an educated work force. We could address that by improving tech related education at local schools.

I thought you were against additional spending by our government? Is that unless it benefits you directly?

From Walton County's Freeport port along Highway 20 to the new airport is a short direct path. Is Freeport closer/better than the Panama City port to the new airport in west Bay County? Will new proposed roads make the trip shorter, better or more direct for Walton County versus Bay?

dunelaker, Port Panama City is already up and running, with cranes to unload containers, etc. No need to reinvent the wheel. Trucking will be easy enough to either port. I don't understand how or where it is being planned, but I've read that plans are for the new PCB airport to have a more direct route for moving shipments to Port Panama City. I have no idea if this is by planned rail, or new road, or underground rail, or something totally different.

My only question, is what will we be producing in Walton County that we need to ship to the rest of the world. Any ideas?

Keep in mind that some cargo is appropriate for planes and some is appropriate for ships. Other than the North West Florida Corridor plan I don't know of any additional roads. I have heard that the Bay Line RR would possibly have a branch to the new airport, but that again is just rumor.

Just a thought, but if "we" developed intellectual technology, the technology could be shipped anywhere without freight, instantaneously, via the internet.

Many of us already do that. ;-)

 

[wrobert]

dunelaker, Port Panama City is already up and running, with cranes to unload containers, etc. No need to reinvent the wheel. Trucking will be easy enough to either port. I don't understand how or where it is being planned, but I've read that plans are for the new PCB airport to have a more direct route for moving shipments to Port Panama City. I have no idea if this is by planned rail, or new road, or underground rail, or something totally different.

My only question, is what will we be producing in Walton County that we need to ship to the rest of the world. Any ideas?

Magee is already producing several things in Walton County that are being exported. I think mostly via truck. But I will let him speak to what they are if he desires.