In a recent Beyond the Build podcast conversation, Jennifer Conoley, President and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, detailed how her organization’s regional coordination model is driving major economic development projects across 13 counties. By acting as a “professional matchmaker,” the group prevents internal competition and directs opportunities to appropriate local economic development professionals, resulting in over 1,500 announced jobs since 2020.
Key wins include Field International’s global headquarters moving from the United Kingdom to Pensacola, Point Blank Enterprises’ 300-job body armor manufacturing facility in Wakulla County, and Birdon’s planned 2,000-job maritime manufacturing expansion at the Port of Pensacola. The region’s competitive advantage is bolstered by six military bases within a 2.5-hour radius, generating approximately 5,200 military separations annually. A University of West Florida study found that 47% of separating service members want to stay in the region, making job opportunities a key retention factor.
Conoley emphasized that site readiness is critical, as evaluators seek to eliminate properties. The $1.5 billion Triumph Gulf Coast fund, derived from Deepwater Horizon settlements, provides patient capital for public-private partnerships without aggressive cash incentives. Looking forward, Florida’s Great Northwest recently received a $4.7 million Triumph grant to enhance its regional strategy for the next 5, 10, and 15 years. Conoley warns against complacency, stating, “You cannot take your foot off the gas pedal in this moment.”
For developers and investors, the region’s combination of regional coordination, quantifiable military talent, industrial land, and patient capital offers a compelling value proposition, particularly for aerospace, maritime, and advanced manufacturing projects. As Conoley notes, “Keep your eye on Northwest Florida. The pipeline is full.”
