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Economic Development Group Launches FloridaWest
July 1, 2015
The area’s newest economic development agency was announced Tuesday night.
The new organization, dubbed FloridaWest, announced its new name and provided a broad outline of its strategy for “building, growing, and sustaining the economic potential and prosperity of Northwest Florida.”
Former Gulf Power executive John Hutchinson, president of the FloridaWest board, said that Florida West was a product of a broader reorganization of economic development efforts in the area.
“In the past, the economic development department was part of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce. Late last year we moved the economic development staff out of the chamber and set up a separate organization, focused solely on economic development. Tonight we launch that new organization’s name, focus, and plans to build our economy even stronger,” said Hutchinson.
The unveiling ceremony launched the organization’s new name, logo, and strategic focus. According to the FloridaWest brochure, there are four key components to the organization’s efforts:
- Wealth Development – building individual, corporate, and community wealth that contribute to greater quality of life in the area
- Economic Partnerships – linking policy makers, educational institutions, private sector leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to maximize the economic potential of northwest Florida.
- Sustainable Growth - ensuring the longevity and prosperity of our existing business partners, clients, and the community.
- Transformed Workforce – working with local education partners to build and train a workforce that attracts new businesses and supports existing businesses.
Scott Luth, chief executive officer of FloridaWest, said that the new organization’s name and brand are a natural extension of its mission and the community it serves.
“When we were working on names for the organization, we wanted to incorporate some of the great aspects of our community. First, we are the westernmost part of Florida. As the late Mayor Whibbs used to say, we are the ‘Western Gate to the Sunshine State.’ We also believe that the concept of ‘the west’ has always been one that inspired exploration and opportunity,” said Luth.
“So, we decided that FloridaWest would mark us geographically, but also mark us culturally and send a message that this is a great place to do business,” Luth continued.
In the future, organizers said that FloridaWest would continue aggressively seeking new businesses to move to the area, while supporting policies and partnerships that build workforce skills and economic opportunity for the entire community.
Key sectors of the group’s focus include: financial and professional services; information technology and business outsourcing; offshore vessel service and support; aviation manufacturing and repair; cybersecurity and manufacturing.
Comments
3 Responses to “Economic Development Group Launches FloridaWest”
@jeepman- I see your corcern and it is a unfortunate possibility. But if this new organization is not just self serving and realy intends to represent our communities with the good intent that it deserves, then this organization should declare to be 100% transparent in ALL that they do and give our northwest communities updates on the progress that they have pledged to make. If this happens too daunting a task. Then I conclude that history in Northwest Florida is somewhat repetitive.
Just another effort to obtain taxpayer funds via grants, etc. from the county, state and feds.
And the “key components” stated above should be read as really being:
Wealth Development – building individual wealth that will contribute to greater quality of life for select individuals in the area.
Economic Partnerships – linking policy makers, educational institutions, private sector leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to maximize the economic potential of northwest Florida. Via rules and regulations that further entrench the “good ol boy bunch”
Sustainable Growth – ensuring the longevity and prosperity of our existing business partners, clients, also known as the “good ol boys” in the community.
Transformed Workforce – working with local education partners to build and train a workforce that is useless to new businesses and only supports existing businesses in the “good ol boys” network of back slappers.
After all, new businesses only mean more competition for workers.
Which means us “good ol boys” end up paying more for the workers we need.
Good luck with your efforts. There are many people with unused skills here…simply because there are no jobs for them to fill. The County commissioners only want tourists here, and they only pay a small amount into the economy.