Bay County targets aviation, marine, and distribution businesses for economic growth

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The Bay Economic Development Alliance is working to recruit multi-million dollar operations to Bay County, with a focus on aviation, marine, and distribution businesses.

Officials issued several updates at Wednesday’s EDA meeting as Bay County doubles down on the public-private partnership.

Becca Hardin and her team are trying to bring businesses the alliance identifies as sensible for the area.

“About 12 years ago, that while, it is fun and sexy and cool to be able to get like a ‘homerun’ project. You know, a big automotive OEM, original equipment manufacturer, like a Kia, like a Toyota. But we altered our strategy, and we started recruiting to hit singles and doubles,” Hardin said.

The focus is getting runs on the board at a more consistent rate while still bringing millions of dollars into the area.

Canadian boat manufacturer Voltari Marine Electric recently began a shift south with $13 million worth of grant help.

“We found an existing shipyard that’s already got infrastructure there and access to deep water that they will be working to build their U.S. operations here in Bay County,” Hardin said.

The company will hire around 300 new employees. Several aviation projects plan on hiring or breaking ground soon near the airport.

Bay County officials say they plan to meet the infrastructure demand as more companies bring more people to the area.

“We need a lot more asphalt in the county because of the growth and where it is occurring,” said Joel Schubert, Bay County manager. “Certainly, there are predictive models; it is not hard to figure out our main corridors are growing, especially up North, and we are addressing that.”

Bay County and the EDA are working together so that growth also means progress.

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