Bay County recognized as a Great American Defense Community

Bay County has been selected as one of five communities nationwide to receive the 2019 Great American Defense Community recognition.

The announcement was made at the Bay County Chambers of Commerce First Friday. Communities are recognized for their commitment to improve the lives of service members, veterans and their families as a model for all communities.

"The timing couldn't be better. This is something that really boost our morale, we know that Tyndall is coming back strong, we know the Navy Base will be great and just getting this reassurance, the rest of the country will look at us as a model for bringing back all this devastation is very important," President of the Bay Defense Alliance Tom Neubauer said.

The county will be recognized at the Association of Defense Communities Installation Innovation Forum's annual summit in Washington D.C. in June.