Latest news with #BeccaHardin
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local economic projects pursue Triumph Gulf Coast funding
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Walton County Commission Chambers Annex was filled with anticipation Wednesday as community leaders and stakeholders gathered to see which economic development projects would secure approval for Triumph Gulf Coast funding. 'We brought three projects to the board for consideration in Bay County,' said CEO of Bay EDA Becca Hardin. 'Two are related to aviation, and one is tied to port expansion. There's a lot of momentum in our region right now.' The first project to receive approval was Project Clear, a commercial and residential glass company planning to expand its operations to the Port of Panama City. The company is requesting up to $3.7 million in grant funding to support the move. 'They're currently at capacity at their existing facility,' Hardin explained. 'They already use our port to import raw materials from Mexico, and they've been looking to expand. Fortunately, we found a suitable building—ironically, one owned by the Bay County Commission.' Also moving forward is Project Spinner, a major aviation initiative with a three-part expansion plan. The company recently acquired a building in the City of Lynn Haven and is set to build an engine maintenance center at the local airport. In addition, they will invest $70 million into a cutting-edge engine testing facility, also at the airport. The project is expected to create 500 jobs and represents a $107 million capital investment, making it one of the largest projects ever announced in partnership with the Bay County Airport Authority. Rounding out the approvals, Florida's Great Northwest strategic plan, United Forward, is advancing to the next stage. 'This is a two-pronged approach to economic development and market activation,' said Florida's Great Northwest CEO Jennifer Connelly. Over five years, we'll see $4.7 million invested in amplifying Northwest Florida's business brand. It's a transformative step forward for our region's economic strategy.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New manufacturing project set to create 40 jobs in Bay County
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) — The Bay Economic Development Alliance held its investors meeting on Tuesday and announced a new project may be coming to Bay County. The Bay EDA announced that Oxford Technologies Corporation will be establishing a manufacturing operation in Bay County. Oxford Technologies creates the leading abrasion strip for the Black Hawk rotor blade. They are a key contributor to Sikorsky Aircraft. The company will make a capital investment of more than $7.5 million and create 40 new jobs in Bay County. They'll be leasing an existing manufacturing facility in the original Bay County Industrial Park on Highway 231. Officials say Oxford Technologies chose Bay County to tap into local talent and for its proximity to local military bases. 'For many years, we've had an aviation mechanics program and think program at Haney Technical College, and we pump out great students. Still, we've never really had any maintenance companies in our airport. Before the students were being trained, they had to leave our community because we didn't have jobs for them,' Bay EDA President and CEO Becca Hardin said. 'We want people to have good jobs so that they can enjoy the amenities of our community, specifically the retired military. We have six military bases, our area, and they retired at a relatively young age. 38- 40 years old. And because we live in paradise, it's incumbent upon our team to bring in companies like we did today, so that people who are retired from the military to stay in our community still have a role.' 'Initially, it'll just be the leading-edge abrasion trip, but it goes across many different aircraft. They're all supposed to be helicopters, but there are commercial ones, there are military ones. But that's just how we initially plan on starting the company. With all the air force bases and naval bases here, there's a lot of defense contracting, and there's a lot we can do to help service that industry,' Oxford Technologies Corporation Vice President Jake Stearns said. The project is 16 months in the making. Oxford Technologies has eight employees now and is hoping to have 12 by the end of the year. Bay EDA also recently brought IAG AeroGroup and Premier Aviation to Bay County, making the area an upcoming aviation hub. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
