FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance’s current multi-year strategic plan has come to an end and the organization is launching a new 5-year plan in partnership with PEDC, Escambia County, The City of Pensacola, and other partners and community stakeholders.
Economic development expert and VisionFirst Advisors’ President & CEO Gray Swoope will present the recommended plan to stakeholders on Oct. 25, 2022 at the Studer Community Institute Community Room. For more than 30 years, Swoope has led public and private economic development organizations in multiple states. His company, VisionFirst, was contracted to develop this new plan.
“Pensacola and Escambia County have experienced a great deal of success over the last five years. But with today’s ever-changing economy, it was time to look ahead. The plan delivered today allows FloridaWest to focus on optimizing assets of the region for targeted industries while advancing innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Swoope.
The new 5-year strategic plan emphasizes three main strategic goals: business recruitment, business retention and expansion and the facilitation of innovation and entrepreneurship — industry standards for effective economic development in any region.
“This plan gives us a strategic heading for the future,” said Scott Luth, CEO of FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance. “FloridaWest will continue to work to increase capital investment and high wage jobs by attracting new businesses to our area, retaining and expanding our own businesses and helping our entrepreneurs grow. We’re excited for what the future holds for the Pensacola area and are already working toward our new goals.
“I’m super proud of our team, our partners and stakeholders in what we’ve been able to accomplish these last several years,” said Luth. “ST Engineering is one very significant achievement that stands out. We were able to help secure $250 million in funding to attract this dynamic company that is adding 1,325 jobs and $245 million in capital investment in our community.”
FloridaWest 5-Year Strategic Plan Presentation
Where: Studer Community Institute Community Room
When: 1-3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25
This morning, Scott Luth spoke for about 25 minutes on Genna Barr’s Pensacola Expert Panel (M-F, 9-11 am on News Radio 92.3/AM 1620). He spoke for the political action committee Elevate Escambia. I listened in stunned shock as he described an EDATE application, review, approval and accountability process that was not just fictional but totally at odds with state law particularly Section 196.1995, Florida Statutes, and also even the state’s EDATE application a DR-418. Luth should invite Councilwoman Sherri Myers to come explain what really happened and is still happening. Just this week, Myers and I uncovered another problem with the Southtowne EDATE. She is trying to figure out why it is also being exempted from the West Florida Public Library and Escambia Children’s Trust property taxes. I don’t recall the BOCC having the authority to exempt either.