Port of Pensacola
Twenty years ago, the City of Pensacola struggled to find a viable business strategy for the financially struggling Port of Pensacola. Ideas such as transforming warehouses into a maritime museum and a cruise ship accommodation were considered but were abandoned after Hurricane Ivan.
Today, the port is thriving and has diversified its operations, according to Port Director Clark Merritt. “We have a nice balance of cargo activities that are very robust with our long-term tenants like CMEX and Martin Marietta and, of course, the GE Wind products. They really are our bedrock of support at the port on the maritime commerce side.”
The diversity comes with the addition of American Magic, Portside Pickle, and the University of West Florida’s mechanical engineering lab. Merritt shared that more is planned for the parcel between American Magic’s headquarters and The Fish House, but the site has challenges.
Pensacola International Airport
According to Airport Director Matt Coughlin, the additional eight TSA workers at Pensacola International Airport are expected to improve service levels after staffing and training struggles. The security workers were added after Mayor D.C. Reeves wrote a letter to our congressional delegation asking for help with the Transportation Security Administration .
Coughlin appreciated the TSA’s challenges, but “at the end of the day, we need to advocate for our airport and our customers, and I was real appreciative of the mayor and his efforts.”
Pensacola Energy
Darryl Singleton, the director of Pensacola Energy, discussed the recent $10.1 million grant they received. The grant will be used to replace bare steel pipes with polyethylene, improving safety and reducing methane leaks. The grant application focused on eliminating high-risk items, serving historically underserved communities, and benefiting the environment.