P e n s ac o l a – F e r r y P a s s – B r e n t
• The project could potentially use funds from the RESTORE Act, which would provide billions of dollars to areas along the Gulf affected by the BP oil spill, but the bill is currently held up in Congress.
Source: Pensacola News-Journal, June 10, 2012
Groundbreaking begins Pensacola’s first natural gas station
• On May 31st, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, along with Energy Services of Pensacola (ESP) and Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA), broke ground on ESP’s first compressed natural gas fueling station. • Pensacola and ECUA currently have a partnership to transition their fleets to using compressed natural gas, which will cost less for vehicles to fuel and maintain. • This is the first of at least three fueling stations to be constructed by ESP.
Santa Rosa Commission wants more reform at TEAM
• Santa Rosa County Commissioners believe more work needs to be done on proposed changes to the Santa Rosa Economic Alliance, formerly known as the TEAM Santa Rosa Economic Development Council. • The alliance, while private, currently receives up to 90% of its budget from the county, and so commissioners believe greater oversight is needed into how taxpayer money is spent.
• Commissioners, the alliance, and the Economic Development Transition Committee are trying to find a balance between oversight of how the alliance decides its day-to-day actions and giving it enough freedom to encourage businesses to participate and become part of the alliance.
Source: Pensacola News-Journal, June 26, 2012
Source: Pensacola News-Journal, May 31, 2012
Pensacola Beach emerging strong despite past setbacks
• Despite the occurrence of hurricanes, the housing bust, high gas prices, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Pensacola Beach still enjoys relative success.
• According to Rod Lewis, director of the University of West Florida Haas Center for Business and Economic Development, there has been a 10 percent expansion in the economic impact of the beach on the region in the past decade. • A study by Lewis for the Santa Rosa Island Authority also found that the impact of beach tourism and construction translates to 2,900 jobs, a labor income of $77 million, and $261 million rough visitor spending and nonresidential construction costs.
Source: Pensacola News-Journal, June 29, 2012
Institute for Economic Competitiveness
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