Transcription
Northwest FloridaDestin Fort Walton BeachPensacola Panama CityPanama City BeachFLORIDATREND.COM JULY2020
NorthwestOpen for Innovation,Open for BusinessNorthwest Florida, stretching from Pensacola to Panama City,is like no other place in the Sunshine State. Both startups andestablished businesses here have deep roots in innovating for themany military and government defense programs based in thearea — businesses that, in turn, use this same intellectual capitalto create exciting new industries in the private sector. Constructionis booming, in part because of ongoing cleanup efforts forHurricane Michael but also because of the perennial tourismindustry. Rural areas of economic opportunity in NorthwestFlorida include Calhoun, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty,and Washington counties and many more. Education, especiallythe higher ed offerings, continues to grow in transformative waysthat meet the community’s unique needs. And the lifestyle well,there are few places left that can boast such an easy, laid-backway of life with short commutes, award-winning K-12 schools, andaccess to cutting-edge health care — all scattered along some ofthe most breathtaking beaches in the world.By Heidi Tyline King38 JULY 2020NORTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT
FloridaDestin Fort Walton BeachPensacola Panama CityPanama City BeachFLORIDATREND.COM JULY2020 39
NORTHWESTFLORIDA“Strategicallylocated formanufacturing,aviation/aerospace, andlogistics, Florida’sGreat Northwesthas the skilledworkforce to leadour companies tothe next level intheir industries.”– Roy BakerBusiness DevelopmentCoordinator,Opportunity Florida The Florida Panhandle’s largest cities,Pensacola, Destin and Fort Walton Beach,and Panama City and Panama City Beach,connect a string of coastal communities tothe south and rural towns to the north. Inrecent years, both city and county economic development groups have developed collaborative partnerships, capitalizing on each other’s strengths as a way toenhance the area.“We operate with scrappiness and areaccustomed to pooling resources to getthings done,” says Jennifer Conoley, president and CEO, Florida’s Great Northwest.Setting the Stage for GrowthUnlike the rest of Florida which developed haphazardly, the slower growththrough Northwest Florida means that thearea has been able to strategically controlgrowth while also retaining much ofwhat makes Florida great: its waterways,beaches, and forests. Being intentionalabout growth has become a big sellingpoint for the area. Initiatives to reinforceand create infrastructure have resultedin easy access to the rapidly growingSoutheast U.S. — and the rest of the world.Northwest Florida has built a solid foundation for attracting new business, drivingeconomic vitality, and growing the region.Consider these assets: Northwest Floridaboasts three deep-water ports. The Portof Port St. Joe in Gulf County offers bargeaccess to the Intracoastal Waterway andGulf of Mexico. Port Panama City, locatedon the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, has a200-acre Intermodal Distribution Centerwith rail access. It is designated as a foreigntrade zone. And the Port of Pensacola, alsowith access to rail service, is an enterprisezone and foreign trade zone.Interstate 10 traverses the entireregion, providing direct accessibility toa robust railroad system and the area’sgrowing airports. There are 17 publicgeneral aviation airports in the area plusthree commercial airports — includingNorthwest Florida Beaches InternationalAirport.Making the area that much moreattractive are the 18 premier industrialsites, all multimodal accessible and readyfor build-out, including the new 10,500acre Shoal River Ranch gigasite. “For thepast three years, we’ve worked to bringthis economic development opportunityto fruition,” says Nathan Sparks, executivedirector at the Economic DevelopmentCouncil of Okaloosa County.The site stretches from I-10 to Highway90 and lies adjacent to Eglin Air ForceBase, the largest air force base in theworld. The Florida Gulf & Atlantic railroadalso runs along the property’s northernboundary. And there are hundreds ofskilled Air Force personnel from nearbyinstallations each year — providing aready-made talent pipeline for companiesopting to locate at Shoal River Ranch.“Its footprint is shovel ready, and it has allthe pieces to support comprehensive largescale economic development,” says Sparks.Such investments are more enticingthan ever to businesses looking for asustainable and enduring economic base— especially in the uncertainty broughtabout by the recent pandemic. “We’reexcited to welcome new business to ourarea,” says Conoley.40 JULY 2020NORTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENTMAP TERESANNE COSETTA RUSSELLPort ofPensacola
DowntownPensacolaA Shine for BusinessThe gorgeous white sand beaches andemerald gulf water are the first thingsthat come to mind when people think ofNorthwest Florida. But this area is alsomaking a name for itself. Each city withinthe region has a unique personality andstrategy for driving economic initiatives.Pensacola: A History of EngagementPensacola, the westernmost city in thePanhandle, is the county seat of EscambiaCounty and the site of the oldest settlement in the continental U.S. Foundedin 1559, it predates St. Augustine by sixyears, but the original settlement wasabandoned after a hurricane and notreestablished until 1698. That said, thearea has a long history of being a toptourist destination for vacationers fromall over the Southeast who come forsome downtime along the area’s worldclass beaches. More recently, Pensacolahas grown in popularity as a great placeto live and work. It’s been voted oneof Florida’s Friendliest Cities by Trips toDiscover, a USA Today 10 Best Reader’sChoice for Best Florida Beach, and one ofthe Top 10 Best Places to Retire in Floridaby Investment U.Urban ResurgenceSeveral years ago, Pensacola committedto rejuvenating its downtown, a movethat has paid off with fine dining, artstudios, entertainment and other culturalvenues moving in.“In 1998 when we opened The FishHouse, you had to convince people tocome downtown,” says Collier Merrill,president of Great Southern Restaurants.“If you saw a tourist, you would take apicture of them because there certainlyweren’t any tourists taking pictures ofPensacola.”Fast forward 20 years and downtownPensacola is filled with hundreds of newresidences, historic architecture, locallyowned boutiques, coffee shops, homeware stores, breweries, and restaurants.“Downtown is where everyone wantsto be,” says Lissa Dees, executive director, Downtown Improvement Board.“The streets are clean, people feel safeand secure, and it’s become the heartbeat of our community. It’s projects likethese that keep communities strong andconnected and give people a sense ofhome.”Public-private partnerships are juststarting to address the downtownwaterfront and other untapped resourcesin the area. In the next 10 years, businessleaders are confident that Pensacola willgarner national recognition for its urbantransformation. “We’re all pulling thesame direction with common goals andaspirations,” says Todd Thomson, president and CEO of the Pensacola Chamberof Commerce. “There is so much potential to grow Pensacola into a waterfronteconomic powerhouse.”Fueled by InnovationComplementing Pensacola’s urbanization is the continued growth fueled byIT, health care, government defense, realestate/construction, and manufacturing. The city is also home to Co:Lab andFloridaWest EDA, both resources forentrepreneurs and startups.“I continue to be impressed with thediversity of real estate and the amountof equity invested,” says Justin Beck, CEOand managing broker at Beck Partners.“There’s so much going on. Much of it isdriven by the Navy and federal government, but even multi-family housingand urbanization is playing a role. I wasin Portland for 16 years and saw thesame thing there. The nice thing aboutNorthwest Florida is that we never overbuilt, and it’s helped us maintain a solidmarket.”COMPANIES TO WATCH:PENSACOLA EBI Management Group –a service-disabled-veteranowned small businessproviding business andtechnology professionalservices Catalyst HRE – one of thenation’s largest privateequity investors in healthcare real estate with businesses in 11 states IMS ExpertServices – apioneer in consultativeexpert services anda leader in providingresearch for complexlitigation AppRiver – a communications and data privacycompany GE Renewable Energy –an onshore wind turbinemachine head and hubsassembly facility ActiGraph – the leadingprovider of medical-gradewearable activity and sleepmonitoring solutions Navy Federal Credit Union– with 8 million members ST Engineering – specializing in global technology,defense, and engineering forthe aerospace, electronics,land systems, and marinesectors Cognitive Big DataSystems – founded in 2014by Lloyd Reshard, CEO,to build vision systemsfor robotics and videosurveillanceFLORIDATREND.COM JULY2020 41
NORTHWESTFLORIDACOMPANIES TO WATCH:OKALOOSA COUNTY RaceChip – U.S. headquartersfor German-owned aftermarket automobile engineperformance technology Home Builders Institute(HBI) – construction industrytraining, certification, andjob placement Vertex Aerospace’s AircraftIntegration & SustainmentDivision – aerospaceengineering and fabrication,airframe assemblies, andaircraft maintenance Dynamic SoftwareSolutions – weapons planning software, precisionguided munitions planning HSU EducationalFoundation – supportingSTEM education Beast Code – IT and engineering services producingcutting edge softwareapplications MAG Aerospace – intelligence,surveillance, and reconnaissance services operationsCOMPANIES TO WATCH:PANAMA CITY ANDPANAMA CITY BEACH Advanced Composites &Metalforming Technologies– commercial and militaryjet parts manufacturing Additive ManufacturingLaboratory – 3-D metalprinting Suzuki Motor of America– 20-acre waterfront SuzukiMarine Technical Center USAunder development Oceaneering – a leadingglobal provider of engineeredproducts and services Berg Steel Pipe – specializingin large-diameter line pipemanufacturing for the oiland construction industries42 JULY 2020Scientists and engineers investigate cognition inmachines and humans at the Florida Institute forHuman & Machine Cognition in Pensacola.Okaloosa County: A Unified VisionThe area is planning and building nowto be ready to seize future opportunities anticipated over the next 15 years ofgrowth.“Local government, industry, academiaand our military installations are allcommitted to building a diversified andsustainable community centered aroundtop notch infrastructure systems, educational offerings, career pathways, and,of course, the enviable coastal lifestylewe’ve long been known for,” says NathanSparks, executive director at the EconomicDevelopment Council of Okaloosa County.Panama City and Panama City Beach:Transforming a Way of LifePanama City Beach, or PCB, boasts someof the prettiest beaches in the world.Shopping, entertainment, and restaurantsabound, attracting more than 17 milliontourists annually. What locals like is thefact that 20 percent of shoreline is set asidefor recreational and public use, and theongoing renourishment project keeps thebeaches in pristine condition. Lynn Haven,Parker, and Springfield are all bedroomcommunities. Mexico Beach is located atthe eastern end of Bay County, a muchmore low-key beach destination but onewith the same access to sugar sand beachesand the emerald waters of the gulf.Panama City is a phoenix rising from theashes of Hurricane Michael. Before thestorm’s devastation, the military and tourism were primary economic drivers, butchange has introduced new opportunities.A Plan for GrowthThe Economic Development Alliance(EDA) of Bay County has targeted theseeight industries for future growth:Aviation, Aerospace, Defense, andNORTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENTApplied Research Associates in Panama City isfocused on research, development, test, and evaluation work in applied microbiology, bioaerosols,advanced biofuels, and renewable chemicals.National Security; Renewable Energyand Environment; Health Sciences;Transportation and Logistics; InformationTechnology; Research and EngineeringServices; Manufacturing; and CorporateHeadquarters.Recent economic developments includeClark and Son, a leading distributioncompany for custom kitchen cabinets thatselected Panama City for its distributionand final assembly headquarters after anationwide search.Another major project is the 6.5million investment by St. Joe Companyinto Venture Crossings, a commercialproject near Northwest Florida BeachesInternational Airport. St. Joe is also planning to build a new hotel at the airport.A 250-room Embassy Suites will be completed at Pier Park in 2021, and theTownePlace Suites was completed last yearin Panama City Beach.Casa Laxmi Foundation is constructing anew international boarding school on 260acres in northern Bay County, includingone mile of shoreline.Rural Northwest FloridaIn the logistical cross-roads ofNorthwest Florida, cotton, peanuts, andsawmills are important industries. EnvivaBiomass, located in Cottondale, is theworld’s largest producer of sustainablewood pellets. Also making news is the9,500-square-foot expansion of JacksonHospital in Marianna.“Our companies partner with ourtechnical training institutions to upskilltheir workers and our citizens, raising thestandards of excellence in their productsand the quality of life in our region,” saysRoy Baker, business development coordinator for Opportunity Florida.
ADVANCED a’s Advantages Our Own Unique StrengthsOur corner of Florida offers all the sameadvantages and more — more space to expand,a more central location to the Southeast, andmuch more than you imagined.find more at floridasgreatnorthwest.com
NORTHWESTFLORIDACollege of Scienceand Engineeringat the University ofWest Florida Equipping Today’s —and Tomorrow’s — WorkforceNORTHWEST FLORIDATECHNICAL SCHOOLS, STATECOLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Chipola College Choice Technical Center Embry-RiddleAeronautical University Emerald Coast TechnicalCollege Florida A&M University Florida PanhandleTechnical College Florida State University George Stone TechnicalCenter Gulf Coast State College Haney Technical Center Locklin Technical CollegeFor the last five years, the Panhandlehas been hard at work building synergiesbetween industry, government, and education to build an ecosystem that capitalizeson the area’s strengths. The area’s 16 technical schools, state and community colleges,and universities are a valuable asset as well.People come from all over the world toNorthwest Florida to study the cutting-edgeof the agricultural industry at the Universityof Florida’s IFAS Extension in Jackson County,finishing both master’s and doctorate degreesin row crops and beef cattle.In Pensacola, Achieve Escambia is a collective impact partnership that brings togetherparents, educators, business owners, healthproviders, faith-based leaders, communityorganizers, residents, philanthropists,government employees, first responders,and elected officials to significantly improvecradle to career outcomes.“This is a first-of-its-kind partnership inFlorida and certainly the first true collective Northwest Florida StateCollege Pensacola State College Troy University University of WestFloridaimpact effort in the Pensacola area,started within the business community,”says Jennifer Grove, vice president ofexternal relations, Baptist Health Care.The University of West Florida (UWF)identified cybersecurity as an emergingfield with an underdeveloped workforceand created continuing education tomeet this need. Military installationsacross the country have a vested interestin cybersecurity. They need well-trainedtalent — and a workforce for militarypersonnel to transition to after militarylife. Northwest Florida has recognizedthis need and answered it by investingin programs and businesses to retain andcontinue training the talent pool.Global Business Solutions, Inc. (GBSI),a cutting-edge technology companyspecializing in cybersecurity training,enterprise training, and military credentialing to the Navy, Air Force, MarineCorps, and Department of Defense,developed the Accelertrain CybersecurityCareer and Technical Education curriculum now in schools across the country.The CyberPatriot program, developedby the Air Force Association, is in localmiddle and high schools.And regional organizations such asInnovation Coast, IT Gulf Coast, and theEntrepreneurship & Innovation Councilof Northwest Florida Forward are working to grow the innovation and technological landscape in the region throughnetworking partnerships with the ITENWired annual summit.Coast GulfState College44 JULY 2020NORTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT
THE MILITARY’S IMPACT ON NORTHWEST FLORIDA Military jobs increased 14% from 2016 to 2018 fora total of 194,847 jobs in the area. Defense spending totaled 33.4% of the regionaleconomy in 2018. The military accounted for 92% of all GRP economicimpacts, up 2% from 22.1 billion in 2016.Air EglinForce BaseIn Defense ofthe MilitaryNorthwest Florida is rising asa hotbed of aerospace, aviation,and cybersecurity industries.Currently, there are nineaircraft manufacturers, fouraircraft engine and engine partsmanufacturers, and eight guidedmissile and space vehicle manufacturers in the region.Nowhere else in the countryhas the proximity and access toas many aviation and militaryinstallations. There are six majormilitary bases, all with aviationrelated missions and a focuson research and development.Thousands of existing militarypersonnel and skilled graduatesin the area provide a talent poolthat’s trained and ready to work.The 2020 Florida DefenseIndustry Economic AnalysisReport confirms the military’svital presence. The 16 countiesfrom Escambia to Jefferson account for 24 percent of the military’s economic impact in Florida.Combined with spending for theNational Guard and the CoastGuard, total military spending isover 9.2 billion.Former service members areyoung — the median age in thearea is 36 — and well-trained,providing private businessesskilled employees. “I encouragelocal businesses to poach mypeople,” says Capt. Tim Kinsella,commander, Naval Air StationPensacola. “The military trainsgreat employees, but this areagives them a reason to stay.”FLORIDATREND.COM JULY2020 45
FUTURES BEGIN ATNORTHWESTFLORIDA STATECOLLEGELOCATIONSCRESTVIEWDEFUNIAK SPRINGSFT. WALTON BEACHHURLBURT FIELDNICEVILLESOUTH WALTONONLINECONTACT(850) 678-5111WWW.NWFSC.EDU27Associate Degrees5Bachelor Degrees35Certificate ProgramsNorthwest FloridaState CollegeFALL TERM BEGINS AUGUST 19ENROLLMENT IS UNDERWAYHigh-QualityWorkforce TrainingOpportunities Offeredat Northwest FloridaState CollegeAlthough the world is filled with much uncertainty, Northwest FloridaState College (NWFSC) is working diligently to continue providing a safe,affordable foundation on which you can build your career, your nextchapter, and your future. We’re more than just a campus—we’re a closeknit family dedicated to your success.NWF State College opened its doors in 1964 and has become one ofFlorida’s premier state colleges—nationally recognized for educationalexcellence and community engagement. Working every day to providea trained workforce for the next generation, NWFSC is ensuring ourcommunity’s economic future by way of launching and maintainingrelevant, high-quality academic programming. We offer 27 associatedegrees, five bachelor’s degrees and 35 certificate and professionaltraining programs.In partnership with the Walton County Board of County Commissioners,Walton County Sheriff’s Office, CareerSource Okaloosa Waltonand the Triumph Gulf Coast Board, Northwest Florida State Collegebegan construction on its Walton Works project last year. This projectestablishes a Center of Excellence for 10 new workforce programs,preparing students to earn industry-recognized credentials includingstate licenses and certifications. The Walton Works project will expandcareer education programs in public safety (law enforcement, fire,emergency medical technician (EMT)), cybersecurity, drone technologyand building trades (plumbing, electrical, welding, millwright andconstruction). By 2024, a minimum of 1,570 industry-recognizedcertifications would be awarded at a cost of 3,652 per certification.Most recently, Northwest Florida State College, in partnership withDr. Paul Hsu, the Okaloosa Aviation Board and Triumph Gulf Coast,secured funding to stand up The Aviation Center of Excellence,which will be located in the Crestview Technology Air Park at the BobWe encourage you to visit www.nwfsc.edu to learn more about our programs,or call 850-502-2895 to speak to one of our Student Success Navigators
SponSored reportSikes Airport. NWFSC will provide Federal AviationAdministration (FAA) industry-recognized certificationsin airframe mechanics, powerplant mechanics andprofessional pilot technology at this new facility.This transformational center serves as a catalyst forworkforce training to support the growing aerospacecommunity in our region. The College estimates thisproject will yield 29 million in economic impact interms of wages from the degree completers and thoseemployed in support of the project.Committed to transformation across NorthwestFlorida, our mission is to improve lives by providing ahigh-quality, globally competitive education that is acatalyst for cultural, civic and economic developmentthroughout the Florida Panhandle region. Ultimately,we aim to inspire our students to become somethinggreater than themselves and move our localcommunity forward. More than 84% of our graduatesenter the job market in Okaloosa and Walton Counties,keeping homegrown talent in our own backyard.According to EMSI Impact Report 2018, NorthwestFlorida State College’s annual economic impact on theregion is 326.2 million of added income with morethan 7,335 jobs supported.CAREERSBEGIN HEREnorthwest florida state collegeENROLL TODAY!CRESTVIEW DEFUNIAK SPRINGS FT. WALTON BEACH HURLBURT FIELD NICEVILLE SOUTH WALTON ONLINE(850) 678 - 5111 WWW.NWFSC.EDUNORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE IS ACCREDITED BY THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES TO AWARD CERTIFICATES, ASSOCIATE AND BACCALAUREATE DEGREES.CONTACT THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS AT 1866 SOUTHERN LANE, DECATUR, GEORGIA 30033-4097 OR CALL 404-679-4500 FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCREDITATION OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE.NORTHWEST FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE IS COMMITTED TO EQUAL ACCESS/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN ITS PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND EMPLOYMENT. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.NWFSC.EDU.
NORTHWESTFLORIDAWest FloridaHospital, Pensacola Exceptional Health CareBaptist Health Care,Brent Lane Campus The recent pandemic has elevatedthe importance of access to comprehensive quality health care. This is not anissue in Northwest Florida, where severalrenowned health care systems have partnerships with other top medical facilitiesaround the country.an accredited advanced primarystroke center, accredited chest paincenter, and a cancer care center. NorthOkaloosa Medical Center, SacredHeart Hospital on the Emerald Coast,and Twin Cities Hospital also providequality health care to the area.The Destin/Okaloosa County areaalone has an array of family medical,chiropractic, optical, and dental services.The Fort Walton Beach Medial Centeris the only acute care hospital in the tricounty area offering open heart surgery,Pensacola is home to West FloridaHospital, a full-service facility specializing in cardiac care and cancer care.Ascension Sacred Heart HospitalPensacola is a regional hospitalwith a state-of-the-art stroke center and cancer center affiliated withMD Anderson Cancer Network.And Baptist Health Care, which hasnine locations including the famedAndrews Institute for Orthopaedics& Sports Medicine, has recentlyannounced construction of a stateof-the-art 615 million Baptist HealthCare Brent Lane Campus to providegreater access and enhanced patient,visitor, and team member experience.Real Estate is Our Family BusinessWe are Northwest Florida’s premier Real Estate Brokerage. We’ve been setting the standard forexcellence since 1982! With over 50 Full-Time Realtors, we have specialists in all areas ofReal Estate ranging from Residential Sales to Commercial Shopping Centers, Hotels,Offices and Land Developement. #BuySellConnellRealtors Developers ConsultantsJohn Baars Connell, Broker / Ownerbuysellconnell.comConnell & Company Realty, Inc. 2107 Airport Blvd Pensacola, FL 32504 850.478.414148 JULY 2020NORTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENTIn Panama City, Bay MedicalSacred Heart is the only Level IItrauma center between Pensacolaand Tallahassee. The hospital is alsoknown for its cardiac care including open heart surgery. Servingpatients in a seven-county area, BayMedical is nationally accredited as aHeart Attack and Stroke Center ofExcellence by the Joint Commission.Gulf Coast Regional MedicalCenter has been serving the community for more than 40 years. It hasan accredited Chest Pain Center withPrimary PCI with Resuscitation as recognized by the American College ofCardiology. The cancer program hasachieved comprehensive designationby the Commission on Cancer and isan accredited breast program by theNational Accreditation Program forBreast Cancers.
SponSored reportDid your local school systemstruggle with transitioning toonline education?MOVING SCHOOLS FORWARD WITH ACCELETRAIN COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in every sector,In 2012, as a partner in education and employer ofincluding the education system. The time, resources, andcybersecurity professionals, Ramos recognized themessaging required to transition students from brickcommunity’s economic development need for a skilledand mortar classrooms to distance learning was chaoticworkforce in cybersecurity. GBSI worked with local highand for some, futile. Yet schools usingschools to develop curriculum rigor andACCELETRAIN continued to move forward.interactive lab activities that map to FloridaDepartment of Education requirements.“Within 72 hours, our students transitionedThey developed materials that preparefrom their school to home, connectingstudents for industry-recognizedonline, in a secure classroom environment,certifications, allowing schools to capitalizeand receiving the same quality educationon the Florida Career and Professionalthey had been for the entire year,” saysEducation (CAPE) program funding. This ledRandy Ramos, CEO, Global BusinessSolutions, Inc. (GBSI) and founder ofRandy RamosCEO, GlobalBusiness SolutionsACCELETRAIN .ACCELETRAIN is the next generation ofclassroom learning. This innovative systemis a hybrid online learning model that goes beyondbuildings and infrastructure, bridging educationalresources. Comprised of three main components,ACCELETRAIN provides technology that distributesthe learning experience, a cloud-based platform thatto the development of ACCELETRAIN .“This year, as the coronavirus pandemicforced schools to close their doors totraditional education, ACCELETRAIN provedits significance in supporting education continuityof operations,” says Steve Samaha, GBSI Manager ofCurriculum Development & Deployment. “What GBSI didwith cybersecurity education can be done across theacademic spectrum using ACCELETRAIN .”connects the education resources, and industry expertsAs Florida wrestles with re-opening schools this Fall,who support teacher professional development. In thisACCELETRAIN will help schools shift from the traditionalconnected environment, students, teachers, subjectmodel of instructional delivery to a blended distancematter experts, and industry partners participate inlearning model, providing quality education to allthe learning experience through team collaboration,students.engaging curriculum, supplementalmaterials, hands-on labs, andcompetitive events.“This is a win-win for students, teachers, and schools. It’s apartnership. ACCELETRAIN gives me the resourcesand curriculum I need so that together, we canhelp students graduate with unique,high-demand skills.”Angela Irby, TeacherPine Forest High School / Pensacola, FloridaFor more information:Global Business Solutions, Inc. / www.acceletrain.com / 850-308-1336
NORTHWESTFLORIDAPensacolaBeachLife’s a BeachFlorida“ThePanhandle isparadise foranyone wholoves the water.We also havegreat bike trails,hiking, camping,and food thatcombinesSoutherncooking withCajun cuisineand a lot of freshgulf seafood.”Above all, people come to Florida forthe beach, and the Panhandle is no different. But what makes this stretch ofshoreline so special is the combination ofsugar sand and clear, emerald gulf water.Tourism has been a steady presence inPensacola’s economic development witha year-over-year 8 percent increase.Complementing the beaches is aplethora of outdoor activities. Boating,canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boardingare popular in the Gulf of Mexico and onlocal rivers. Many of these can be experienced year-round since average hightemperatures remain in the 60s and 70sthroughout the winter and up to the 90sduring the summer. When not outside or on the water, there are museums andhistorical sites to explore, shopping, andfestivals almost every weekend of theyear.What makes these extracurricularofferings all the more special is thearea’s affordable housing and cost ofliving. Housing in Pensacola averages 62percent of the national median, whileFort Walton Beach is at 94 percent ofthe national median. In Panama City, itis 83 percent.“We offer world-class experiencesright here in our own backyard,” saysWalton County Tourist DevelopmentCouncil Director of CommunicationsDavid Demarest.National NavalAviation MuseumCypressSprings– Davi
NORTHWEST FLORIDA 40 JULY 2020 NORTHWEST FLORIDA / FLORIDA TREND CUSTOM CONTENT The Florida Panhandle's largest cities, Pensacola, Destin and Fort Walton Beach, and Panama City and Panama City Beach, connect a string of coastal communities to the south and rural towns to the north. In recent years, both city and county eco-
