Navy Veteran Brews Up Community and Creativity at Shuga Beanz Coffee
There’s a coffee shop in Pace, Florida that’s as full of personality as it is flavor. Shuga Beanz has been a local favorite for eight years — serving everything from traditional coffees and lattes to Italian sodas, yogurt parfaits, and their signature “Shuga Blasters,” custom dessert drinks that have become a local legend.
Veteran’s Leadership and Culinary Creativity Power The Makery in Pace
As a former Electronics Technician 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy, Cody Sowell knows the value of discipline, teamwork, and precision. Those same skills now help power The Makery, a full-service bakery in Pace, which he co-founded with his wife, Meredith Sowell, a seasoned pastry chef with experience at top resorts and private clubs.
Santa Rosa County Invites Veterans, Military Families, and First Responders to “Honoring Our Heroes” Career Fair
The SRCEDOffice & CareerSource Escarosa are hosting the “Honoring Our Heroes Career Fair”. This free event connects veterans, transitioning service members, military families, healthcare workers, and first responders with local employers actively hiring.
TASTEBUDS: A Journey of Sweet Success in Santa Rosa County
In the heart of Santa Rosa County, Florida, in the town of Pace, Tastebuds Ice Cream Shop has become a beloved and delicious fixture in the community.
Jen’s Designer Deal’s - A Stylish Success in Gulf Breeze
What initially started out as a hobby for Gulf Breeze resident Jennifer Wells, selling designer clothing and handbags on eBay and styling and shopping for people, has evolved into a successful boutique and styling service.
Lovell Government Services: Creating Opportunity with Efficiency
Chris Lovell claims he isn’t related to astronaut Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 fame. However, the successful launch and rapid trajectory of his company, Lovell Government Services, Inc., suggests the two are at least kindred spirits if not actual kin.
Pelvic Health Practice Owner Helps Patients Reclaim Life
It’s not easy to have a profession requiring years of school and experience, and then add another job on top of it. For medical practitioners, starting their own business is a whole new ball game of entrepreneurship.
Founder and Doctor of Physical Therapy Kaydee Zimmern says, “SBDC helped me with a small business start-up.”
Economic Development Strategy Updated
Leading Through Action: an Economic Development Strategy for Santa Rosa County, Florida, presented by Garner Economics, LLC, provides renewed focus on asset development, marketing, and organizational changes Santa Rosa County and its economic development partners should take to keep the County on a trajectory of success. This plan will help the County attract and retain businesses, create jobs, and nurture opportunities to attract talent.
Better communities spring from a strong economy
As you take time to appreciate the quality of our schools, the accessibility of our parks, the efficiency of our transportation system, and the presence of our first responders, remember that it’s our businesses and our citizens who are responsible for them.
Santa Rosa earns defense-related grants of $600,000
Santa Rosa County was a big winner in the latest round of state-funded grants aimed at helping retain and protect US military installations in local communities. The county was awarded a quarter of the $2.4 million in total funding.
Santa Rosa is Winning Jobs with Triumph
businessfacilities.com writes that just 12 short years ago, Santa Rosa County, and its neighbors along the northern Gulf Coast, suffered the worst manmade catastrophe in their collective history when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and released hundreds of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf. Today, the county is reaping the benefits of some $33.3 million in infrastructure funding that has helped attract high-value employers with the potential to create hundreds of high-paying jobs.
Santa Rosa County's industrial parks are filling up and one more is in the works
With the purchase of the Milton Interchange Park certified this month, Santa Rosa County’s industrial park tally is now up to five — with plans already in the works to add more. Two major, still-undisclosed projects are also taking place. Project Chicken Run involves the construction of a 60,000-quare-foot facility, while Project Jungle Cruise will see the renovation of an existing facility and should have a lease agreement signed by the end of the month.
Santa Rosa honors Don Salter with street name in Whiting Aviation Park
Santa Rosa County officials today, Tues., Mar. 1, honored former County Commissioner Don Salter by naming a street that leads into the new Whiting Aviation Park. About 75 people were in attendance when the street sign labeled Don Salter Boulevard was unveiled by Salter and his family.
Leonardo Delivers First TH-73A Trainer Helicopter to U.S. Navy
In January 2020, the Navy announced that it had selected the TH-119 built by Leonardo Helicopters to replace the venerable Bell TH-57 SeaRanger. On June 10, 2021, Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, Commander, U.S. Naval Air Forces, accepted the first TH-73A in a ceremony at Leonardo’s Philadelphia facility.
Leonardo Helicopters Cuts Ribbon at New Peter Prince Hangar
Santa Rosa County leaders today joined officials from Leonardo Helicopters to cut the ribbon on a new maintenance facility at Peter Prince Airport where the company will begin local operations. Leonardo is an Italian aerospace company with North American headquarters and industrial operations in Philadelphia, PA that is expected to bring 50 new, high-paying jobs to the area.
Gulf Cable/WTEC Breaks Ground on New Facility at Santa Rosa Industrial Park
Santa Rosa County officials today broke ground on a new facility that will be built on eight acres in the Santa Rosa Industrial Park. This new facility will serve as home to Gulf Cable/WTEC. Gulf Cable/WTEC currently employs over 300 individuals in the Santa Rosa Industrial Park. This expansion will support at least 20 new positions.
Assistant Director Erica Grancagnolo 2020 Pinnacle Award Winner
850 – The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida selected Assistant Director Erica Grancagnolo for a Pinnacle Award. She is one of 12 outstanding women from our 18-county region of Northwest Florida selected for the award. The Pinnacle Awards program recognizes women who have distinguished themselves professionally and in service to communities.
Santa Rosa Breaks Ground on New Hangar Facility at Peter Prince Airport
Santa Rosa County officials broke ground on a new hangar facility at Peter Prince Airport that will serve as the temporary home to AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corporation, dba Leonardo Helicopters, a Philadelphia-based aviation company that is expected to bring 50 new, high-paying jobs to the area. In April, county commissioners gave the go-ahead for design and engineering of the hangar, warehouse, and modular office complex. Construction on the new facility is expected to begin later this month.
Santa Rosa lands another 30 jobs
Santa Rosa County’s economic development office revealed that 30 new jobs are slated for the Northwest Florida Industrial Park @ I-10. The county commission approved final details that give the go-ahead for a new company to move forward with a $2.5 to $3 million capital investment in the I-10 Industrial Park.
New Tenants for Santa Rosa Industrial Park
Three projects – code-named O Brother, Hard Metal and Induction – are manufacturing firms in various areas, and will join boat manufacturer Cape Horn at Santa Rosa Industrial Park, creating more than 100 jobs and $22 million of capital investment.
Leonardo to open support center at Whiting Aviation Park
Leonardo, through AgustaWestland Philadelphia Corp., will soon build a comprehensive support center at the Whiting Aviation Park in Santa Rosa County after being awarded a contract to replace the Navy’s fleet of aging training helicopters at NAS Whiting Field.
Santa Rosa County awards nearly $50,000 to small business owners
Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners approved nearly $50,000 in StRIVE grant funds to 11 small businesses in Santa Rosa County.
Shannon Ogletree Selected as one of the Top Leaders in Economic Development
Santa Rosa County Economic Development Director Shannon Ogletree has been recognized as one of North America’s top 50 economic developers for 2018 by Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants.