Talk about bad timing. The economic development organizations of Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties have undergone shake-ups and are about to start 2013 with only interim leaders in place — just as Northwest Florida faces new challenges that may require a dramatic rethinking of its economic future.
A Sunday article by the Daily News’ Dusty Ricketts told how the region reached this point.
In February, Santa Rosa County’s longtime TEAM director resigned. TEAM was renamed Santa Rosa Economic Alliance. County commissioners ended their contract with the organization and, on Sept. 1, created a new county economic development department.
In November, the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council’s longtime president, Larry Sassano, stepped down.
Also in November, the executive director of the Walton County Economic Development Alliance said she was leaving for Bay County. Her last day will be Dec. 28.
When 2013 begins, says local economist David Goetsch, “from Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton counties … it’s interim directors in every case.”
They’ll be busy. Important economic issues are on the horizon:
- Economic development leaders are being urged to take advantage of a $30 million state incentive fund and millions of dollars in oil spill recovery money. Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, says he is puzzled that area EDOs haven’t been scrambling for these funds.
- Northwest Florida, along with the rest of the nation, is still struggling to bounce back from the Great Recession and the housing bust.
- Severe cuts in defense spending could begin in 2013, spelling trouble — some say disaster — for local economies. Because of this, there is renewed talk of the need to recruit new industry and broaden our region’s economic base.
Despite the turmoil within the Emerald Coast’s economic development organizations, Sen. Gaetz is optimistic. He says he sees “committed and talented business people on the boards of directors of our EDOs, and hopefully they can pick up some slack.”
Hope he’s right.