• ST Engineering, constructing its second of four jet aircraft maintenance and repair facilities at Pensacola International Airport with completion of the 177,000-sq.-ft. hangar anticipated by late 2022. When all hangars are completed, ST Engineering will have 700,000+ square feet under one roof and expects to employ at least 1,725 aviation workers by 2028.

• Partnering with Northwest Florida State College’s Aviation Center of Excellence, Hsu Innovation Institute has opened a 27,000-sq.-ft. aviation training center at Bob Sikes Airport in Crestview. The facility’s campus, which includes a large hangar and access to an 8,000-ft. runway, will offer instruction for students seeking to compete for high-tech aviation and aerospace jobs with the goal of training to become FAA-certified airframe and powerplant mechanics as well as pilots.
• Construction continues on Leonardo Helicopters’ multimillion-dollar aviation maintenance facility at Whiting Aviation Park next to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Plans call for Leonardo to move its headquarters and support center to the park over the next few years.

• Boeing Global Services will spend $2.5 million to add 20,000 square feet to its aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul facility in Fort Walton Beach.

• California-based defense contractor American Metal Bearing, a manufacturer of propulsion bearings for the U.S. Navy and NATO allies, plans to build a new headquarters on 11 acres in the Walton County Industrial Park near Freeport.

• UAV Corp. is expanding its Skyborne Technology operations in Gulf County with the goal of making space travel cheaper and more accessible to the public. Plans call for development of a SkySpace airship that could transport passengers to space for about $50,000.

• Amazon’s new 630,000-sq.-ft. robotics fulfillment center currently under construction in Tallahassee anticipates completion by early 2023. The $200-million facility is expected to create 1,350 full-time jobs.

• Construction of a 251,000-sq.-ft. FedEx distribution center in Panama City to service the region from Pensacola to Tallahassee. Opening in fall 2022, the new facility replaces an existing 60,000-sq.-ft. structure; 280 jobs are expected.

• The launching of a $26-million improvement program by Port Panama City, which includes a storage dome to increase capacity for wood pellets manufactured in nearby Jackson County; expansion of its east terminal; and construction of an intermodal distribution center.

Airports Rebound and Expand
Northwest Florida’s airline industry took a hard hit during the pandemic, but it is roaring back. In 2021, the region’s four commercial airports reported these best-ever passenger numbers:

Tallahassee International: Construction is underway on a $28-million international passenger processing facility featuring a passenger port-of-entry and federal inspection station and other improvements to accommodate international flights.

Pensacola International Airport: City officials are planning a major expansion to include a new concourse, additional loading gates and expanded parking

• Tallahassee-based Danfoss Turbocor has broken ground on a new, 167,000-sq.-ft. facility in Tallahassee. Scheduled for completion in early 2023, the site is expected to triple the firm’s current manufacturing capacity.

• Clearwater-based Purple Square Management is building a 24,500-sq.-ft. commercial bakery and distribution facility at the Okaloosa Industrial Air Park. The company, which operates Popeyes, Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’ and other chains in 10 states, plans to create 60 jobs as a result.

• Central Moloney has chosen Bay County for a $20-million expansion of its manufacturing operations. Headquartered in Pine Bluff, Ark., the company designs and manufactures electrical distribution transformers and transformer component parts for utilities and distribution throughout the U.S.

• Gulf Cables, a manufacturer of the aluminum and copper insulated cables used in utility projects, has opened a 160,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility next to its existing plant at the Santa Rosa County Industrial Park near Milton.

• Researchers at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering are working with NASA to develop a hybrid electric system powered by hydrogen using ambient air or concentrated oxygen to help reduce or eliminate aviation emissions. Part of NASA’s University Leadership Initiative, the program provides opportunities for university-led teams to conduct research supporting the space agency’s goals.

• Following the successful 2020 launch of its national cybersecurity workforce development program — CyberSkills2Work — the University of West Florida has received a $3-million grant extension from the National Security Agency to expand the program with the goal of preparing and placing 1,650 trained cybersecurity professionals within the next two years.

• North Florida Innovation Labs broke ground in June 2022 on its new research incubator. Located in the Innovation Park corridor — home to several high-tech companies as well as the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory — the 40,000-sq.-ft. building will have 31 labs and 20 offices as well as coworking spaces and conference rooms. FSU made a $5.6 million commitment to the incubator earlier this year.

• Baptist Health Care’s $615-million, 50-acre campus in Pensacola on track to open in early 2023. The 264-bed hospital is the single largest and most expensive health facility in Northwest Florida.

• PanCare of Florida continuing to grow its health care services for underserved patients. In June 2022, the nonprofit organization broke ground on a full-service pharmacy in Panama City. Next up: a laboratory and women’s health center.

• Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center adding more than 13,000 square feet to its main facility and another 6,000 square feet to its diagnostic and rehabilitation center in Panama City.

• Site preparation underway for construction of Panama City Beach’s first full-service hospital, a joint venture between Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, St. Joe Company and the Florida State University College of Medicine with 100 rooms, including doctors’ offices and an urgent care facility. Estimated completion: 2024.