Northwest Florida has been a hub for aviation and aerospace development for many years. When Airbus established its first facility in the United States next door to Northwest Florida, our community leaders devised plans for expansion opportunities in the aviation/aerospace sector.
Airbus US Manufacturing Footprint:
With the increased capacity at its U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Northwest Florida is the ideal solution for Airbus suppliers.
Separating to Florida
15,409
Veteran workforce
12%
Active-Duty Military & Civilian Employees
56,072
Northwest Florida enjoys an abundant, highly skilled workforce as evidenced from the following Aerospace / Defense numbers:
The laborshed has more jobs in the following Aerospace and Defense-related occupations than the US average:
| Job Types | Ratio to U.S. average |
|---|---|
| Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing | 7x more |
| Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing | 6x more |
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 2x more |
| Avionics Technicians | 2x more |
Northwest Florida has top-level Engineering Programs at three area Universities.
Four area programs educate a future pipeline of aerospace workers.
Helping students succeed in Northwest Florida in the Aerospace & Engineering Pathway. Students can begin their career journey from Middle School through College and beyond.
Success Story - Madison
First: Booker T. Washington HS – Aviation Maintenance
Next: George Stone Technical College
Later: Career in Aviation Maintenance
The region offers several industrial sites well-suited for aviation and aerospace operations.
Pensacola International Airport — 350+ acres of land available, runways with 7,000+ feet, foreign trade zone #249, home to VT MAE MRO Hangar, 59 miles from the Airbus A320 Final Assembly Line in Mobile, AL.
Whiting Aviation Park — A 239-acre commercial/industrial park adjacent to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. Through a limited-access use agreement, civilian tenants of the Aviation Park will be able to use the Navy’s airfield facilities.
Okaloosa Industrial Air Park — 360 total acres, 135 acres are certified and offer onsite access to Bob Sikes Airport, a general aviation and industrial use airport with 8,000+ foot runway.
DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport — Nearly 300-acre airport industrial park, with 22-acre and 34-acre parcels that are certified with runway access.
Marianna Airport Commerce Park — 237 acres are certified and adjacent to the Marianna Municipal Airport, which has 6,001 and 5,000-foot runways.
Venture Crossings — 195 total acres; 10 under development, 111 contiguous, 185 available. Adjacent to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport with a 10,000-foot runway.
Apalachicola Regional Airport — county-owned, public use airport. It was originally constructed by the US Army Air Corps and was a sub base of Tyndall AFB. It has three 5,000+ foot runways.
Northwest Florida is in proximity to 13 Automotive OEMs and six Aerospace OEMs
| Industry | NAICS | 2022 Payrolled Business Locations within 200 Miles of Pensacola |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Chemical Manufacturing | 3251 | 106 |
| Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing | 3252 | 47 |
| Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing | 3255 | 36 |
| Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing | 3259 | 47 |
| Plastics Product Manufacturing | 3261 | 140 |
| Rubber Product Manufacturing | 3262 | 32 |
| Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 3311 | 20 |
| Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 3313 | 7 |
| Forging and Stamping | 3321 | 7 |
| Hardware Manufacturing | 3325 | 6 |
| Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 3328 | 65 |
| Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 3329 | 120 |
| Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 3335 | 25 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 3345 | 94 |
| Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 3353 | 45 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 3364 | 86 |
Six active military installations are spread throughout the region providing a stable economic impact to the local economy in many ways.
Deep-Water Ports
3
Foreign Trade Zone
2
General Aviation and Commercial Airports
23
Your business can benefit from the R&D and innovation happening across the region. Take advantage of high-end facilities, business relationships, commercialization opportunities, and the collaborative minds that call Northwest Florida home.
McKinley Climatic Lab at Eglin AFB has several chambers, one of which is the largest environmental chamber in the world, that can simulate any climatic environment – extreme heat, cold, sand, dust, rain, sun, wind. DoD, other govt agencies, and private industry have utilized the facility for testing large aircraft, tanks, missile launchers, engines, auto and tire manufacturers and more.
Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Munitions Directorate at Eglin AFB is a global leader in advancing weapons science and technology. It conducts all R&D for all air-delivered munitions for the Air Force and is focused on the weapon’s capability to operate with complete autonomy and with high accuracy in all weather conditions, day or night, using long- or short-range delivery tactics.
University of Florida Research & Engineering Education Facility (UF REEF) is located adjacent to Eglin AFB and supports the Eglin community and Air Force research needs. It also offers courses that lead to degrees in mechanical, aerospace, electrical and computer, industrial and systems engineering.
The National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in nearby Tallahassee features the largest and highest-powered magnet lab in the world. Funded by the National Science Foundation and the state of Florida, each year more than 2,000 scientists come from across the globe to use our facilities at Florida State University probe fundamental questions about materials energy and life.
The High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) is a multidisciplinary research institute at Florida State University. HPMI strives to recruit, develop and retain top quality faculty and staff who will develop HPMI into a center of excellence for research and education in the field of advanced materials. Leading edge, revolutionary technology comes as the result of creativity, vision, talent, dedication and teamwork. Currently, HPMI is involved in four primary technology areas: High-Performance Composite and Nanomaterials, Structural Health Monitoring, Multifunctional Nanomaterials Advanced Manufacturing and Process Modeling.
The Advanced Aero Propulsion Laboratory is a leading laboratory for the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion, with a diverse and dynamic research program. It contains state-of-the-art testing and diagnostic facilities, not commonly available at university research centers. These include: a Hot Jet Anechoic Facility capable of operating supersonic hot jets - up to 2000 Fahrenheit, a STOVL Test Facility, an optical diagnostic development lab, a supersonic wind tunnel, and a large subsonic wind tunnel.
As a result of a settlement from the 2010 BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill, $1.5 billion has been directed to eight coastal counties in Northwest Florida to aid in economic diversification.
Infrastructure
Supports infrastructure needs such a buildings, roadways, rail spurs, utilities and more.
Workforce Training
Develops industry-driven workforce training programs
Tax Abatement
Provides the equivalent of up to 100% abatement of
property taxes, including school taxes, for up to 10 years
Companies with aviation, aerospace or space applications may be eligible to pursue tools as part of Space Florida’s unique financial structure.
| Program | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Conduit Financing | A way to get quick funding to pay for property or infrastructure that is repaid as a long-term loan or lease. This allows a company to access cash quickly and defer payment while using existing capital more strategically. |
| Synthetic Lease | An operating lease structured in such a way that it’s not recorded as an asset or liability on a balance sheet. Instead, it’s an expense. The biggest benefit to a synthetic lease is it enables businesses to defer large expenditures or spread them out over multiple years. |
| Real Estate | The ability to secure property and rights to infrastructure from federal, state and local governments for commercial use on behalf of the business. Space Florida can conduct business-to-business deals for property on commercial terms, freeing businesses from the usual insurance, safety and labor constraints associated with the use of government facilities, in addition to offsetting real and personal property taxes. |
| Program | Benefits | Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| High Impact Performance Incentive | Cash Grant | 50 new FT jobs, $50 million capital investment in 3 years |
| Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) | Annual credit against state corporate income tax for 20 years equal of 5% of eligible capital costs | $25 million minimum capital investment |
| Research and Development Tax Credit | 10% of excess qualified research expenses over company’s base | Qualified expenses allowable under U.S. Code Title 26 §41. Base amount equal to qualified expenses for 4 prior taxable years |
| Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment Sales Tax Exemption | Up to 100% on Sales and Use Taxes | Purchase of manufacturing equipment |
| Electricity Sales Tax Exemption | 50-100% Sales and use tax exemption on electricity | Amount of exemption dependent on consumption |
| Boiler Fuels Sales Tax Exemption | Sales tax exemption on combustible fuel in the manufacturing process | Fuel source is a clean natural resource |
| Repair and Labor Charges Tax Exemption | Sales tax exemption | Qualified expenses are on repair and labor charges and parts and materials for repairs to industrial machinery |
| Program | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Maintenance or Repair of Aircraft | An exemption from sales and use tax applies to the amount charged to customers for labor associated with the maintenance or repair of:
|
| Equipment Used in Aircraft Repair or Maintenance | The sale of equipment used to maintain or repair aircraft, including rotary wing aircraft, is exempt from sales and use tax when the equipment:
|
| Fixed Wing Aircraft Sales or Leases | An exemption from sales and use tax applies to the sale or lease of aircraft:
|
| Program | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Quick Response Training (QRT) | Assistance developing a training program that is customized, flexible, and responsive to individual company needs |
| Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) | Established companies in Florida can receive assistance for skills upgrade training for existing employees. |
| Veterans Florida Workforce Training Grant | Grant funding for customized, skills-based curriculum development and training for the military veteran population |
Florida ranks among the best states for business and entrepreneurs because of its pro-business tax policies. Your business dollars go further given the state's limited corporate taxes and your employees benefit from 0% state personal income tax.
Florida is #4 Tax Foundation - Best Business Climate
#4
Florida is #2 State - Chief Executive
#2
Florida is #4 in Aerospace and Manufacturing Establishments
#4
Florida’s Great Northwest is here to enhance Northwest Florida’s competitive position through industry diversification and quality job growth. Whether you’re a company executive, site selector, or Northwest Floridian, contact us to learn how we can work together.
