Military Support
Military Support
Military activity in Okaloosa County, and Florida as a whole, has long been a major contributor to the economy. Okaloosa hosts the largest military installation in the Department of Defense; Eglin Air Force Base. The military installations in the county are the #1 economic engine and generate additional employment by attracting defense contracting firms to the area. The defense-related spending in the County creates employment and investments and continues to multiply as it circulates throughout the region’s economy.
Defense Support Initiatives
One Okaloosa EDC originated the Defense Support Initiatives Committee in 1996 to focus on supporting and maintaining the Eglin Test and Training Complex and existing missions.
The DSI representation expanded in 2003 to include Santa Rosa and Walton Counties with the objective of promoting the military’s value and contributions to the region’s economic vitality. One Okaloosa EDC, through its Defense Support Initiatives Committee, is recognized by the State of Florida as the official representative and lead agency in the Okaloosa County area.
For more information about the tri-county military missions and economic impact, visit militaryfriendlynwf.com.
A key initiative is protecting the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range (aka Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range, EGTTR) — the largest military test and training range in the continental United States and a critical national asset. The EGTTR connects test & training capabilities across the eastern Gulf of Mexico extending from Key West to Northwest Florida with 180,000 square miles of DoD-controlled air space and 17 miles of shoreline access providing littoral transition areas and interconnected radars.
Read more about the EGTTR at militaryfriendlynwf.com.
Tri-County Community Partnership Initiative, TCPI
A community partnership program is a framework through which military installation, civic, and business leaders collaborate to develop creative ways to leverage respective abilities and resources to reduce operating costs and increase capabilities on shared services. The net result is a “win-win” scenario where parties in an agreement realize a benefit. One Okaloosa EDC established the TCPI in 2013 as a public-public, public-private (P4) partnership facilitator to support local military installations.
Northwest Florida Greenway
The Northwest Florida Greenway is a beltway of encroachment protection for both military and non-military communities. With the growing needs of our population, environment and national security, the Northwest Florida Greenway provides a mutually beneficial answer to preventing encroachment. The Northwest Florida Greenway initiative paved the way as the precurser for the newly awarded Sentential Landscape footprint.
Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape
International Economic Development Article
Read more at www.nature.org
The Technology Coast Manufacturing and Engineering Network, TeCMEN, was established by One Okaloosa EDC in 1989 to be the premier business advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) industries. TeCMEN provides opportunities for innovative collaboration and advanced technical expertise locally, regionally, and in the competitive global marketplace. Contact One Okaloosa EDC for prompt, comprehensive engineering, manufacturing and technical solutions in commercial, defense and aerospace market sectors.