In a recent Beyond the Build podcast conversation, Jennifer Conoley, President and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, highlighted how the organization’s regional coordination model is driving major economic development wins. Since taking the role in March 2020, Conoley has overseen a strategy that packages opportunities across 13 counties, preventing internal competition and attracting high-impact projects.
The results are tangible: over 1,500 announced jobs through direct leads since 2020, with significant projects in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, and maritime. Notable successes include Field International’s global headquarters relocating from the United Kingdom to Pensacola, Point Blank Enterprises’ 300-job body armor manufacturing facility in Wakulla County, and Birdon’s planned 2,000-job maritime manufacturing expansion at the Port of Pensacola.
Conoley calls the organization “professional matchmakers,” identifying opportunities and filtering them to local economic development professionals. This approach leverages a quantifiable military talent pipeline: six military bases within a two-and-a-half to three-hour radius generate about 5,200 military separations and retirements annually, with an average age of 38. A University of West Florida study found 47% want to stay in the region post-service, making job opportunities a key retention factor. “Companies feel more confident in selecting our region” based on this data, Conoley said.
Kelvin Enfinger Jr., Vice President of Greenhut Construction and immediate past chair of ABC Florida, noted the broader applicability: “Retired service members have a skill set that crosses over many industries. Businesses are beginning to see that as part of a way to fix what we’re facing in our industry.”
Conoley emphasized site readiness as critical. “If you can present a site that is truly ready to go, then you’re going to be more competitive,” she said. The $1.5 billion Triumph Gulf Coast fund, created from Deepwater Horizon settlements and receiving $80 million annually through 2033, provides patient capital for public-private partnerships without requiring aggressive cash incentives.
Looking ahead, Conoley warned against complacency. Florida’s Great Northwest recently received a $4.7 million Triumph grant to enhance its regional strategy for the next 5, 10, and 15 years. “Where I see Northwest Florida in the next 5 to 10 years is really being even more well known in that Gulf Coast corridor for both aerospace and maritime work,” she stated. “Keep your eye on Northwest Florida. The pipeline is full.”
For developers and investors, Northwest Florida offers a compelling value proposition: regional coordination, a quantifiable military talent pipeline, available industrial land, and patient capital sources. The full podcast episode is available on major platforms and YouTube.
