A recent poll found among 800 registered Escambia County voters shows that 58 percent of residents believe the County is headed in the right direction, an increase from the 36 percent in 2008. The study was conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research and commissioned by the Pensacola Young Professionals.
The economy and jobs have been the most important issue facing both Escambia County and the City of Pensacola for the past six years. The percentage of voters identifying the economy and jobs as the number one issue facing both jurisdictions has dropped by more than ten percent. However, the County recently announced 485 new jobs will be created when the West Fraser Sawmill soon reopens, as well as the local expansion of CHCS Services, Inc., a subsidiary of iGATE Technologies, Inc., located in downtown Pensacola.
For the first time in three years, a majority (59 percent) of voters give a positive rating for the overall quality of life in the Escambia County. This represents a 12 percent increase from 2012.
Additional economic development possibilities:
- Supported by the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, The Greater Pensacola Chamber officials have created an agreement with the Navy to obtain its 640-acre helicopter training field in Beulah. The tentative agreement with the Navy is essentially a land swap that would take at least two years to complete and Escambia County would purchase and develop 640 rural acres in Santa Rosa County that sit southwest of Whiting Field. Under the proposal, Escambia would pay for improvements to the Santa Rosa land, creating a “super site” to accommodate Training Wing 5, which operates out of Whiting Field. The proposal would allow to swap the Beulah land, which includes 425 acres of buildable uplands, for the newly developed Santa Rosa land that would actually be more accessible to Whiting pilots.
- With the Beulah acreage, Greater Pensacola Chamber officials hope to create a $600 million expansion of Airbus at Mobile’s Brookley Field. The Chamber believes a Beulah commerce park, strategically located near Interstate 10 and the Alabama state line, would become a magnet for aerospace subcontractors and ultimately create 4,000 to 8,000 jobs.
Escambia County offers great history, beaches, scenery, water activities and more for all to enjoy. For more information on things to do in the area, visit MyEscambia.com and follow @MyEscambia.com on Twitter for the latest County happenings.
