BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Triumph Gulf Coast Board has approved one grant and advanced two others, promising to create new jobs and training opportunities across the Florida Panhandle.
“We were able to bring a project forward to the Gulf Coast Board this week as ‘Project Kilowatt'”, said Bay Economic Alliance President and CEO, Becca Hardin. “It’s an international company that is a boat manufacturer and that has an electric motor. It is a very high tech manufacturing operation that will hopefully bring 298 jobs to our community, with an average wage of $77,000 a year.”
The international company involved in Project Kilowatt is seeking around 11 and a half acres with access to St. Andrews Bay, with plans to establish its headquarters, development operations, manufacturing, and research facilities in Bay County by the end of 2026.
In addition to Project Kilowatt, the Triumph Board awarded $250,000 to the Apalachicola Regional Airport and Haney Technical College to establish an aviation maintenance and powerplant training program.
“We’re working right now with Gulf and Franklin counties. A couple of years ago, some of the community members in Franklin County paid me a visit to see if there was any availability for us to offer some course work in Franklin County, specifically in aviation,” Said Haney Technical College Director, Angela Reese. “Over the last two years, I’ve been working extensively with the Airport Authority down there, as well as the Franklin County Commission in trying to get our extension campus running.”
Potential students in Franklin and Gulf counties are already reaching out for more information about the aviation program.
“Franklin County was primarily fishing industry related. And when that really was damaged, not only by Hurricane Michael, but some other economic tragedies that occurred in that area, the poverty level there has really increased, ” said Reese. “So I know Career Source Gulf Coast has been working diligently down there and now Haney’s been able to offer this aviation program. They are also working to entice the aviation industry to move into that area to improve the overall economy and opportunities for work.”
Haney Technical College will have a booth set up at the Forgotten Coast Freedom Air Show November 15 with more information about the new campus in Apalachicola, and the programs offered.
“The biggest thing is we’re going to be able to recruit companies to come into that airport that can tap into the skilled workforce rolling out of Haney,” said Apalachicola Regional Airport manager, Steve Kirschenbaum. “God willing, if things work out, we have other property at the site, and maybe we could convince Haney to set up some other satellite tech programs at the airport.”
The third project involves a nearly $7 million grant proposed for the Gulf County School District to support a comprehensive digital tools and technology initiative, training students to succeed in a technology-driven world.
Both the Bay and Gulf County grants are anticipated to be approved by the beginning of 2026.
The Triumph Board is also considering additional grants, including $32 million for the University of West Florida to expand its Center for Cybersecurity and $10 million for Tallahassee State College to enhance healthcare and teacher workforce training programs.
