Important News

Please take notice that on January 14, 2019, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following proposals for award of funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #153
Applicant: Gulf County School District
Funding Request: $750,000
Click here to view Summary of Project of Proposal Contract

Proposal #157
Applicant: Franklin County School Board
Funding Request: $2,327,322
Click here to view Summary of Project of Proposal Contract

Any person interested in being heard on these matters may attend and address the Board prior to a vote on approval of any award. Information regarding the time and place for the January 14, 2019 Board Meeting may be found by clicking here.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this notice or the award may be directed to: Cori Henderson, Program Administrator at [email protected]

DeFuniak Springs, FL – Triumph Gulf Coast’s Board has voted to support transformational workforce and entrepreneurial projects in five Northwest Florida Counties. Following Friday’s support to expand workforce industry certification provided by the Walton County Sheriff, the Triumph Board has approved projects in all eight Triumph counties.

The Triumph Board conducted its annual election with Don Gaetz being re-elected as Chair, Allan Bense elected Vice Chair, Stephen Riggs, IV re-elected Treasurer and Executive Director Susan Skelton (non- member) re-elected Secretary.

Franklin

In Hurricane Michael impacted Franklin County, Triumph voted to move forward with a proposal from the Florida State University Coastal & Marine Laboratory (FSUCML) in St. Teresa for $7,998,678 from Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc. The overarching objective of Apalachicola Bay System Initiative (ABSI) is to provide information and tools that will facilitate the recovery of the Apalachicola Bay ecosystem, which is critical to the economy of Franklin County.

ABSI will partner with Franklin County community members as well as government, academic and non- governmental organization (NGO) stakeholders. Research will be done to gain insight into the extent of deterioration of the reef system and the underlying causes of the observed decline resulting in a plan of action for recovery of the oyster reefs and the health of the Bay.

The ABSI effort proposes to leverage substantial external funding in support of the research and plan implementation. Recovery of oyster reefs will translate into positive economic outcomes for those whose livelihoods depend on a healthy Bay.
The Triumph Board also moved forward an education proposal from Franklin County School Board (FCSB) that will result in industry certifications in subject areas including medical fields, welding and computer technology. The Triumph request of $2,327,322.00 represents 70.3 percent of total project cost over a 3.5-year period. FCSB will contribute $984,500.00.

It is expected that 800 CAPE Certifications will be obtained by students in elementary middle and high school over three and half years. A unique curriculum will also be introduced in Franklin schools that focuses on attributes of the regional seafood industry.

Gulf

Triumph voted unanimously to approve a Term Sheet with Gulf County School District (GCSD) that will result in industry certifications in subject areas pertaining to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The Triumph request of $750,000 represents 53.5 percent of total project cost over a 5-year period. GCSD will provide $652,000 in instructor salaries and benefits as matching funds.

A minimum of 200 students will obtain Small UAS Safety certifications, Agricultural Use of UAS Technology certifications or Visual Line of Sight Operator (VOS) certifications over five years. UAS is a high demand and growing industry sector that is well-matched to the needs of the local economy.

Bay

Triumph voted to move to Term Sheet negotiations, contingent on resolution of several legal issues, with The Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) for $20 million infrastructure improvements including platens, dredging, bulkhead installation, launchways, equipment, and warehouse facilities and improvements to be installed at ESG’s Nelson Street facility in Panama City.

The project will enable ESG to achieve cost efficiencies in constructing the next generation Offshore Patrol Cutter for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). As with most types of public infrastructure assets, the U.S. Government does not build ships itself but instead contracts with private sector providers who bid via competitively awarded contracts to do the construction. The improvements will be dedicated exclusively for 20 years or more to a public purpose, namely the construction of Government-owned vessels to support national defense.

The Triumph Board’s contingent approval of $20 million represents 28% percent of ESG’s project valuation of $74,405,000.

Walton

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office gained support by the Triumph Board to move forward to a Term Sheet for $2,217,965.00 of Triumph funding to expand pre- and post-release technical education and certification training programs in partnership with Emerald Coast Technical College (ECTC), a part of the Walton County School District.

The funds will be used to pave a driving pad for CDL training and certification, expanded welding certifications and computer technology certification. The program will also allow Sheriff Department employees to take classes and earn certifications in computer technology. Triumph’s participation is just under 50% of the $4,451,565.00 project.
This program is expected to reduce the challenges of those released from jail in successfully re-enter the mainstream economy, gaining employment and decreasing recidivism. The results of this program will be studied by Florida State University.

Triumph Gulf Coast’s board of directors is appointed by the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General and presiding officers of the Legislature. The appointees to the Triumph Board are Allan Bense, Dr. Pam Dana, Chair Don Gaetz, Ben Lee, and Stephen Riggs, IV and Jason Shoaf. All meetings of the board are public.

• Letter to Bay County post Hurricane Michael
• Letter to Gulf County post Hurricane Michael
• Letter to Franklin County post Hurricane Michael
• Reply Letter from Franklin County
• Letter to Wakulla County post Hurricane Michael
• Press Release

Please take notice that on October 23, 2018, at its regular meeting, the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will take up for consideration and intends to approve the following proposal for award of funding pursuant to s. 288.8017, Florida Statutes (2017):

Proposal #72
Applicant: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Funding Request: $8,523,655
Click here to view Summary of Project of Proposal Contract

Any person interested in being heard on these matters may attend and address the Board prior to a vote on approval of any award. Information regarding the time and place for the October 23, 2018 Board Meeting may be found by clicking here.

Any questions or inquiries regarding this notice or the award may be directed to: Cori Henderson, Program Administrator at [email protected]

Panama City, FL – Triumph Gulf Coast’s Board voted to support three new projects in Gulf and Franklin Counties totaling $14.8M. These transformative investments will support the expansion of existing industries, development of new industries, and increased workforce training in coastal rural communities.

The Board also voted to support a summer job training and industry certification program for students in Bay County for $86,780.

Gulf

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board unanimously voted to approve an education agreement with Gulf County School District (GCSD) that will result in industry certifications in subject areas pertaining to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The request of $750,000 represents 53.5 percent of total project cost over a 5-year period. GCSD will provide $652,000 in instructor salaries and benefits as matching funds. A minimum of 200 students will obtain Small UAS Safety certifications, Agricultural Use of UAS Technology certifications or Visual Line of Sight Operator (VOS) certifications over the five years. UAS is a high demand and growing industry sector that is well-matched to the needs of the local economy.

The Board voted to provide $13,000,000 to Gulf County for the construction of a floating dry dock. The floating dry dock will be leased out by the county to induce development of a ship repair industry at the Port of Port St. Joe. The floating dry dock, ship repair and haul out facility are expected to serve as catalysts to additional business and industry for Gulf County and the region.

Franklin

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board voted to move to term sheet negotiations on a proposal from City of Apalachicola for improvements to the Scipio Creek Basin boat yard, landing docks, and the historic Popham house. This proposal is expected to improve usability for the commercial shallow draft fishing fleet and to improve the boat building program and associated Maritime Museum, a foundational tourism asset. The Triumph request of $1,100,000 represents 24.7 percent of total project cost of $4,454,596 over the 15-year (2010 – 2025) implementation of the multi-facility Port of Apalachicola strategic plan. It is expected that the project will allow retention of existing jobs and creation of new ones in the shrimping and off-shore fishing sector, as well as net new employees at the boatyard and new full- and part-time employees at the Maritime Museum. Taken together, the projects are expected to create 13 to 16 new employees, with additional spin-off employment created due to fishing and tourism activity.

Bay

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board approved a grant award to the Tom P. Haney Technical Center in Bay County to modernize its 40 year old HVAC training program. The program includes a pilot program requiring Haney to offer skills upgrade training to graduates using the new equipment and certification programs. The grant request is for $615,000.

A motion was approved by the Triumph Gulf Coast Board to move to a term sheet negotiation with The Bay Youth Summer Work Program. The students participating in the program will benefit from targeted intervention to encourage workplace skills and additional training as well as industry recognized certifications. The program will accept from 30 to 40 students into the summer work program in the initial year. The funding request of $86,780 represents 67.8 percent of the total project cost. The match is provided by community contributions and Gulf Coast State College.

Santa Rosa

The Triumph Gulf Coast Board voted to move forward to a grant award agreement for $8.5M in site development at Whiting Aviation Park. The project, expected to create over 200 high paying jobs, is built on the investment Santa Rosa County made to purchase 267-acres adjacent to NAS Whiting Field and a unique MOU with The Department of the Navy for “through the fence” accesses for private companies. The total project cost is $17,704,975.

Development of Whiting Aviation Park strengthens the region’s aviation cluster with the Pensacola Airport to the east and the Crestview Bob Sikes Airport in Okaloosa County to the west. It enhances the region’s growing aviation industry by providing additional industrial space adjacent to an existing airfield. The proposal supports the regional strategic initiative of expanding the aerospace and defense industry cluster, an industry with a strong outlook for growth.

Targeted investments in the aviation and aerospace cluster are expected to drive supply chain companies to co-locate in the region. Florida is currently #2 in the nation for aviation and aerospace establishments and added more than any other state in the southeastern U.S in 2017.

Triumph Gulf Coast’s board of directors is appointed by the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General and presiding officers of the Legislature. The appointees to the Triumph Board are Allan Bense, Dr. Pam Dana, Chair Don Gaetz, Ben Lee, and Stephen Riggs, IV and Jason Shoaf. All meetings of the board are public.