Growth Management

Military Construction (MILCON) l  Eglin's Vision 2015 Growth Management Plan  l  Okaloosa County Growth Management Plan  l  Joint Land Use Study, JLUS  l 
 Committee for a Sustainable Emerald Coast

BRAC and workforce housing in Okaloosa County!

     Growth management is known a set of techniques used  to ensure that as a population grows that there are services available to meet their demands. These demands are not only government services, they include protection of natural spaces, sufficient and affordable housing, delivery of utilities, preservation of buildings and places of historical value, transportation, and sufficient places to conduct the growth of businesses.

Our region is facing tremendous population growth and its related quality of life challenges as a result of the 2005 BRAC realignments to our area.  As the lead business advocate for the county, the EDC and its Defense Support Initiative are committed to assisting our municipalities, communities, business leaders and residents in the impending challenges facing our tri-county region as a result of these military realignments. 

In response to the demanding need to identify accurate numbers of realignment personnel and the timeline, the EDC engage the University of West Florida Haas Center to conduct an economic impact analysis of the tri-county area.  This study identifies those activities that would not occur in the tri-county region were it not for the BRAC 2005 realignments. 

Click here to view the Economic Impact of Military Personnel Realignments Analysis July 2007
 

Annual Net BRAC Impact Figures

Source: UWF Haas Center, July 2007

In response to the 2005 BRAC realignment personnel coming to the Eglin Complex, Eglin AFB created its growth management initiative Vision 2015.  In tandem, Okaloosa County created their Eglin Installation Growth Committee as their growth management plan.  Concurrently, pockets of civic groups around the tri-county area are doing the same to include a four-county initiative by the Governor, the Committee for a Sustainable Emerald Coast. 

Military Construction (MILCON) Coalition

The forecasted amount for military construction (MILCON) in Okaloosa County as a result of BRAC is over $730 million.  The Okaloosa County EDC has joined forces with the Okaloosa-Walton Workforce Development Board to reach out to prime contractors who will be undertaking the MILCON projects with the goal of the sub-contracts going to local businesses. Also participating in the coalition are the Okaloosa-Walton Building Industry Association, the Florida Procurement Technical Assistance Center and local building trades groups.  

• Army Special Forces: Construction began January 2009

• Air Force F-35 Initial Training Site: the Record of Decision was released by the Air Force in February 2009.  The Task Orders to the prime contractors will now be distributed.

The Eglin BRAC construction will be managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  Seven southeastern and national firms have been pre-qualified to undertake those projects supporting the standup of the Joint Strike Fighter Initial Training Center on the Eglin main base and the beddown of the Army 7^th Special Forces Group in the area around Duke Field. These firms will vary in their need for local contracts support and the MILCON coalition will ensure that they are aware of the full range of capabilities and skill sets residing in our region.  The MILCON Coalition will further assist our local companies to prepare for the application process of those sub-contracts.

How-To Conference

A procurement conference was held October 2008 to introduced local contractors to Army Corps of Engineers.  Approximately 150 contractors participated in the event. A follow-up seminar was held January 29, 2009 to introduce the process of registering to do business with the federal government.

Current requirements by the US Army Corps of Engineers

• Selected projects are required to achieve various LEED scores, certification on a case-by-case basis

• All new construction and major renovation - LEED Silver

• Horizontal construction (airfield, roads), utilities, industrial facilities - lower LEED score required

• 30% energy reduction mandatory (EPAct)

• (USACE) LEED AP required all design and construction contractors

• Certifiable - "Able to achieve USGBC certification if submitted"

• 5% of projects will be selected for formal certification by USGBC, 10% FY10 and beyond

MATCO Prime Contractors List

Vision 2015 

In preparation for the incoming BRAC realignment personnel and their families, Eglin Air Force Base conducted a public summit on growth management in May 2006, Vision 2015.  The objective was to foster collaboration between Eglin AFB and the communities.  Working together with joint-use of land, infrastructure, and construction, the military community and the public communities can accomplish more together than separately.

Federal, state, local and military representatives discussed the status of new units moving to Eglin Air Force Base, regional growth challenges facing the communities, such as transportation, affordable housing, schools, and the success of collaborative planning.

Vision 2015 Presentations
Please note that due to size, some presentations may take a minute to load.

• Maj. General Jeff Riemer, Commander, AAC, Introduction
  Why We Need the 2015 Summit

• Sean Garretson, TIP Strategies, Austin, Texas
  Diversifying the Economy of Northwest Florida

• Thaddeus Cohen, Secretary, Florida DCA
  Initiatives for Strategic Growth

• Richard Tenga, Office of Secretary of Defense-Office Economic Adjustment
  Joint Land Use Study & Growth Management Plan

• Lt. Gen. Gordon Fornell, U.S.A.F. Ret.
   Eglin - Community Partnership Legacy

• Robert Arnold, Chairman, Eglin Mission Enhancement Committee
  Vision 2015--A Look Ahead

• Commissioner Sherry Campbell, Okaloosa County Chairman
   Proactive Approach Needed For Upcoming Military Expansions

• Maj. General Jeff Riemer, Commander, AAC, Closing Remarks, and Q&A
  Missing Pieces of the Puzzle

The public forum presented the current challenges, successes to date, and what we need to do now as a community. 

The Future is Heading Our Way (PowerPoint Presentation)
Mr. Robert Arnold, Chairman, EAFB Mission Enhancement Committee
November 21, 2006 Vision 2015 Vector Check

Vision 2015 Vector Check II

Eglin AFB hosted their second Vector Check November 1, 2007 with sponsorship provided by the Okaloosa EDC.   Approximately 100 community leaders from the tri-county area participated.

Vector Check Presentations

• Robert Arnold
  Meeting Overview

• Brig Gen Wilson
  Eglin AFB

• Brig Gen Heithold
  Hurlburt Field

• Robert Arnold
  Vision 2015 Initiatives

• Don Amunds
  Commissioner Okaloosa County

• Michael Bomar
  Tetra Tech, Inc.

• Dr. Rick Harper
  UWF Haas Center

 Vision 2015 Vector Check III

Eglin AFB hosted their second Vector Check November 19, 2008.  Sponsorship was provided by the Okaloosa EDC and DSI.   Approximately 150 community leaders from the tri-county area participated.

Vector Check Speakers and Presentations

• Mr. Bob Arnold
  Meeting Overview

• Dr. Rick Harper
  Future Economic Outlook

• Col. McClintock
  Eglin AFB; 96 Air Base Wing

• Col. Plumb
  46th Test Wing

• Col. Webb
  Hurlburt Field

• Capt. Sadsad
  NAS Whiting Field

• Mr. Bill Roberts
  Okaloosa County

• Mr. Don Salter
  Santa Rosa County

• Mr. Scott Brannon
  Walton County

• Mr. Jeff Fanto
  Joint Land Use Study

Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners
Eglin Installation Growth Management Committee

In support of Eglin’s Vision 2015, the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners initiated their three-county Eglin Installation Growth Committee.  The umbrella of this committee consists of twelve executive committee members with eleven sub-committees.  Each sub-committee addresssed issues related to their topic, identify challenges and develop strategies to address those challenges.  The sub-committees provided this information to the Executive Committee which reports to the county and ultimately EAFB.  The goal of the Board of County Commissioners is a long-term strategic plan on growth management.  The EDC and DSI have representation on multiple levels in the executive committee and in sub-committees.

The county hired HDR Consultants in May 2008 to conduct their growth management plan under their Office of Economic Adjustment grant.  Their public unveiling was held June 18, 2008.  They anticipate completing this study by year-end of 2009.

Okaloosa Joint Land Use Study

After receiving a Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) grant from the Office of Economic Adjustment, Okaloosa County initiated their Tri-County  JLUS in September 2006 to plan for future compatible growth of the Eglin AFB community.  The JLUS program is a Department of Defense initiative providing assistance through the OEA for state and local governments to participate with military installations in developing land use plans compatible with their mission.  The JLUS program encourages cooperative land use planning between military installations and adjacent communities so future community growth and development are compatible with the training and operational missions of the installation.  The Eglin JLUS incorporates a variety of land use related strategies and policies for the tri-county area including the three counties and eleven incorporated cities/towns. 

The Tri-County JLUS completion date was extended beyond its original August 31, 2008 date to encompass Eglin AFB's Environmental Impact Study (EIS), which was completed in September 2008.  The EIS final document could possibly contain information and data that could alter the analysis in the JLUS.  The draft JLUS document is available on the county's webpage:  http://www.tri-countybrac.com

Committee for a Sustainable Emerald Coast

 In August of 2006, Governor Jeb Bush appointed Emerald Coast leaders from education, government, conservation, and business to serve as members of the Committee for a Sustainable Emerald Coast.  Governor Bush convened this Committee to bring together public and private interests, concerns and communities in the four-county region consisting of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

The Committee considered issues of long range planning that would help the region prepare for the next generation.  The primary issues of concern fall into the categories of:

• Sustainable Growth and Development

• Economic Diversity and Prosperity

• Environmental Stewardship

• Education, Health Care and Culture

The Committee composed their final report with recommendations in December 2007 and presented it to Governor Charlie Crist in January 2008.

Committee for a Sustainable Emerald Coast Website

      The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, and its Defense Support Initiative Committee, both supports and participates in these growth management plans as part of its endearing commitment as the lead business advocate organization committed to the growth and diversity of Okaloosa County's economy.

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