Background   l   Educational Requirements Study   l   Site Specifications

Located in the heart of Northwest Florida, this Okaloosa County-based regional research center sits in close proximity to Eglin Air Force Base, one of only three Air Force Development, Test and Evaluation Centers in the United States.

Okaloosa County and Eglin AFB are currently developing an Enhanced Use Lease for a new research center to be located adjacent to the University of Florida's Research, Engineering and Education Facility, REEF. This collaborative campus will enhance the ability of Eglin AFB to carry out its vital national defense mission by creating powerful synergistic relationships between public research facilities, and private-sector manufacturing and research-based businesses.

Background

The idea of a new technology park was first introduced in a 1991 conceptual paper prepared by the Okaloosa-Walton Community College and the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Okaloosa County.  That original Okaloosa Technology Park has evolved into the Emerald Coast Technology and Research Center. The ECTRC will benefit Eglin Air Force Base, the region’s military and university laboratories, local defense contractors, and the Okaloosa County and regional economy! 

Currently the University of Florida utilizes a 10 acre portion out of 118.65 acres with a 45,000 square foot building occupied by the University’s REEF.  The 10 acre parcel also includes the REEF’s parking lots and maintenance area.  The remaining underutilized land surrounding the REEF is the location for the establishment of the campus. The REEF will form a nucleus for the park to which technology-based companies will gravitate.

Okaloosa County, Florida:

One of the Southeast United States' best concentrations of high-tech aviation, aerospace and engineering businesses offering relocation incentives, low taxes, skilled labor force, and prime locations.

The visionary design by the Eglin Properties LLC team will support a conference center, short-term hotel and student housing, restaurants and a child-care facility.  Coldwell Bankers Commercial United Realtors will maintain the center's lease structure.  A technical business incubator facility will also be located at the center and developed by the Okaloosa EDC to assist start-up technical firms and advancing entrepreneurs.

The educational partnership between UF REEF, the University of West Florida and Northwest Florida State College will provide a stimulating intellectual environment offering students and scientists a unique opportunity to explore the development and application of next-generation technologies.  The Florida LambdaRail (FLR), overseen by the University of West Florida, is a nationally and internationally connected ultra-high bandwidth fiber optic infrastructure created to facilitate advanced research, education and economic activities in Florida and will be available at the center.

Educational Requirements Study

The University of West Florida Haas Center was engaged by the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County to conduct a three county educational gap study to assist in the EDC's efforts to market the center.  The study provides a comprehensive assessment of the components of the tri-county higher education system that supports jobs in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) related fields.  Through the Haas Center's methodology four industries were identified with the highest need for new and replacement jobs in the next five years (2008-2013).  They are aerospace engineering, industrial & systems engineering, electrical engineering, and computer engineering.

What the chart above outlines for us is that these four industries are our growth centers over the next five years.  It was discovered that both aerospace engineering and industrial & systems engineering are not being supplied locally by our education institutions but they are supplied by the state's institutions.  This means that we can recruit talent from across the state and keep our young intellectual talent in Florida.  Electrical engineering is right on target, both locally and across the state of Florida.  Computer engineering, however is under supplied both locally and across the state.  Therefore, this is the industry we need to target to provide the needed training for the growth industries in our area; and to assist our local students train in fields where they can obtain local jobs.

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Site Specifications

Site Location:

The site is centrally located in the heart of Okaloosa County just west of the intersection of Lewis Turner Boulevard and Highway 85 outside the west gate of Eglin AFB.

Site Size Available:

As needed.

Environment:

Property is a combination of cleared and forested level terrains.  No wetlands exist with the parcel.

Access:

Close proximity to U.S. Highway 98, Highway 85, State Highway 189 (Mary Esther Blvd.), Interstate 10, and the Okaloosa Regional Airport.

Transportation:

Utilities:

Owner:

USAF, Eglin AFB, owns the land leased by the University of Florida.  Eglin Properties, LLC is the improvements developer

Current Tenants:

The University of Florida's Research, Engineering and Education Facility (REEF).  The University of West Florida.  The Institute for Human and Machine Cognition.

Background   l   Educational Requirements Study   l   Site Specifications

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