Grants awarded to protect bases

Gov. Rick Scott said $850,000 in grants will go to 11 Florida communities with military bases. The grants are designed to protect the bases and diversity the economies. In Northwest Florida, Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties will receive a combined $335,000 in 2012-2013 Defense Reinvestment Grants, administred by Enterprise Florida. The military/defense sector has a $60 billion economic impact on the state, providing more than 686,181 jobs. The Bay Defense Alliance will get $100,000, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce will receive $70,000, the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County will get $125,000 and Santa Rosa County will receive $40,000. (Source: WMBB, 09/17/12) The Northwest Florida counties are home to Eglin and Tyndall Air Force bases, Hurlburt and Duke fields, Naval Air Station Pensacola and Whiting Field, the Naval Surface Warfare Center and Corry Station.