Communities get state defense funds

Northwest Florida communities have been awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in the latest outlay of state defense-related grants. The Defense Reinvestment Grant Progrm and the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program provide funding to communities heavily reliant on the military. The Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce was awarded $80,000 to expand and create higher skilled jobs in the military community as former military transistion to non-defense jobs. Pensacola is home of Naval Air Station Pensacola. Santa Rosa County was awrded $62,500 to support activities surrounding Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The Bay Defense Alliance was awarded $90,000 to continue rebuilding efforts from Hurricane Michael, which hit Tyndall Air Force Base. The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County was awarded $85,000 to continue efforts to encourage economic diversification. The grant also will be used to help facilitate STEM cluster development. Infrastructure grants were awarded to Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, $200,000 and $282,000, respectively, for the purchase of easements around Naval Air Station Whiting Field and outlying fields. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 10/14/20)