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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

GKN Aerospace Plans $50 Million Manufacturing Center In Bay County, Florida

02/15/2017
GKN Aerospace intends to lease a new manufacturing facility, which will be will be developed and owned by St. Joe Company in Venture Crossings Enterprise Centre in Bay County, Florida. GKN will make a capital investment of $50 million, with plans to create 170 jobs.

The Venture Crossings business park is a “Florida First Sites” Certified Site. Florida First Sites is a regional site certification program for project-ready sites in the State of Florida. Each certified site undergoes a rigorous screening process, ensuring that pre-work has been complete, taking the majority of the risk out of the site selection process.

According to Bay County officials, With commercial and industrial land for sale, lease or development, Venture Crossings Enterprise Centre offers a strategic location for those seeking to launch, expand or consolidate a business. High tech manufacturers, such as GKN Aerospace and Harris Corporation, have been drawn to Venture Crossings due in part to its potential for 24/7 operations and for transportation options via air, land or sea. Numerous real estate options exist, including pad-ready sites and build-to-suit construction, offering businesses flexibility and capacity to grow.

Anchored by Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, major arterial highways and several nearby Florida Gulf coast military installations, Venture Crossings can provide the connections and solutions for a broad range of expanding businesses. A premier location and a motivated workforce with numerous training and educational facilities nearby create a nurturing environment for businesses.

This project was made possible through the combined efforts of the University of West Florida, Bay County Economic Development Alliance, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bay County Board of County Commissioners, CareerSource Florida, CareerSource Gulf Coast, Gulf Coast State College and Enterprise Florida.

Jorge Gonzalez, The St. Joe Company’s President & CEO, said, “We are pleased that a company of the stature of GKN Aerospace will be bringing high quality aerospace manufacturing jobs to Bay County. Manufacturing has a high economic multiplier effect so we remain committed to working with the Bay County EDA and other partners to continue to attract quality job creators.”

Mike Grunza, CEO of GKN Aerospace’s Aerostructures North America business said, “This investment emphasizes our commitment to manufacturing in North America, as this new world class facility will create jobs and strengthen our competitive position in the United States aerospace market for the future. The excellent support we have received from Bay County EDA, Governor Rick Scott’s office, higher educational partners and The St. Joe Company made Florida an ideal location for GKN.”

“This is incredible news for Bay County and the State of Florida,” said state Rep. Jay Trumbull. “When a global aerospace leader choses your community to open a manufacturing facility, it puts you on the international map. This is just the beginning, and we will not stop until Bay County is the economic engine for Florida’s Panhandle.”

“We are committed to making the Bay County site successful. This is the company’s first location in the state and that is a complement to our community,” Bay County Commission Chairman Bill Dozier said. “GKN is an outstanding company with a proven history and they will be a great addition.”

“We are ecstatic to welcome GKN Aerospace to Bay County, Florida! The creation of 170 new jobs along with a capital investment of more than $50 million will have a legacy impact in our local economy said Clint Mizell 2016 Chairman of the Bay Economic Development Alliance. “Our community came together as a team to land this “game changing” project. We cannot say enough thanks to the many individuals and organizations that helped and supported our efforts.”

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