business Archive

Major construction on the main building at the new Crestview Commons development is completed and the first businesses are expected to open in early May. Crestview City Manager Tim Bolduc gave an update on the Crestview Commons development at the City Council’s April 24 meeting.

Neighbors who live near the site of a new proposed solar energy center recently got their first good look at the possible project. A new Florida Power & Light solar energy center which would be located a few miles west of Crestview and just south of Interstate 10 is in the early permitting stages. FPL representatives invited the nearby neighbors to an open house on April 6 to discuss the project.

Businesses at the long-awaited Crestview Commons development could begin opening as early as late April, according to the City of Crestview. “We are hoping for late April/early May (openings for the first business openings),” said Chance Leavins, public information manager for the City of Crestview.

One of the most common early questions John Emsing hears from clients and potential clients is, “What can you do for me?”

His initial response is usually fairly standard: “Well what is your business?”

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) brought 10 new solar energy centers online throughout Florida Feb. 1. FPL now has 60 solar energy centers installed statewide – capable of generating enough clean, emissions-free energy to power approximately 900,000 homes throughout the state.

If you are interested in learning about starting a business in childcare, then you may be in luck.

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of West Florida, Wells Fargo, and the Business and Leadership Institute for Early Learning (BLI) will be presenting a series of classes to help participants learn more about the childcare industry and what it takes to start and run a business.

As average gasoline prices have moved back above $3 a gallon in Florida, a tech company that monitors the fuel industry foresees prices above $4 a gallon in 2023.

The past couple of years have seen a record breaking amount of people coming through the Pensacola International Airport (PNS). At the end of September, the 2022 numbers came in. Approximately 2.4 million passengers went through PNS during the past fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Oct. 1 each year.

One Okaloosa EDC announced today that Gulf Air Group, Inc. has selected Crestview’s Bob Sikes Airport for a competitive expansion project.  The anticipated $16,000,000 investment will be applied toward the construction and equipping of a new, state-of-the-art aircraft hangar complex totaling 70,000 SF. 

Along with the investment, the company has committed to hiring 55 individuals at an average wage of $89,000 (179% of Okaloosa County’s average wage).  These positions are in addition to the 102 employees the company currently employs in their existing facility at Bob Sikes Airport.

Florida residents and businesses likely will get hit with higher electric bills in 2023 as utilities continue to struggle with increased costs of natural gas.

Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. filed petitions Friday at the state Public Service Commission that detailed expected costs in 2023.