Year: 2011

First Large Military Contractor to move to ECP’s VentureCrossings

VentureCrossings, St. Joe’s Enterprise Center at the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport will be home to ITT Corporation, one Bay County’s leading military technology contractors.  The new VentureCrossings Center was granted ‘through the fence’ access to use the new airport last November.  This commercial facility was planned and designed to be the home for commercial businesses just like this.

Press Release

(September 6, 2011 – Bay County, FL)  The Bay County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) is pleased to announce that ITT Corporation’s Panama City facility plans to expand its operations to a new, 100,000-square-foot building at VentureCrossings Enterprise Center at West Bay, near the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, in mid-2012. The company will be the first commercial development in the business park built by The St. Joe Company in its 70,000-acre West Bay sector. ITT is projected to hire an additional 30 employees, increasing its total employment to 120, at an average annual wage of $49,500, exceeding 150 percent of Bay County’s average annual wage.

The Panama City facility develops and deploys secure, networked communications and essential electronic warfare, sensing, surveillance, reconnaissance and structures technologies to detect and clear mines from maritime waters. Its Mine Defense Systems operation’s primary Department of Defense local customer is the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division.

“Mine defense is essential to keeping global trade safe and dependable,” said Vice President and General Manager Rich Sorelle of ITT’s Electronic Systems’ integrated electronic warfare systems business. “A growing number of customers, both in the U.S. and around the world, have chosen ITT technology to protect the shipping lanes from threats to world trade.”

Facilitated by the EDA, a competitive package of state and local incentives was leveraged to assist ITT in its expansion in Bay County. The company was approved for Florida’s Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund and a Bay County Property Tax Abatement.

“The EDA not only focuses on attracting companies to Bay County, we also assist our diversified industries in their expansion needs,” said Glen McDonald, chairman of the EDA. “It is because of the partnership with the State of Florida and the Bay County Board of County Commissioners that this project has been successful.”

“ITT’s decision to expand its Bay County operations has a notable economic impact on our community,” said Janet Watermeier, executive director of the EDA. “For every 10 jobs ITT creates, an additional 10 jobs will be created in other areas of the local community. For every $100 that ITT spends, an additional $27 in sales will be generated by other Bay County companies. For every $100 that ITT spends in wages, an additional $46 will be earned by other Bay County workers.”

About ITT Corporation

ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company reported 2010 revenue of $11 billion. www.itt.com.

 

July Tourism UP 50% Over Last Year

July tourism numbers are up 50.84% over July 2010.  The bed tax revenue numbers just came in and they confirm what we all knew already.  This summer was the busiest tourism summer Panama City Beach has ever seen.

True, the 50% compares to last year, a tourism season that was dramatically down due to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill that devastated local businesses.  But, when comparing July of 2011’s numbers to July of 2009 – we’re still an astounding 29% up!

The numbers

These numbers are derived from actual bed tax collections.  Each transient short-term rental is required to register with the local bed taxing authority and pay a 5% tax on all accommodations.  The 1st, 2nd and 4th are proportioned for promotion of the beach (it funds the TDC).  The 3rd is only for beach renourishment and the 5th was directly tied to bringing a low-cost carrier to Panama City Beach and expires April 2014.

July 2009 – 2,302,863.86

July 2010 – 1,967,020.33

July 2011 – 2,966,961.49

July accommodations

This past July, many beach accommodations reported a completely sold out inventory.  Many calls up and down the beach netted no vacancies.  Many speculate that this summer’s growth was indicative of a large pent-up demand for our area that stemmed from last year’s environmental disaster.  Other’s state that we’re just making up for lost ground.  Either way, we’re still expecting to see growth next year, but more along the lines of a normal 10 to 15% growth in bed tax collections.

I Think I’m in Love – With a Hot Dog

If you’ve driven down Thomas Drive the last few weeks, chances are you’ve noticed the Tom’s Hot Dogs sign just before the Dive Locker.  I’m sure you’ve been wondering the same as me: “is this the real deal, or just one of those chinese knock-offs?”

It’s the real deal, folks.  And it’s as delicious as ever.

What makes Tom’s special

Tom’s Hot Dogs is native to downtown Panama City.  Their home has been there for more then 15 years.  Tom’s is a local favorite but also a legend that even tourists are no stranger to.  Rated on Tripadvisor as #5 of 96 restaurants in Panama City, they also have a 93% recommend rate and pages of good reviews.  They do hot dogs, and they do ’em good.

The original owner of Tom’s sold to Pam a few years back, but the legend has continued without a hitch.

When asked what makes their dogs so dang delicious, Daric, one of the owners of the Thomas Drive Tom’s replied, “It’s the flat-grill.  Most people boil their dogs, but the flat-grill makes them just the right texture.  If you’ve been to Brooklyn, you’ve had a dirty water dog.”

They steam their buns too.  I’ve never had a hard bun.

The story behind the ‘beach’ Tom’s

A Tom’s on the beach had been something the owner of the original Tom’s had wanted for a while, but the logistics of the addition was something that kept getting in the way.  Who would manage it? Would she have to split her time between two places? Would the original location suffer because of it?

This past off-season, Daric and Pam were having lunch when they realized their opportunity to work together.  How their relationship was defined, at first, wasn’t clear, but they came to an agreement to a franchise of the original to be opened on the beach, owned by Daric and his business partner James.

August 10th, they opened.  And in their first 23 days, Daric was proud to report they were doing approximately 150% better then their projections – just amazing.

The only difference is the fries

That’s it.  The only difference between the original Tom’s and the Tom’s on the beach is the fries.  Specifically, the original Tom’s doesn’t sell them.

Every single item on the menu at the original Tom’s is on the menu at the beach Tom’s.  The Slaw Dog is the same.  The Downtown Dog, the same.  The Special Dog, Chili Dog, the Chili Cheese Slaw Dog – all the same. The slaw you know and love is exactly the same, the chili, the same.  In fact, many of the ingredients (e.g. chili) are still made in town and brought out to the beach daily.

I had a Slaw Dog at the downtown location Thursday, then one on Friday at the Beach location, and they were both identical – and amazing.

Well, there’s one other difference.  The times they are open.  The Beach Tom’s is open from 10 am to 10 pm, daily.  Although they said they’d probably begin shutting down a bit earlier since traffic drops off considerably at 9 pm.

Location

Tom’s is located on the very north part of Thomas Drive, right next to The Dive Locker.

Here is a map link.

Local Residents Speak Out Against Aaron Bessant Park Improvements

Wednesday evening, the City of Panama City Beach held a public workshop to discuss the improvements slated for Aaron Bessant Park. While many spoke in agreement with the improvements, many local area residents were against the improvements and/or how they were to be done – many making suggestions for how they thought the improvements should be done.

The improvements for Aaron Bessant Park include a new amphitheater, more bathroom facilities and soccer fields.

The opposition

The commenters in opposition of the improvements were concerned about many of the same issues:

  • Traffic
  • Noise
  • The environment

“I called Mr. Jackson at 11pm Saturday night to complain about the noise,” one resident said, “his wife said he was asleep. . .  I said ‘wake him up, this noise is too loud, too late.”

Another area resident said, “I should not be able to hear every word from these concerts from my porch, are the noise levels being policed?”

“I sat through six lights waiting to cross Back Beach while the cops kept letting everyone just turn,” a resident of Palmetto Trace said, “never mind you who want to just go home.”

“These events are nice, but what happens when both entrances of Palmetto Trace are blocked and there is an emergency where fire, emt and police can’t get in to the neighborhood,” said another resident of Palmetto Trace.

This meeting seemed timely for many residents since the Christian Music Fest, the first of the Fun Never Sets Fall Concert Series was last weekend.  The noise levels seemed higher than normal.  I personally experienced the noise levels being able to hear it from Highway 79.

Suggestions from the opposition

One of the commenters insinuated that those that were in ‘opposition’ of the improvements weren’t against a new amphitheater being build, but rather how it was being build and where it was being built.  Many made suggestions for facing it another way, moving it all together or not building it at all.

Facing it towards the Gulf

Several made the suggestion to face the amphitheater towards the Gulf, stating that if it was just point away from residential neighborhoods that it could help. This option was explored in conversation, but didn’t seem plausible based on the facts.

If it were to be placed on the opposite side of the field, the current restroom structure would have to be demolished, increasing the development cost.  “The budget is already extremely tight,” said Mario Gisbert, CRA Manager of Panama City Beach.  In addition, that would face it towards another residential area and a few Gulf-front condos – leading to a reflective effect.  This sound reflection could carry the sound right into even more residential area.

Another suggestion was made to place the amphitheater where the current veteran’s memorial is and direct the sound over Pier Park towards Calypso Resort Towers.  This suggestion drew the ire of Veterans, Pier Park and those residents that stood to receive sound reflection from Calypso Resort.

Moving it to Frank Brown Park

One suggestion was made to move the amphitheater to Frank Brown Park.

One council person’s response was, “I don’t know what that would solve, Frank Brown Park is literally closer to Palmetto Trace.”

Building an convention center up Highway 79

One commenter suggested that we ‘bond’ it out, buy the land and build a convention center up north on Highway 79.  She mentioned “the airport’s up there, we’re trying to grow up there, it makes sense to just build something like this up there.”

Mayor Oberst: “We don’t have the land, we don’t have the money, that’s just not going to happen. . . The Panama City Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has offered to pay for this, and this is what we can afford.”

Additionally, if people are concerned about traffic now, what will happen when 5,000 cars are all coming down Highway 79 to travel through the 79/Back Beach Road intersection after an event?

Supporters of the improvements

“We have to remember, we live in a tourist town.  We all reap the benefits of this.  We enjoy no property taxes because of the sales tax that is mostly paid by our out-of-town guests.  Did you know that 40% of all the month that goes to our schools from that 1/2 cent sales tax comes from tourists? We all benefit from that.  We have to do things that extend our season.  Right now we operate at a 49 to 60 day season – we have to do everything we can to extend that season and bring people down here so we can make a living” – Jack Bishop

“I moved down here five years ago because I love it here, and I love seeing us do progressive things and making hard decisions.  I say go for it,” said a Palmetto Trace resident.

Many were in support of the improvements and agreed that the area needs to do anything it can to bring more people to Panama City Beach stating tourism is the life-blood of our area.  Some of the supporters mentioned some of the good they saw from this:

  • The opportunity to have better quality event infrastructure
  • Solidified event ordinances
  • Firm and contractual operational standards (noise, traffic, time restraints)

Doug Sale, the staff counsel explained that this whole ordeal is not as simple as the “bricks and mortar ‘it’, but about the structure and how it will be operationally ran. . .  and with that, we can determine what sound levels are acceptable, what times are ok to operate, etc.”   He reminded everyone that the purpose of the workshop was to get feedback as to the concerns of the area residents and that “we got a lot of good feedback.”

Comments

Overall, what are your thoughts on this?  Were you there Wednesday evening?  What are your concerns?

Panama City Beach Festival of the Arts

Coming up on September 17th from 10 am to 6 pm, the Palms Conference Center is hosting the Festival of the Arts, an arts and crafts show and sale. The event will include paintings of all types, sculptures, varying types of crafts that can include wood workings, puzzles, jewelry and more.

Event Details

The event is located at the Palms Conference Center located in east Panama City Beach.  The conference center is right down the street from Wonderworks and Ripley’s Believe it or Not!

The address:

Palms Conference Center
9104 Front Beach Road
Panama City Beach, FL 32407

Click here for a map.

Some of the things you can expect to see at the festival
How to become a vendor

If you’re interested in having your arts or crafts displayed at this event, becoming a vendor is easy.  Just go to their website and download the Vendor application, linked to on the left of their site.

Aaron Bessant Park Amphitheater Construction Schedule

The projected improvements to Aaron Bessant Park have been quite a hot topic lately with many energetically arguing for and against it.  The public workshop is this Wednesday evening and a lively workshop its expected to be!

The city has released the projected construction schedule, which is not final, but intended to be used to map out the process of building the improvements.

The schedule

August

  • Week 3 – Technical specifications
  • Week 4 – Draft RFQ and sound check site
  • Week 5 – Workshop: Design parameters

September

  • Week 6 – Advertise RFQ: Design/Build
  • Week 7 – Geotechnical released
  • Week 8 – Refine Design parameters
  • Week 9 – Addendum

October

  • Week 10 – RFQ Due Design/Build
  • Week 11 – Award Contract: Design/Build
  • Week 12 – Work shop: Design
  • Week 13 – Submit to FCT

November

  • Week 15 – Site/Structural Plans
  • Week 16 – Site Construction Start
  • Week 17 – Order Steel
  • Week 18 – Permit Set Complete

December

  • Week 19 – Building Construction Start
  • Week 20 – Underground work
  • Week 21 – Slab on Grade

January

  • Week 24 – Walls to roof structure
  • Week 26 – Roof Structure

February

  • Week 28 – MEP installation

March

  • Week 32 – Finish work
  • Week 35 – Certificate of occupancy

April

  • Week 36 – Punch list
  • Week 37 – Seabreeze Jazz Festival

Pier vs Pier Weekly Fishing Tournaments [Weekly Prizes]

To showcase the world-class fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, Panama City Beach is luring avid anglers with weekend-long fishing tournaments this fall. Running from Sept. 23 to Nov. 13, the City Pier vs. County Pier Challenge guarantees a prize purse totaling more than $10,000.

The M.B. Miller Pier (County Pier) and the Russell-Fields Pier (City Pier) are twin piers, both of which are prized as prime fishing spots for anglers of all ages.  Extending more than 1,500 feet into the calm waters, the piers are two of the longest on the Gulf Coast. All visitors have the opportunity to cast a line for a local catch, with rod rentals and tackle available on site.

Tournament info

Each weekend during the contest, on Friday through Sunday, fishermen and women of all levels are invited to compete in the challenge.  There are four categories

  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Flounder
  • King Mackerel
  • Pompano

Every weekend, participants can win a top prize of $150 for each species, with a total of $1200 in prizes awarded. A $250 prize will be awarded for the heaviest catch of the entire challenge. Kids are welcome to participate in the Children’s Division tournaments, open to anglers 12 and under. Winners of the Children’s Division will receive rod and reel prizes.

Weigh-ins will take place at each pier and the winner will be announced on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Best of all, there is no entry fee required for the tournaments.

 

Aaron Bessant Park Improvements Workshop Date Set

In a city commission meeting yesterday, a date for the first public workshop was set to discuss the improvements slated to be made to Aaron Bessant Park in Panama City Beach.  The park improvements were voted on and approved to begin planning at the last commission meeting.  Originally, three members of the commission voted for and two members voted against the improvements.  The tension from the disagreement seemed to be present at yesterday’s meeting.

An accelerated schedule

Panama City Beach City Manager Richard Jackson presented what was later dubbed an “accelerated schedule” for project construction and completion.  The schedule included awarding the construction contract in October and beginning development in November.  The goal, in the schedule, is to be complete and ready for the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in April.

Details about the park improvements
  • 60′x40′ amphitheater with permanent roof and walls suitable for theatrical productions, orchestral performances and musical events
  • Expanded amphitheater lawn area (see diagram below
  • Vegetative buffers around the parameter to prevent the need for temporary fencing
  • The Festival Lawn (the sandy area that’s used as overflow and vedor parking behind the park) will be improved to the quality of Frank Brown Park’s festival area
  • This area will support parking, play fields, and will have sod and irrigation
  • Additional bathroom facilities
Information about the public workshop

The public workshop is an opportunity for your voice to be heard.  The intention is to hear feedback from community residents and interested parties to get feedback on the project, it’s future use, implementation and development.  I would urge anyone that is planning on going, not to go with the intention of stopping this project.  The point is to get public feedback, and if you come with your argumentative hat on, your input will be difficult to hear.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday August 31, 2011 at 6 pm.

The issues on the agenda to discuss at the workshop:

These are bullet points provided from Panama City Beach City Manager Richard Jackson.

  • FCT (Florida Communities Trust) Management plan and their view of “passive park”
  • Parking
  • Access
  • Soccer fields
  • Number of bathrooms
  • Long term maintenance responsibility and cost
  • Environmental respect for Lullwater Lake (wetland)
  • Sound attenuation
  • Operational Standards
  • Traffic
  • Pedestrian access
  • Lighting
Opinion

I have an opinion on this development, as well as the new Walmart development, as I know many of our readers do.  You can read it here.

Aaron Bessant Park, Walmart [OPINION]

The development of a new Walmart next to Pier Park and the talk of improvements to the performance infrastructure at Aaron Bessant Park have brought  some strong opinions for both sides of the argument.  Some agree, some don’t.

One of the arguments that seems to be consistent is that we don’t need more traffic in that area.  Based on conversations with city officials, planners and the TDC, the purpose of the Aaron Bessant Park improvements isn’t to necessarily increase the per-event occupancy, but rather increase the comfort by which events can set up and decrease the cost it takes to erect the staging.

And, Walmart coming here isn’t really a matter of government decision, it’s a private industry matter.

The issue of occupancy of Aaron Bessant Park

The improvements will increase the per-event occupancy to 10,000, up from 7,500, but this doesn’t mean that every event will have 10,000 attendees there.  Sure, some events will, ideally, they all would (more people at the event means more money for Panama City Beach), but most probably won’t.  In addition, don’t think that 10,000 people will mean 10,000 cars.  Studies have shown that on average, events like these bring 5 people per car to the event.  So, with that figure in mind, the parking spaces at Pier Park and the additional parking that will be provided in the western improvements should suffice.

The issue of traffic in the Pier Park area

Where we stand today, infrastructure improvements will need to be made to handle traffic in this area.  When the new Walmart is done, and tourism numbers are up, traffic along this corridor will increase.  However, at this time, plans to signalize Powell Adams Road are in place (look for this in the next 12 to 18 months) and three-laning this whole stretch of road will likely happen within 24 months, which will help.

The reality is, people want to come here because it’s paradise.  Businesses want to come here because people want to come here, and growth will happen, whether you want it to or not.

The question is not IF we’ll grow on this end of the beach, but rather HOW we’ll grow.  It’s up to members of the Panama City Beach community to help the city commissioners make right decisions in our path of growth so that 15 years down the road, we’re not looking back going, “that was a dumb decision,” or “why didn’t we do it like that?”

The issue of noise from Aaron Bessant Park

Many residents are concerned about the noise that will come from events at this new facility.  I totally understand this concern.  But, there will not be any more noise then what was already there during past events.  During any large event held at Aaron Bessant Park, the music can be heard from many of the condos and homes within a mile radius of the park.  If anything, I would think the improvements would cut some of that noise down as it is being discussed to build the structure out of concrete block.  This should insulate the sound projection to the south.

And again, the music projection from these new improvements would only be during events, which are not necessarily every weekend.