The following amounts will be distributed from state grants: $300,000 will go to Santa Rosa County for easement purchases around NAS Whiting Field to provide critical buffer zones, with another $60,000 to further develop Whiting Field Aviation Park. A total of $300,000 will be disbursed to Escambia County for easement purchases around NAS Pensacola to ensure operational sustainability. A total of $90,000 will go to Okaloosa County to encourage economic diversification around Eglin AFB, and to facilitate opportunities for entrepreneurs, defense contractors and the non-defense STEM sector. Lastly, $90,000 will go to Pensacola Chamber of Commerce for military members transitioning from active duty or government service.
“We are proud of what’s being done across the state to help the military footprint,” DeSantis said. “As we look to see the funding and where it would make the most sense, clearly this is one of the regions of the state that really stands out. We know the community will make good use of it.”
Many speakers stepped up to the microphone at the Wednesday morning press conference to thank DeSantis, county commissioners and the state of Florida for the financial help to help the area thrive.
Captain Paul Flores, the commanding officer at NAS Whiting Field, offered his appreciation.
“NAS Whiting Field is the busiest Naval aviation complex in the world,” Flores said.
According to Flores, 60% of all Naval aviators come through NAS Whiting Field, while 100% of Naval helicopter pilots train there. In all, 1200 pilots will train there each year.
“Whiting Field flies almost 20% of all Naval aviation flight hours, so you can imagine the impact that it has on the greater Navy and that’s the direct impact that Santa Rosa County has on the Navy … So, you can’t underestimate the impact that this base has on the Navy,” said Flores.
District 4 County Commissioner Dave Piech offered thanks to the state for its continued support of Santa Rosa County.
“We truly appreciate all you have done and do for us here in the panhandle. Dating back to 2007, these grants have been there to safeguard the busiest naval training complex in the world, NAS Whiting Field,” Piech said.
“To date, the totality of all grant programs in the state of Florida have protected over 12,000 acres of land and expended over $35,000,000 in matching funds,” he added. “We are very fortunate to have the continued military support for military operations through these grants in our county. We will see the impact results of these initiatives for years to come.”
Dane Eagle, the Secretary of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, expressed appreciation to DeSantis for his commitment to ensuring that Florida “remains the most military-friendly state in the nation.”
In his closing remarks, DeSantis touched on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, the state’s continued support of first responders and law enforcement as well as new programs in the works to benefit them.
“One of the reasons why we are so supportive of our military and our first responders is that 9/11 reminds us more than maybe anything when things happen, tragedy strikes and people are in danger, it’s the people wearing the uniform that are going in,” he said. “You had the people running into the Twin Towers to help save however many hundreds, if not thousands of people, and yet many of them knew going in that they would probably never come out.”
DeSantis also announced a new program that will be brought before the state legislature that will offer $5,000 signing bonus for new law enforcement officers or officers moving to Florida from another state. This move comes in response to the “attacks on law enforcement” throughout the country.
“While other cities were trying to defund the police, we were funding them and then some,” DeSantis said.
