January 26, 2021
The University of West Florida is accepting applications for the Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund, a regional economic development program with the goal to distribute $10 million in funding to businesses seeking to create jobs in Northwest Florida.
“UWF is honored to manage this program and the distribution of State of Florida economic development funds to companies that are investing in the region’s continuing financial growth,” said Dr. Matthew Schwartz, assistant vice president of research administration. “The IRDF program highlights the University’s continuing role in the region’s economic development and recovery from both natural disasters and financial hardships tied to the COVID pandemic.”
If the county workers vote to unionize, AFSCME will serve as their representative. The ongoing election is the culmination of a year and a half of organizing on the part of Okaloosa employees for a seat at the table with the county to bargain on issues such as fair pay, benefits, and safety, AFSCME spokesman Kelly Benjamin said in an email.
The blue collar workers and foremen are the second group of Okaloosa County employees to consider unionization. County paramedics and EMT s voted in late 2019 to unionize, according to County Administrator John Hofstad.
County corrections officers also have provided the signatures needed to qualify to hold a vote to unionize, according to Benjamin. No time frame for balloting for that group, or unit, has been set.
In the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the state Legislature established the $30 million program, formerly named the Industry Recruitment, Retention & Expansion Fund Grant Program. About $10 million in funding remains for the program, which focuses on research and development, commercialization of research, economic diversification and job creation. Eligible industries include green technology, life sciences, information technology, aviation and aerospace, homeland security, financial and professional services, defense and manufacturing.
UWF Research Administration and Engagement is coordinating and overseeing the program by working with regional economic development offices. The eligible counties for funding include Bay, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla and Walton. Businesses that commit to creating jobs in one or more of the eight counties are eligible for the funds. The project cap per award is $2 million. Other requirements for recipien
Pensacola News Journal
When Harold Griffin Jr. began building the family business, he wasn t thinking about the fact that it was 100% minority-owned or that his employee count would eventually become almost all women or minorities; he just wanted to provide good customer service.
His company, ITL Solutions, provides non-emergency transportation, such as taking patients to doctors appointments, work, school or certain recurring treatments like dialysis. Griffin, who is Black, has seen some barriers due to race, but has also seen huge successes in the community s view of diversity in the last decade and is hoping others keep pushing to have the difficult conversations that propel a community forward.
In 1973, Buchli was assigned to a marine fighter attack squadron and sent to Thailand and, after completing that assignment, participated in the Marine Advanced Degree Program at the University of West Florida, in Pensacola, receiving his master s of science degree in aeronautical engineering systems in 1975. Buchli was then assigned to a fighter attack squadron in Beaufort, S.C., before attending the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Md., in 1977.
While serving as a naval test pilot, Buchli submitted his application to become a NASA astronaut, having met all the basic requirements. He was a U.S. citizen, held a master’s degree in an engineering-related field, had flown over 1,000 hours in a jet aircraft and was in excellent physical condition. However, becoming an astronaut was still a long shot because for the 35 slots that were open, there were 8,000 applicants.