By DOTTY NIST
Representatives of a coalition of eight Florida Gulf Coast counties that were disproportionately affected by BP’s 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill met at the South Walton Annex on July 27 to discuss funding expected by the counties from the RESTORE Act.
The counties include Walton, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla. Also in attendance at this meeting hosted by Walton County were representatives of area cities—and staff people for members of the area’s legislative delegation in Washington, Bill Nelson, Gwen Graham, and Jeff Miller, along with officials from state and federal agencies.
Attendees were welcomed by Walton County District 4 Commissioner Sara Comander. who serves on the executive board of the Gulf Consortium, an entity created in connection with the RESTORE Act that comprises the state’s 23 gulf coast counties. Billy Williams, RESTORE Act coordinator for Walton County, also extended a welcome and moderated the meeting.
State Representative Doug Broxson addressed the group, praising the eight counties for coming together to make the area strong in the wake of the disaster. Broxson commented on the “enormous responsibility” that the coalition members would have to “do it right” as the RESTORE Act funds become available. He expressed confidence that they would succeed.
Early last month, BP agreed in a settlement to pay $18.7 billion in economic damages to the Gulf Coast states affected by the oil spill, with over $3 billion going to Florida.
Triumph Gulf Coast, a nonprofit corporation with a five-member board, has been set up by the Florida Legislature to administer a Recovery Fund for the benefit of the eight counties, deciding on what projects to be funded within the counties. Triumph is to oversee 75 percent of all economic damage funds recovered Florida’s attorney general in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Last month Walton County approved a resolution to enter into an interlocal agreement with the seven other counties to seek available funding from Triumph for economic development and environmental projects and watershed projects located in multiple counties. The other coalition counties have also been asked to consider adoption of the resolution.
Walton County Administrator Larry Jones emphasized the need for collaboration among the eight counties. “This had to be a regional effort,” he said.
“This is a lifetime opportunity that we want to get right,” said Warren Yeager, former Gulf County commissioner and new RESTORE Act coordinator for Gulf County.
“We have the opportunity to write the next chapter for the Panhandle,” commented Escambia County Commisioner Doug Underhill. Underhill explained that in the past location has driven industry, but that his is no longer true.
“What drives industry now is knowledge,” he said.
Underhill explained that technology and science “can be done anywhere” —and that the Panhandle has an advantage in attracting industries of this type. “These jobs are coming,” he told the group.
Teresa Christopher, senior advisor for Gulf Restoration with the U.S. Department of Commerce, credited the Panhandle for its leadership and its collaborative effort. She and two of her “team members,” Tom Guevara and Albert Shen, pledged their assistance to the coalition.
Guevara, who works to prepare regions for growth and success, commented that the causes of economic stress and success are complex, but he was complimentary about the cooperative spirit exhibited by the coalition and the assets of the region. “It’s sort of like having a kitchen full of great ingredients, now the question is how well can you cook with them, what dishes can you prepare,” he said.
As national deputy director for the Minority Business Development Agency, Shen said his agency works through 44 business centers throughout the U.S. to assist minority businesses. That assistance includes helping minority businesses with access to contracts and promotion of youth entrepreneurship.
Dr. Rick Harper of the University of West Florida (UWF) served as the state’s expert economist in negotiations leading up to the recent settlement with BP in connection with the oil spill.
On July 1, Harper took on a new responsibility with UWF, becoming associate vice president for the university’s Center for Research in Economic Opportunity.
Addressing the group, Harper offered his center’s assistance with federal procurement requirements, leveraging funds, and keeping abreast of grant opportunities.
Harper agreed with previous speakers’ comments on the importance of the coalition counties “sticking together.” One reason, he explained, is that “there is no part of the state that is more dependent on beach visitation than northwest Florida.” This, the seasonal nature of the region’s economy, and the associated disproportionate impact of the oil spill on northwest Florida were among the reasons the legislature decided to establish Triumph Gulf Coast, Harper told the group.
He saw the opportunity on the horizon for the economy of northwest Florida to be transformed. Harper noted that the greatest determining factor for creation of a healthy, sustainable economy would be productivity created by “investing in our citizens” so that they would be in a position to take advantage of the area’s economic assets.
Wakulla County Administrator David Edwards emphasized the importance of testing projects and sharing between counties about what works and what doesn’t. He emphasized that economic growth and environmental improvement can go hand in hand, with money garnered from economic growth flowing to environmental projects.
Darryl Boudreau of the Nature Conservancy highlighted the importance of diversifying the Panhandle’s economy to make it strong and to allow residents who love the area to find jobs and stay. He also stressed the value of ensuring a good water supply, water treatment, proper infrastructure, clean air, and good quality of life as a foundation for growth of the area.
Boudreau praised the cooperation of the coalition counties and officials on all governmental levels with a watershed plan that he has been working on for the past two years.
Getting the area’s bay’s healthy with proper seagrass will both stimulate core industries and help with protection of these resources for the future, he also commented.
The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted for RESTORE Act funding for creation of estuary programs, Boudreau was happy to report.
Williams spoke of the multi-year plans that the counties were being required to create in connection with the RESTORE Act. He observed that Florida has “suffered tremendously” for the lack of a state comprehensive plan and spoke of the possibility of the counties linking their multi-year plans to serve a similar purpose.
Williams concluded with thanks to all for attending, especially those who had traveled long distances.
Triumph Gulf Coast will conduct its inaugural meeting from 9 a.m to noon on Aug. 18 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
A meeting agenda will be posted to the University of West Florida’s Office of Economic Development and Engagement (OEDE) website at www.uwf.edu/offices/oede. Information is also available by calling OEDE at (850) 439-5400.
