FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the economic development organization for Pensacola and Escambia County. We are an alliance of public and private agencies, businesses, organizations and leaders united as one and dedicated to building, growing and sustaining the economic potential and prosperity of communities, businesses and individuals in our Northwest Florida region. 
CYBERTHON 2016
"The job you will have in 10 years hasn't been invented yet"
  With a focus on feeding the increasingly high demand for skilled workers in the cybersecurity field, local and regional technology leaders teamed up for the second annual CyberThon event January 22-24 at the National Flight Academy. 
CyberThon 2016 brought together community leaders, cyber experts and a cadre of cyber competitors from local schools to participate in real‐world cyber operations and defense sessions. 

More than fifty students from high schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties participated in the event, twice the enrollment of last year’s inaugural CyberThon.

The attending student's and professionals also took in keynote addresses on cybersecurity trends and took part in engaging panel discussions with military, government, and industry leaders. Congratulating the group of future Cyber Professionals, Brig Gen (ret) Gregory Touhill, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Cybersecurity Operations and Programs, Department of Homeland Security told the students, "The job you will have in ten years has not been invented yet."  

SAVE THE DATE: Skills USA 
World of Possibilities 
The 4th Annual SkillsUSA Worlds of Possibilities Career Expo will take place on February 23-24, 2016 at Pensacola State College, Pensacola Campus. It will showcase businesses and vendors in technical career fields by engaging students of all ages with hands-on and interactive experiences.             

Read on...
Volunteers are needed! 
Contact Sarah Lewis at Pensacola State College 850.484.2020
REGISTER NOW:
Gopher Club: The Bluffs
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Pensacola Bay Center 

FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth will be the guest speaker at next months Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Gopher Club. 

Register Now
  Video: W hen you think of manufacturing, think of Northwest Florida, home to a diverse assortment of world class facilities with incredible manufacturing technology. Northwest Florida offers versatile services, amazing capabilities and is responsible for producing a number of cutting edge technological products. 

Recent News of Note
OLF 8 and The Bluffs: W EAR Channel 3 News: Two New Big Projects in the Works for NWFL   WATCH

Manufacturing Bill Passes Senate Committee - SB 98, sponsored by Senator Dorothy Hukill (R-Port Orange) will ensure a permanent reduction of the state’s Sales Tax on Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment and allow companies to more easily invest in additional equipment. SB 98 passed Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on January 11 and will be heard in the Senate Finance and Tax Committee in upcoming weeks.

HB 115 is identical and will be heard in the House Finance and Tax Committee, which is the bill’s first committee stop.