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Study Military's impact strong and growing

02-20-08
Brandon Jordan

Press release came across my mailbox today.

Who do you turn to for economic security along the Emerald Coast when the bottom drops from the real estate market?

The military.

A study released by Enterprise Florida concluded that military spending remains one of the state's leading growth industries.

DOCUMENTS:
Read the entire Florida Defense Factbook
Read the economic impact analysis: Volume 1 , Volume 2 and Volume 3

It's particularly valuable to Northwest Florida, where defense-related spending accounts for 35 percent of gross regional product.

According to the "Florida Defense Industry Economic Impact Analysis" completed by the University of West Florida's Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development, between Oct. 1, 2004, and Sept. 30, 2005, in Okaloosa County:

l Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field generated $2.2 billion in defense spending.

l Countywide, the economic impact of the military was $6.6 billion.

l The average annual earnings per military job is approximately $81,300, or 199 percent more than the area's other jobs in industries such as farming, retail and construction.

The air bases are "incredibly important for all the obvious reasons," said Jim Breitenfeld of the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council. "The high wages. The total spending."

Though the report attributes 73 percent of economic activity in Okaloosa to defense-related spending, Breitenfeld said he wasn't alarmed because the bases are stable employers.

"I don't know if we're dependent (on the military), but it would be a heck of a withdrawal if it disappears tomorrow," he said.

Breitenfeld would like to see Northwest Florida diversify economically in areas where it has competitive advantage such as aviation and high-technology information processing.

In Santa Rosa County, Naval Air Station Whiting Field contributed some $857 million to the economy. Its average annual military wage in fiscal year 2005 was $99,800.

Overall, the military presence in Florida promises only to grow, the Haas report continued. By 2010, military spending statewide might have an impact of $59.5 billion, which would be $7.5 billion more than in 2005.

"While Florida's economy has faced challenges during the past few quarters, particularly in areas hardest hit by the real estate slowdown, high-wage, defense-related jobs are somewhat immune to downturns in the business cycle," said Enterprise Florida president John Adams in a news release.

"They provide strength in Florida's economy even in difficult times."

Daily News Staff Writer Mladen Rudman

 

 

Florida Real Estate with Brandon Jordan, your Northwest Florida Realtor and ActiveRain featured Realtor for Okaloosa County since 2007. We provide this information and much more on our site for you at no charge, so please remember us when you're looking to buy or sell real estate.

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Forum to give builders a chance to reverse their fortunes

02-15-08
Brandon Jordan
EGLIN AFB - Local home builders and property managers facing economic slumps have a chance to reverse their fortunes.

Air Force officials are hosting a housing privatization industry forum at Hurlburt Field Soundside Club later this month.

The forum will give businesses interested in building or managing some 1,300 housing units on Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt a chance to learn about privatization. Tours of base housing areas will be included.

A tour of the housing area at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is scheduled for Feb. 28.

Eglin, Hurlburt and Edwards have bundled their housing privatization initiatives to pool scarce dollars.

"It makes better financial sense," said Kathy Lawhon, Eglin's housing flight chief.

After a couple of fits and starts, the local privatization effort has regained momentum.

It imagines mostly private funds being used to build homes in exchange for the Air Force letting the selected developer manage and collect rents for 50 years.

The project has been scaled back; hundreds fewer units will be built than initially imagined.

All of the construction will be on Air Force land, but the site or sites hasn't been selected yet. That decision will be made after an environmental impact statement (EIS) has been completed.

A draft of the EIS should be released in the next few months. Sites in the running are on the bases and off the bases. Plans call for a request for proposals to be issued before the industry forum.

Eglin environmental spokesman Mike Spaits said the housing program is open to any bidder, small or large, that meets qualifications.

"This is an opportunity for our local businesses to network and try to get involved in the project," he added.

Florida Real Estate with Brandon Jordan, your Northwest Florida Realtor and ActiveRain featured Realtor for Okaloosa County since 2007. We provide this information and much more on our site for you at no charge, so please remember us when you're looking to buy or sell real estate.

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197 VillaCrest Drive in Crestview is now pending sale

01-30-08
Brandon Jordan
Detached Single Family.
Click on Photo to Enlarge
MLS#:481088 OfficeFile#: ListPrice:$169,900
Status:Pending ApproxSF:1,755 BG:
Address:197 VILLACREST DR$/Sqft:$96.80
CRESTVIEW, FLBedrooms:3
Zip:32536Baths Full/Half:2/
County:OKALOOSAStories:1
MainArea:25 Crestview AreaYearBuilt:1993
SubArea:02 CRESTVIEW SOUTHWESTOccStat:Vacant
Subdiv:NORTHVIEW ESTATES 3RD ADDNImmOcc?Y
ParcelID:31-3N-23-2813-0000-0240ConstrStat:ConstrCmplt
ElemSch: ANTIOCH Middle: DAVIDSON High: CRESTVIEW
Dir:North on 85, left by the Tom Thumb onto PJ Adams Pkwy. First right onto Villacrest Drive. Approx. one block up, corner property on left side. Corner of Northview and Villacrest.
Legal:Lot 24 Northview Est 3rd Add
This is a must see at this price now also offering $ 2,000 flooring allowance (upon acceptable offer by seller). Desirable neighborhood below I-10 offers quick commute to bases. This home sits on a nice sized corner lot and offers 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. The curb appeal is very attractive and with a little imagination, and the fact that the square footage price is a 'wow' factor, the home can be transformed into a great find! As you enter the hallway, to the right is the formal dining that boasts a tasteful chandelier-like lighting where entertaining could be a delight; since the very large open kitchen is across the hall. The kitchen faces out to the front of the home with two windows that emit natural lighting and gives the kitchen flair. The kitchen offers a lot of cabinets and loads of work space since it has an island for extra room, there is also a skylight. Off the kitchen is a good sized extra laundry room that leads to the double size garage. The home has an open split bedroom floor plan. The living room features a fantastic view of the back yard beyond the screen enclosed patio to the above ground swimming pool.
ParkingSpaces:Garage:2 Lot Dim.:68.8X47.1X113.8X74.4X140LotAcc:City Road, Paved RoadWatFrnt:
PrkingFeat:Acres:0.32Zoning:City, Deed Restriction, Residential Single FamilyWatView:
WFFeet:LotFeat:
ProjFacil:
Room TypeLvlDimnsns
DiningRoom113x11Design:Contemporary
Kitchen115x19
Laundry18x6Const/Siding:Foundation Slab On Grade, Roof Shingle/Shake, Siding Brick All, Trim Vinyl
LivingRoom117x17
Bedrm:Additnl110x11ExtFeatures:Fenced Back Yard, Fenced Privacy, Patio Open, Pool Above-Ground, Porch Screened, Yard Building
Bedrm:Additnl112x10
Bath: Full14x7IntFeatures:Breakfast Bar, Floor:Vinyl, Floor:W/W Carpet, Pull Down Stairs, Skylight(s), Split Bedroom, Wallpaper, Washer/Dryer Hookup, Window Treatment:Some, Woodwork:Painted, Pantry
Bedrm:Master116x14
Bath: Master113X7Appliances:Disposal, Oven:Self Cleaning, Range Hood, Smoke Detector, Stove/Oven Electric
Utilities:Community Water, Electric, Phone, Septic Tank, TV Cable
Energy:A/C: Central Electric, Ceiling Fans, Heat: Central Electric, Ridge Vent, Water Heater: Electric
Mbed/Mbath: Mbath Double Vanity, Mbath Garden Tub, Mbath Walk-In-Closet, Mbed Carpeted
Hmstd: NSaleSubjtoLease:N
LandLease/Year:MonthlyRent:AssmMrtTyp:
Assmt Fees:LeaseExpDate:Financing:Conventional
NewBuyerFee:ExistLeases:
Assoc.FeesInclude:
LstOff:ECU3 COLDWELL BANKER UNITED REALTORSCntct OrdrPh. NumLstTyp:ERS NmdExcpt? N
LstAgt:E7375 CHRISTINE VON DEM BACHAgent Cell Ph850-305-1203Agency:TranBrkr
Co-Off:ECU3 COLDWELL BANKER UNITED REALTORSCo-Agent Cell Ph850-758-1236Seller:GARY OPPER & ASSOC.
Co-Agt:E3841 BRANDON JORDANOffice Fax850-689-1569

Florida Real Estate with Brandon Jordan, your Northwest Florida Realtor and ActiveRain featured Realtor for Okaloosa County since 2007. We provide this information and much more on our site for you at no charge, so please remember us when you're looking to buy or sell real estate.

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Walton County School District

01-18-08
Brandon Jordan

Okaloosa County School District

School Grades Population Address - click for map Phone
Adolescent Substance Abuse Program 6-12 39 1015 Mar Walt Drive, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547 (850) 301-3090
Milton Girls Juvenile Residential Facility 6-12 60 5770 East Milton Road, Milton, FL 32538 (850) 689-7117
Northwest Florida Ballent Academie 2-3 30 101 Chicago Avenue, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 (850) 664-7787
Adjudicated Youth Facility 6-12 27 4448 Straight Line Road, Crestview, FL 32539 (850) 689-7800
Owcc Charter High School 10-12 184 100 College Blvd, Niceville, FL 32578 (850) 729-4949


Walton County School District

School Grades Population Address - click for map Phone
West Defuniak Elementary School K-5 707 815 W. Lincoln Avenue, Defuniak Springs, FL 32435 (850) 892-8230
Paxton High School K-12 632 21893 Us Hwy 331 No, Paxton, FL 32538 (850) 834-2111
Freeport Senior High School 7-12 332 12615 Us Hwy 331 So, Freeport, FL 32439 (850) 835-4212
Van R. Butler Elementary School K-5 680 6694 W Co Hwy 30a, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 622-1100
Walton Middle School 6-12 691 625 Park Avenue, Defuniak Springs, FL 32435 (850) 892-8220
Walton Senior High School 9-12 676 555 Walton Road, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 (850) 892-8200
Maude Saunders Elementary School K-5 737 416 John Baldwin Road, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 (850) 892-8210
Freeport Elementary School K-5 641 15381 South Highway 331, Freeport, FL 32439 (850) 835-4700
Walton County Vocational School 9-12 88 761 North 20th Street, Defuniak Springs, FL 32433 (850) 892-8240
Seaside Neighborhood School 6-8 112 P. O. Box 4610, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-0396
Freeport Middle School 6-8 288 360 Kylea Laird Street, Freeport, FL 32439 (850) 835-4327
Bay Middle School (inactive 07/02 N/A 0 118 Gilmore Street, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 231-3848
Wlc Intensive Halfway House (formerly Nafi Int 6-12 14 286 Gene Hurley Road, Defuniak Springs, FL 32435 (850) 892-8580
Wlc Shop (formerly Nafi Sh 6-12 22 286 Gene Hurley Road, Defuniak Springs, FL 32435 (850) 892-8580
South Walton High School 6-12 566 645 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 267-0429
Walton Academy, Inc. 6-12 107 389 Dorsey Avenue, Defuniak Springs, FL 32435 (850) 892-3999

Florida Real Estate with Brandon Jordan, your Northwest Florida Realtor and ActiveRain featured Realtor for Okaloosa County since 2007. We provide this information and much more on our site for you at no charge, so please remember us when you're looking to buy or sell real estate.

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Niceville Senior is National Finalist in Wendy High School Heisman

01-18-08
Brandon Jordan

In the midst of Niceville High School's A+ award ceremony, senior Jennica Hagberg was called up to the podium, where a representative from Wendy's informed her that she is one of six female finalists for the Wendy's High School Heisman award. The award is given to student athletes who excel academically and devote themselves to community service. Over 32,000 students applied for the honor this year.

"I was very surprised. I knew I was a state finalist, but I had no idea about the rest," stated Hagberg after the ceremony. 

Her mother and volleyball coach, Kris Hagberg, learned about her award Tuesday, but kept it a secret from her high achieving daughter, who is in the top 1% of her graduating class. Jennica is planning to attend Stetson University on a full volleyball scholarship next year. She has dedicated many hours to community service, including helping out with Desire Street Ministries, which relocated to Camp Timpoochee following Hurricane Katrina. She also tutored students from Lewis Middle School and played varsity soccer, managing to balance it all with a full load of stringent academic courses. 

"A better recipient couldn't have been chosen," stated NHS principal, Dr. Linda Smith. "She is an incredible young lady."

As part of the award, Wendy's donated a $2000 check to Niceville High School in Hagberg's name, and officials informed her that she is invited to attend the National Awards Banquet in New York City, which will be filmed by ESPN-2. The male and female national winners will be announced at the banquet.jennica_check.jpg

Florida Real Estate with Brandon Jordan, your Northwest Florida Realtor and ActiveRain featured Realtor for Okaloosa County since 2007. We provide this information and much more on our site for you at no charge, so please remember us when you're looking to buy or sell real estate.

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