County clears path to sell industrial land for defense contractor; applies for Triumph grant for industrial sites

Santa Rosa County staff asked commissioners to approve a sale of five acres in the industrial park to a defense-related company identified in county materials as Project Tungsten and to apply for a Triumph Gulf Coast grant to support acquisition and development for another recruitment code-named Project Turbo.

The county asked to convey five acres in the Santa Rosa County Industrial Park East to Project Tungsten after a successful invitation to bid; staff said the offer price was $57,500 and recommended consummating the sale. County officials described Project Tungsten as a veteran-owned defense contractor considering operations in East Milton — a business the board said would align with the county’s military and industrial base.

Separately, staff requested approval to submit a Triumph Gulf Coast grant application of up to $2,483,094 for Project Turbo. The application would fund acquisition of two industrial sites (about 12.5 acres) on Armstrong Road, construction of an 80,000-square-foot building and a 150,000-square-foot building to be leased to private-sector users, and grant administration. County materials said the project anticipates creation of 60 net jobs at an average wage 115% of the county prevailing average.

County representatives cautioned that the project code names were being used while due diligence is underway and the identities of potential tenants are not being publicly released. Commissioners moved both items to the Thursday consent agenda for formal action; no final sales contract or grant award was executed in committee.