Wakulla County outlines plan to host two manufacturers at Opportunity Park, with grants and county-owned buildings under discussion

WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. — Wakulla County economic development officials told county commissioners at a workshop that two manufacturing prospects — an expansion by a local elevator maker (Project Boomer) and a larger defense-/public-safety supplier (Project Safety) — are under active negotiation for sites at Opportunity Park and could bring combined jobs, payroll and tax revenue to the county.

The projects are at different stages: Project Boomer is described by county staff as a consolidation and expansion of a local residential-elevator manufacturer that the county expects would retain roughly 79 existing positions and add about 42 new jobs; Project Safety, a larger national firm in defense and law-enforcement supply chains, is presented as a potential direct employer of about 300 new workers. Those figures and other estimates were presented by Beth (EDC coordinator), Mark Cohenstein of Duke Energy Florida, and other presenters.

County and regional partners said multiple funding tools are being pursued. Triumph Gulf Coast has already pledged funding to Wakulla-area projects and staff reported combined Triumph awards for the two projects so far of about $15.6 million. Officials also cited roughly $4.5 million available via Florida Commerce programs…