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City hails completion of Warehouse 10 as American Magic opens advanced maritime facility
Summary
City leaders and American Magic onstage at a Port of Pensacola briefing announced the completion of Warehouse 10, a $20 million, 56,000-square-foot facility expected to bring about 170 high-wage jobs, internships with UWF and Pensacola State, and closer industry-academic ties for maritime manufacturing and training.
Mayor and city officials onstage Thursday celebrated the completion of Warehouse 10 at the Port of Pensacola and the citys long-term partnership with American Magic, which will use the facility for design, manufacturing and team operations.
Erica Grand of the citys economic development office said the project was funded in part by Triumph Gulf Coast, the Governors Job Growth Grant Fund and the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Fund, calling Warehouse 10 a "$20 million, 56,000-square-foot facility" that will support about "170 high-wage, cutting-edge jobs" and internships with the University of West Florida and Pensacola State College.
The announcement frames the new building as part of a shift toward a hybrid seaport that combines traditional cargo activity with advanced manufacturing and maritime innovation, city officials said. A port representative described Warehouse 10 as "the first step" in turning the port into a center for maritime technology and advanced manufacturing, and thanked American Magic as a tenant that can attract future clients.
Tyson, identified in the briefing as the CEO of American Magic, said the team began looking for a home in 2018 and chose Pensacola for its community support and the ability to hire local staff. "We have so many members now that have bought homes in the community of Pensacola," he said, and described Warehouse 10 as the teams primary site for manufacturing and design while Warehouse 9 will continue to host storage and training functions, including clean-room and aerospace-grade facilities that support internships.
City leaders stressed the economic-development tradeoffs that guided the project: the mayor said the city is prioritizing job creation and intentional use of its limited downtown port acreage rather than simply chasing the highest lease rates per square foot. He said the presence of a high-profile tenant such as American Magic will likely increase interest from other maritime and technology firms.
The briefing included practical event information for media and the public: a joint press release with American Magic will be released in tandem with an upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony, and port access requires RSVP and coordination with port staff.
Looking ahead, officials said the facility will be a base for both competitive sailing operations and commercial manufacturing, with potential applications in aerospace and defense under exploration. The city and its education partners plan to use the adjacency of training space and company operations to expand apprenticeship and internship opportunities for local students.
The briefing closed with thanks to construction partners and city staff who led the effort; officials reiterated that Warehouse 10 represents an early step in a longer-term strategy to balance cargo operations and technology-driven maritime jobs at the Port of Pensacola.
