BAY COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Joe Company has donated 23 acres of land for an aerospace research and advanced manufacturing facility, which will be operated by Florida State University’s INSPIRE program. The facility is set to be established at the St. Joe Venture Crossings Enterprise Centre in Bay County.
Drew Allen, executive director of FSU INSPIRE, emphasized the economic potential of the new facility. “We can make this a year-round, high-tech economy here in the panhandle,” Allen said. He highlighted the facility’s role in job creation for the local community, which will support both industry and workforce development.
Allen, a former U.S. Air Force commander and test pilot, pointed out the growing need for accessible testing facilities for aerospace companies. He stated, “You see the need and how difficult it is for these companies and industry to get access to these testing facilities and ranges of equipment.”
The facility aims to provide not only technological and product development but also opportunities for student learning and workforce training. “We can bring the future workforce that’s going to be working on these projects with these companies to learn how the process works in our facilities,” he explained.
Construction on the first phase of the project commenced on November 2. This phase will focus on developing manufacturing and testing facilities, along with office space, and is anticipated to be completed by early 2028. Future phases include plans for a hypersonic wind tunnel designed to test high-speed defense technology.
