Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and J. Alex Kelly, the state’s commerce secretary, gathered alongside Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves at the American Magic High Performance Center August 12 to present a $9 million check to support construction of Birdon America Inc.’s southeastern headquarters at the Port of Pensacola.
“There are moments in a city’s history that define trajectory for not just years but for generations, and I certainly think this is one of those days,” Reeve’s said.
The grant moves the 400,000-square-foot ship manufacturing facility within the Port of Pensacola one step closer to reality. In January, Birdon America announced plans to develop and operate a new Tier 2 shipbuilding facility at the port. The facility, which would be Birdon’s sixth location in the United States, would employ an estimated 2,000 people and support Birdon America’s ongoing work with the U.S. government, including its Waterways Commerce Cutter program with the Coast Guard.
Accompanying Birdon America’s initial announcement of the project was news that Triumph Gulf Coast, the nonprofit corporation that oversees expenditures of funds from Florida’s share of economic damages tied to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, had approved $76 million for the facility.
“With today’s investment and the $76 million grant from Triumph Gulf Coast, we’re not only bolstering our maritime industry but we’re supporting national security and ensuring the United States remains a force in maritime dominance on the world stage,” DeSantis said. “As a former naval officer, that means a lot to me.”
In June, Triumph Gulf Coast’s board of directors approved the term sheet for that $76 million grant. Reeves said the city of Pensacola plans to present the final grant agreement to the Triumph board later this summer. According to the city of Pensacola, the project is slated to receive an additional $33 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce and $152 million from Birdon. The city will own the property and facilities, with Birdon America signing a long-term lease.
DeSantis said he’s proud of the Sunshine State’s maritime culture and industry and the role it plays statewide.
“We have a proud history of shipbuilding in Florida,” he said. “We are the top maritime state in the United States of America, and of course a major hub for the U.S. Navy. We have 21 overall military installations. We have 16 deepwater seaports, and that’s almost $20 billion in gross domestic product and over a million jobs, direct and indirect.”
Besides Birdon America’s forthcoming manufacturing facility, the Port of Pensacola is home to American Magic High Performance Center, an elite sailing facility and home to the America’s Cup sailing team American Magic, which opened in January. Besides the sailing center, the Port of Pensacola offers stevedoring and marine terminal services for bulk, break-bulk, and project cargo and unitized freight. The port covers about 55 acres along Pensacola Bay.
