Triumph Approves $4.77 Million for Regional Economic Diversification Plan

In Brief:

👥 Who: Triumph Gulf Coast board of directors, Florida’s Great Northwest, Jennifer Conoley
📌 What: Approval of $4.77 million grant for United FORWARD, an economic diversification and marketing plan
📅 When: Aug. 27, 2025 (board approval date)
📍 Where: Bay County Commission Chambers; impacts eight coastal Panhandle counties
❓ Why: To diversify Northwest Florida’s economy, attract new industries, and support long-term regional growth

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Triumph Gulf Coast’s board of directors has approved a $4.77 million grant for Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW) to launch a new economic diversification and marketing initiative across eight coastal Panhandle counties.

The board voted unanimously at its Aug. 27 meeting in Bay County Commission Chambers to support United FORWARD, a two-part strategy developed by FGNW, the regional economic development organization. The funding will be matched by FGNW, bringing the project’s total investment to more than $6.6 million, which the organization says is the largest single investment in strategic planning and marketing in Northwest Florida’s history.

The program will update the region’s long-term economic development strategy and launch a multi-channel marketing campaign designed to attract new businesses and support existing industries. The initiative includes market research, promotional planning, and outreach designed to strengthen core sectors such as manufacturing and aerospace while identifying opportunities in emerging industries.

Jennifer Conoley, president and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, said the effort is the product of years of regional collaboration. “The approval of United FORWARD is not just a funding win — it’s a validation of the vision we’ve pursued to diversify and strengthen our economy for generations to come,” Conoley said.

Triumph Gulf Coast administers 75 percent of the funds Florida received in compensation for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The United FORWARD program will benefit all eight coastal counties directly impacted by the spill.

FGNW leaders said the updated strategy, branded The Next Generation of Northwest Florida FORWARD, will focus on business attraction, expansion, and retention. The organization said the effort is designed to grow household incomes, increase job creation, and broaden the regional tax base to support services and infrastructure.

Florida’s Great Northwest represents a 13-county region of the Panhandle. The nonprofit advocates for regional competitiveness and promotes workforce development, infrastructure, and industry growth.