Gulf County Economic Development Coalition
Why Gulf County

Big Opportunities.
Small-Town Advantage.

A working waterfront, room to grow, and a community that makes people want to stay. See why businesses and families are choosing Gulf County.

Go to Why Gulf County
Map of the Florida Panhandle and south Georgia with Gulf County highlighted on the Gulf Coast between Panama City and TallahasseeEsri, HERE, Garmin, NGA, USGS, NPS
Positioned for success

Where opportunity meets the coast.

Gulf County is a community where high-growth business opportunities and an exceptional quality of life converge. Our sugar-white beaches draw visitors from around the world, but our economy runs on something deeper: a diverse and strengthening industrial base built for long-term resilience.

22 mi to Panama City2 hrs to TallahasseeRural Area of Opportunity
St. Joseph Bay
Cape San Blas
Historic downtown Port St. Joe
Dead Lakes, Wewahitchka
Our workforce

Meet the people who work in Gulf County.

Local people, trained on the job, building careers without leaving home.

“This is a big step in the right direction for us being able to have… unskilled tradesmen come in and really be able to focus and get those skills integrated into our community here, and keep these community members right here.”
England Reeves, Director of Operations, Eastern Shipbuilding Group
Site Selection

Two industrial sites, ready for your next project.

115 acres on Highway 71 with rail on site, or 47.5 industrial-zoned acres on the Gulf County Canal near the Port of Port St. Joe.

Rural Area of OpportunityUp to $3,500 per new job in training grants, plus tax credits and refunds.
115.60acres01St. Joe SiteHwy 71N & Powerline Rd. · 56.5 developableRail on siteLease or purchaseView site 47.5acres02MTI Site521 Premier Drive · 44 developableCanal frontageZoned industrialView site
Statistics Center

Gulf County by the numbers.

Go to Statistics Center
15,793Residents
4,669Employees
2.4%Unemployment
$74,820Median household income
57.4%Education beyond high school
Community partners
Meet our partners
Gulf Coast State CollegeGulf/Franklin Campus
Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf24-hour emergency care
Eastern Shipbuilding Group40-acre shipyard at the port
Point South Marina300 boat slips
News & Media

What’s happening in Gulf County.

All news
A look at the possible placement of the floating dry dock06/30/2026Gulf gets $23M for dry dockTriumph Gulf Coast approved $23.5 million for a floating dry dock expected to create about 400 full-time jobs.Read moreA rendering of the new Gulf/Franklin Campus building06/02/2026Gulf/Franklin breaks ground on new campus facilityGulf Coast State College broke ground on a new multi-purpose classroom building and shelter in Port St. Joe.Read moreState funding presentation for Gulf County projects03/09/2026State job growth money brings Gulf millionsMore than $8 million in state funding for infrastructure projects boosts hopes for good-paying jobs and housing.Read moreLayout plan of the proposed Gulf County airport03/31/2025Gulf County moves forward on airport plansA feasibility study outlines a 6,500-foot runway on a roughly 1,000-acre site north of Port St. Joe.Read moreWorkers at the Eastern shipyard in Port St. Joe09/23/2024St. Joe shipyard steps up recruitingA CareerSource Gulf Coast job fair at Eastern’s Port St. Joe shipyard recruited for more than 50 skilled positions.Read more

Let’s build what’s next, together.

Talk with Jim McKnight, EDC Director, about sites and incentives.

850-832-0227 Email Jim Contact Us