What are our county leaders doing for us.

From what I understand, there is only one reason why Eglin is still in operation and growing, and maybe that is what daughette Matt was wanting -- Congressional pull.

As for addressing the educated workforce, Bay County leaders have recognized this, too, and is working with GCCC and FSU-PC. Walton County has only the Defunk campus of NW FL College (or whatever the new name is), and will soon be getting two buildings for a South Walton campus. Walton County offers tax credits, land, and decent infrastructure, with more on the way, and is very close to the newly coming PCB airport, as well as Eglin AFB. We just need a connected Congressman to twist arms of people to bring contracts and business to Walton County. In this troubled economy, there are only two types of businesses which thrive -- 1) Government and 2) Government support businesses. Washington DC is probably the only city in the USA which is still churning left and right, and always will.

South Walton is represented by the long serving member of the majority party in the House of Representatives -- Alan Boyd. Sadly, he gets little support from our area because we are such a one party place, so getting him to twist arms on our behalf may be a bit difficult. Still, we DO have a well-connected congressman.

Come on man. If a port here was financially viable, the private businesses that would profit from it would would have already built it. The feds are notorious for building infrastructure we do not need. We already have an "airport ot nowhere", do we really want a "port to nowhere" too?

fl girl, why do you use the pronoun, "we?" "We" don't create industry. Typically, it is those who are wealthy or financially well-connected, who create those businesses.

The foot can't say of the hand, I have no need of thee. We, as a collective unit, create the community we live in. If we want something to better our community, we need support from as many as possible. Individuals can contribute in part to the whole. We all have different talents and capabilities, all are important!

So 'create the community' instead of just biatching about what "they" haven't done for you.

Another poster provided a list in another thread of where all of the rest of the Bailout money is being directed - much of it grant based. Forget about the port and see what YOU can do to use some of that infrastructure money to improve our community.

What about good ole American ingenuity?

Who said anything about Government aid? Who's "they haven't done for you"? And how did you get that? I am trying to "create a community" of relative cooperation, and have been for years! Why would I think that increasing our nations debt is going to actually help us? What about good ole American ingenuity?

In today's economic times, creativity is the keyword to survival. If there is a reason for a port, I'm sure cooperation from the county, etc., would be possible, in combination with the investors creating the business. However, one grievance from a citizen foils the whole project. That, in my opinion is the root of the problem. It seems that any project, regardless of it?s worth, has complaints, to the degree of law suits. As long as this continues, nothing will ever get done!

You can count me in as complaining. We need a port like we need more resort development. It's a huge waste of money with little to no benefit.

Then, those who are needing jobs will continue to need jobs, foreclosures will continue, shall I go on? As long as your needs are taken care of, it doesn't matter what happens to anyone else? Regardless of whether it's a port, which by the way, is only a means, or suggestion on how to transport products out, or any other type of business providing our people jobs, you intend to protest to delay any relief? I just wonder whether you could actually tell that to those people to their face, not hiding behind an avatar.

Look you're missing the point. A port is not the savior of this county. It would takes years to build and then you would have to actually have freight moving in and out for it to provide jobs. I would much rather see the OWCC annex expedited. That would be a more realistic and timely goal.

As to transporting goods in and out (otherwise you're limited to wood, water, and sand) what's wrong with trucks? Generally a port is used for mass transportation of products and goods. Do you really want industry that huge?

Also you seem to love putting the cart before the horse. How about an industry in the first place. We have two I can think of off hand that aren't asking for a port. We have a plastics plant and Freeport Steel. I'm betting that if either require sea transport they utilize the existing regional port over in Panama City.

SoWal is now considered to be a one industry community. We need to expand, and we need to deal with whatever obstacles might be presented by potential proprietors. I like to think that we could entertain multiple methods of transportation, and industry.

Well since we're throwing money down the toilet, how about a parallel road to 98, we could double traffic? How about a 4,000 acre international airport? You keep stating that we are missing infrastructure, can you cite one company that has passed on Walton County due to lack of infrastructure?

As a former tree farmer, trying to get timber cut was like pulling teeth! No one wanted to come across the bridge because of harassment they anticipated by our community!

Care to explain that one further?

They wouldn't come south of the bay to cut down trees because they thought people would harass them?

WHY would people harass them?

Just curious, what's wrong with the trees north of the bay?

I would guess that she does not own them, and cutting someone else's trees can get you into a bit of trouble.