Pensacola’s BlueWind receives award from GE Vernova

BlueWind, an Escambia County manufacturer of high-performance composite materials — chiefly nacelles or wind turbine housings— was honored by GE Vernova at the 2023 General Electric Onshore Wind Supplier Conference and Awards held at Pensacola Beach, Florida.


BlueWind was named "Supplier Spirit of Alliance," an award given to only 22 companies among all of GE's global suppliers.


The award honors suppliers that base their activities on the pillars of Sustainability, Safety & Quality, Delivery, Cost and Innovation.


"We applaud BlueWind in reaching this milestone achievement as a premier supplier to GE Vernova, Pensacola," said Danita Andrews. "This unique recognition serves as testament to BlueWind's dedication to excellence, innovation in composites manufacturing, and the commitment of their entire family of employees."


GE leadership presented their strategic planning for the next ten years. With a targeted increase in production capacity from 45 to an impressive 75 nacelles per week, GE is channeling substantial resources, including a $50 million investment in the Pensacola plant.

 

Continue reading here.

Screen Corps joins

CO:LAB business incubator


CO:LAB's newest Resident Entrepreneur, Holly Benson, is no stranger to Pensacola.

 

Many of us know Holly from her days as our State Representative and from her time as Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and as Secretary of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.


In these roles, Holly traveled the state, meeting with businesses and health care leaders and learning what it took to be successful. Over and over she heard how important it is to hire quality employees.

 

Then she joined the leadership team of Centene Corporation which grew to nearly 80,000 employees while she was there. She saw how crucial it was to hire great candidates quickly.

 

These lessons inspired Holly to launch Screen Corps where they’re creating a solution to help businesses build teams they can trust.

 

“With the growth in Northwest Florida and across the state, employers need to hire quality applicants quickly, but they also want to keep their employees, customers and businesses safe," said Benson. "Screen Corps can help. We have built a streamlined process for employers and applicants, integrated with thousands of data sources and deliver most results in 24-48 hours.”

More about Screen Corps
More about CO:LAB

PSC designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

The National Security Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently designated Pensacola State College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) through 2028.


The CAE-CD designation is awarded to regionally accredited academic institutions offering cybersecurity degrees and/or certificates at the associate, baccalaureate and graduate levels. 


“To receive the designation, institutions must meet rigorous program and institutional requirements outlined by the NSA,” said PSC Dean of Baccalaureate Studies and Academic Support Kirk Bradley of the five-year (2023-2028) designation.


“The designation is an amazing accolade for the institution and illustrates the hard work and commitment to excellence of PSC’s cybersecurity faculty and staff,” Bradley said.


Read more about the designation here.

Pensacola Mayor announces “24 for 24” city priority list

From the City of Pensacola


Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves has announced the City's “24 for ’24” priority list, an initiative that will help provide a strategic focus on front-facing projects that impact city residents.


As he enters his second year as mayor, the “24 for ’24” priority list gives citizens a roadmap of the city’s plans for 2024 — while continuing the Reeves Administration's momentum from 2023.


“This is not a complete list of all of the projects that the city is working on — but these are the most important,” Mayor Reeves said. “Our citizens deserve to know our list of priorities and should hold us accountable to those.”


The City of Pensacola plans to complete or make significant progress on the 24-item priority list throughout the year. 


Read more about the priority list here.

A note from FloridaWest


Community Leaders & Friends of FloridaWest,


Be sure to take a look at the lead article in this month’s FloridaWest newsletter. BlueWind Technologies is one of our community’s fastest growing and most interesting companies. BlueWind produces nacelles at its Escambia County composites manufacturing facility. Nacelles are very large and important components in wind turbines, and they are delivered to GE Vernova at their local plant. You may have noticed nacelles being transported by truck between Bluewind and GE. 


BlueWind, which is headquartered in Brazil, currently has more than 100 employees locally, and 40 percent of them are “second chance” workers, meaning they were previously incarcerated. But now, through a great employer like BlueWind, they have an opportunity for a solid future.


FloridaWest has been working with BlueWind since their beginning in the Pensacola area, and we look forward to supporting them as the company continues to advance.


Sincerely,

Brian Hilson

CEO

FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance

EVENTS

ActiGraph Digital Data Summit - Save the date!


Mark you calendar for Feb 26 – 28 for ActiGraph's Digital Data Summit — a global event centered on next generation wearable technologies — held on Pensacola Beach. Click here for more information and to register.



Taco Thursday at CO:LAB Pensacola


CO:LAB hosts Taco Thursday 🌮 for its Resident Entrepreneurs the 4th Thursday of every month! 


Taco Thursday is all about enjoying scrumptious tacos, learning, sharing best practices and encouraging each other. 


The last Thursday of every month, noon at CO:LAB.


Guests are welcome, just email us for reservations as seating is limited. 


Tacos sponsored by FPL.



1 Million Cups at CO:LAB Pensacola


1 Million Cups ☕ is your monthly opportunity to get together with other entrepreneurs and talk shop. 


You'll hear local entrepreneurs introduce their businesses and discuss your own small business with other like-minded entrepreneurs and innovators over coffee and conversation. 


We'll have the coffee ready, you bring the ideas!


The first Wednesday of every month, 9:00 a.m. at CO:LAB.


Ideas?



If you have an idea for an article or would like to have an event included in this newsletter, please email us!

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FloridaWest EDA | 3 West Garden Street #618| 850-898-2201 | floridawesteda.com