Chris Platé, FloridaWest CEO

Foiling Week, an international festival celebrating hydrofoiling watercraft, made its U.S. debut in Pensacola, Florida, from Feb. 24 to March 2, 2025. Traditionally held in Lake Garda, Italy, the event brought together sailors, designers and enthusiasts to showcase cutting-edge foiling technology. The weeklong festivities featured races across various classes, including Moth, WASZP, A-Class Catamaran, BirdyFish … Read more

“FloridaWest has been our partner for many years, connecting us with industry partners and helping us grow.” King Aero Management, Pensacola supplier and repairer of aircraft turboprop engine parts, has a unique connection to the George Stone Technical College. The two have been working together for several years to help build the future of aviation … Read more

The FloridaWest Board of Directors is excited to announce the selection of Chris Platé as its new Chief Executive Officer. Platé brings nearly 30 years of experience in economic development, leading initiatives that have created 7,000 new manufacturing jobs and generated more than $4 billion in capital investment across North and South Carolina. For the past 25 years, Platé has … Read more

From LocalPulse.com – The University of West Florida’s proposal for a new research program known as Water and Vessel Engineering sailed through the provisional approval, subject to negotiating a term sheet and legal contract, from the Triumph Gulf Coast board of directors. UWF’s Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering requested $3,315,600 to establish WAVE … Read more

The USNS Sgt. William R. Button seems to overshadow the Port of Pensacola these days, its giant silhouette hiding the myriad of port operations that happen every day in our city’s downtown.  The USNS Button, an auxiliary vessel owned by the U.S. Navy in non-commissioned service and crewed by civilians, is at the Port of … Read more

NYYC American Magic’s America’s Cup campaign came to a close, showcasing their relentless determination and resilience. After years of tireless preparation and countless hours on the water, the team faced every challenge with heart and soul. The team’s will to win was evident from the initial race to the final moments as they battled fiercely, … Read more

FloridaWest can bring the advantages of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) directly to your company to lower importing costs, enhance inventory control and improve supply chain pace and flexibility. What is a Foreign Trade Zone? Foreign-Trade Zones are secure areas under supervision of U.S. Customs and Border Protection that are considered outside the customs territory of … Read more

From The Aerospace Alliance Northwest Florida is a vibrant region with diverse industry sectors and a population of more than 1.1 million residents. The region has six aviation-focused military bases that employ more than 56,000 individuals. These bases specialize in aviation activities such as unmanned aerial systems, weapons testing, pilot training, and aerospace systems research and development. … Read more

FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance announced that Paradigm Parachute & Defense, a disabled-veteran-owned small business, has received their second Industry Resilience and Diversification Fund (IRDF) grant. The grant, administered through the University of West Florida, will assist with the expansion of manufacturing operations in Pensacola.  This grant, made possible by a collaboration between FloridaWest and UWF, … Read more