Florida Wants Share Of Tanker Contract

By Debbie Williams Reporter

One week from today, we should know if Mobile gets to keep the tanker contract. Next Thursday is when the government accountability office is expected to make a decision on Boeing's protest. Florida Wants Share Of Tanker Contract

Published: Thu, June 12, 2008 - 5:25 pm Last Updated: Thu, June 12, 2008 - 6:02 pm

Debbie Williams

One week from today, we should know if Mobile gets to keep the tanker contract. Next Thursday is when the government accountability office is expected to make a decision on Boeing's protest.
The tanker contract would create more than a thousand jobs and Santa Rosa County Florida is hoping to land some of them.
With lots of land, good schools and an eager work force, Santa Rosa County Florida is hoping to capitalize on Mobile's good fortune in landing the KC-45 tanker project.
"We have put together a competitive plan to get our share of these wonderful jobs into the region." says County Commissioner Don Salter.
Part of that plan includes two hundred thousand dollars allocated by the commission for an aggressive marketing plan to attract some of the more than two hundred suppliers expected to come to the Gulf Coast.
Interstate 10 will also play a big roll in luring prospective industry. It cuts through the south part of the county and unlike it's neighbors, Escambia and Okaloosa counties, most of the land alongside I-10 is undeveloped.
Add to that a number of county and privately owned industrial parks scattered throughout the county and commissioners say they are ready to land their own part of the tanker deal.