Walton County Economic Development Alliance Inc.

Happy Wonderful New Year! Walton County is Wonderful! Here are some of the Wonderful headlines that made the news last year! - 3rd Fastest Growing County in Florida - City of Freeport, Florida ranked as the FASTEST growing city in Florida - Superintendent of Schools Russell Hughes scored the Top Superintendent in Florida - The Walton County School District leveled up AGAIN and moved to #2 in the State of Florida from #3 - All four high schools landed in the top 16% in the nation. - The Freeport Middle School broke ground and is expected to be completed THIS year! - The Walton County Board of County Commissioners lowered the tax rate! - Our shared MSA ranked highly for Economic Development metrics - #4 Midsize Leading Location - #8 Midsize Workforce - #12 Overall (Out of 384 MSA's) - LiveOak Fiber brought us Fiber speeds of up to 5GB per second - North Walton Doctors Hospital announced its opening early 2024 - HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital announced its acquisition of 9 acres in the City of DeFuniak Springs. - 1,945 acres of North Walton County Timber was put into conservation through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. - Walton County was ranked as the 5th most charitable county in the State of Florida by SmartAsset. - Newly deployed mobile technology by the Walton County Sheriff's Office helped save a life in a dynamic marine setting. If we missed a headline, please help us by submitting a Wonderful News article to us, you can find the link in the attached article. We will update this article monthly moving forward.

?? Big News for Walton County’s Future! ?? The Walton County Board of County Commissioners has taken the first step toward improving State Road 20 by approving a conceptual plan to advocate for passing lanes at the TPO level. While there’s a long road ahead before construction, this progress lays the foundation for significant improvements to safety, traffic flow, and economic development. Why is this so important? Because better infrastructure drives growth: ? Safer and faster commutes for residents and visitors ? Streamlined logistics for businesses ? Enhanced appeal for new investments At the Walton County Economic Development Alliance, we know that every step toward better connectivity strengthens our local economy. Transportation upgrades like these don’t just move traffic—they move opportunity for our businesses and communities. This is how we build a thriving, connected, and future-ready Walton County. Let’s keep the momentum going! ?? #EconomicDevelopment #Transportation #InfrastructureMatters #WaltonCounty #ConnectingOpportunity #WonderfulWalton https://lnkd.in/gwVp88jS

???? Honoring Our Veterans Today ???? This Veterans Day, the Walton County Economic Development Alliance, Inc. proudly salutes all who have served our nation, including two dedicated veterans on our team: LIONELL POSTON and David Underwood. We are grateful for the courage, commitment, and leadership you brought to our armed forces and now bring to our community. Lionell and David, thank you for your service to our country and for your ongoing contributions to Walton County’s growth and success. You exemplify resilience, dedication, and the best of our community. To all veterans, we extend our deepest gratitude today and every dayfor your service and sacrifice. You are what makes our community wonderful! Happy Veterans Day!

????Recently, we had the privilege of joining The Honor Foundation (THF) as they prepared Special Operations team members for their transition to civilian careers. THF’s mock interview process is an incredible tool, empowering these individuals to translate their skills and experiences into new roles in the private sector. Supporting this program was an honor for our team, as it offered us a chance to connect with veterans who embody resilience, dedication, and leadership. Each participant brings unique strengths to the workforce, and THF is committed to ensuring they’re well-prepared and confident as they step into the next phase of their lives. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to The Honor Foundation for the opportunity to give back to those who have given so much. It’s our privilege to play a small part in helping these veterans find new pathways to success. ???? #TheHonorFoundation #MilitaryTransition #ServeThoseWhoServe #VeteranSupport #CommunityImpact

Did you know that Walton County is home to the largest Persimmon Orchard in Florida? Check out the video below to learn more about this 3rd Generation Walton County Farm thats been working since 1932!

Today, the Business Leadership Council of Walton County had the privilege of visiting Frost Lane Farms! We got to experience the heart of North Walton County agriculture, learning about the farm’s sustainable practices, local impact, and dedication to our community. It was a great opportunity to connect and collaborate while appreciating the beauty of the north end of the county. Thank you, Frost Lane Farms, for hosting us! ?? Learn more about Frost Lane Farms here, https://lnkd.in/gVpZ3HSg #WaltonCounty #EconomicDevelopment #Agriculture #CommunityEngagement #WonderfulWalton

Are you doing business in Walton County? Please take a moment to complete the Emergency Support Function 18 - Business and Industry Business Registry. We want to thank Walton County Emergency Management for partnering with us on this effort and providing the conduit to serve this community during trying times. https://lnkd.in/dUxYSppG

We are proud to host Zach Gilmore from the Florida SBDC at UWF right here at our offices in in the City of DeFuniak Springs at the Chautauqua Center of Northwest Florida State College. Zach has hit the ground running and is working with entrepreneurs in Walton County to create a wonderful future!

Thank you to WJHG-TV for making it out on our Buisiness Leadership Council field trip! The Mossy Head Industrial Park has become the center of logistics for our area. Conveniently located to all Florida panhandle markets and even Mobile AL. We’re excited to see this project come to fruition contact us for more information! https://lnkd.in/gDavkYs2

First off, thank again to LiveOak Fiber investing beyond broadband and into out community with this podcast. Long form conversation is the ticket to the future. Secondly, did you know that you can join us in bettering wonderful Walton County? Thank you to our Founding Trustee Investors! 31-W Insulation Ascension Sacred Heart Barge Design Solutions Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative (CHELCO) Dunlap and Shipman PA Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS? Florida Power & Light Halff Hancock Whitney HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital LiveOak Fiber Seven Seas Ventures The St. Joe Company Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Wharton-Smith, Inc. Only 5 more spots to recognized as a Founding Investor! Private sector participation is critical for a thriving economic development organization! Thank you to each of you for helping weave the fabric of Economic Development across Walton County Board of County Commissioners, City of DeFuniak Springs, City of Freeport, and City of Paxton!