'A big, big deal': Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center opens in Panama City

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·3 min read

PANAMA CITY − Wednesday marked the end of a massive economic development project that's been in the works for about half a decade.

It was then local officials celebrated the grand opening of the Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center, a state-of-the-art research facility located off Frankford Avenue in Panama City.

According to Becca Hardin, president of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, the facility is expected to create about 25 high-paying jobs through an capital investment of approximately $25 million. Hardin's team has been working on the project since before Category 5 Hurricane Michael hit in October 2018.

Officials on Wednesday celebrated the grand opening of the Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center, a state-of-the-art research facility located off Frankford Avenue in Panama City.
Officials on Wednesday celebrated the grand opening of the Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center, a state-of-the-art research facility located off Frankford Avenue in Panama City.

"This is going to put Bay County on the international map," she said. "When we had the grand opening ceremony, we had the executive team from Japan that came all the way from Tokyo to Panama City just to join in on the celebration.

"They could have chosen anywhere in the United States, but they chose Panama City, Florida. It's a big, big deal, and it's going to get us a lot of recognition."

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Hardin noted the new facility sits on the coast of Saint Andrew Bay, giving Suzuki Marine USA easy access to waterways needed to test boats. The company will bring in customers from across the U.S.

The EDA, which works to diversify the economy so it does not solely rely on tourism, announced five projects in 2022, meaning those companies have committed to expand to the area. They are:

  • Mocama Marine, which will establish a boat manufacturing operation at the Old Bay County Industrial Park off Bay Line Drive. It will create 105 jobs with a capital investment of $10.5 million.

  • Southern Sky Aviation, an Alabama-based aircraft maintenance company that plans to build a fix-based operator — a terminal for private and corporate airplanes — at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. It will create about 30 jobs with a capital investment of about $20 million.

  • Resia, a Miami-based real estate company that plans to build a facility at the VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre. It will create about 200 jobs with a capital investment of $45 million.

  • Central Moloney, an Arkansas-based manufacture that distributes electrical transformers and their components. It already opened a facility at the VentureCrossings Enterprise Centre. It will create about 200 jobs with a capital investment of $25 million.

  • FedEx, which built regional distribution center at the Port of Panama City Distribution Center off U.S. 231. It will create more than 200 jobs with a capital investment of $55 million.

Though Hardin said her group has not announced any new companies so far this year, she said it is "getting close."

"Tourism is always going to be very important for us ... but it's important to have a diverse economy," she said. "It's important for us to bring in advanced manufacturing, distribution (jobs) that will compliment the tourism industry and will continue to bolster our economy."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Suzuki Marine USA Technical Center opens in Panama City