Pensacola mayor announces plan for port

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward outlined a plan he has for the Port of Pensacola's future during a recent press conference.

He said the plan would create jobs, increase production and could increase competition with other local ports on the Gulf.

“When you look at our city, you see the hundred plus acres we have on the water in downtown Pensacola. It was the first European settlement in the United States," Hayward said. "We truly need to develop our waterfront and look at our port and see how can we be profitable."

Hayward set up the Port Advisory Committee, a panel of citizen business leaders, to evaluate 50 acres of the port’s waterfront property.

The plan would replace construction businesses using 10 acres of land with high-tech offshore oil service companies to bring in ships.

Hayward said his administration will re-examine leases with Cemex and other firms storing aggregate material at the port.

However, the redevelopment would mean around a dozen jobs would be relocated.

“I’m willing to help them find another location, and we’ve talked to them about that. If you look at 10 acres and 10 jobs, that’s not the best use for that amount of property,” said Hayward.

Hayward said the offshore companies would bring numerous long-term, high wage jobs to the area.

He said they are looking at state or federal grants, as well as private investor funds to help with the expansion

Many locals turned out to hear the mayor’s proposal and have strong feelings on the new direction.

Edward Arthur has lived in Pensacola for 30 years. He said he supports Hayward's plan.

“I think it’s great. We have a lot of resources that other ports don’t have, whether it's freight or passenger ships,” Arthur said.

Hayward said it's important to take action soon.

“We need to look at a larger picture of what we need to do; whether it’s taking half the 50 acres and developing it or finding other uses. We owe that to the taxpayers,” said Hayward.

Hayward intends to work with the city council to adopt policies that will allow port staff to work quickly to make decisions.

Officials said part of the Restore Act funds they receive from BP fines would also go towards the port.

There is not a timeline set on the expansion, but Hayward expects to know within the year which businesses will stay at the Port and which will leave.