The Panama City Port Authority’s Intermodal Distribution Center has become the second site certified in Bay County through Gulf Power’s Florida First Sites program.

Florida First Sites was created in 2013 to help communities prepare locations to attract new industries and new jobs to the region. Fourteen sites were initially submitted from public and private landowners.

Of those 14 sites, four have been certified and six are still working toward their certification.

The 54-acre Intermodal Distribution Center is located off of four-lane U.S. Hwy 231 on the Panama City Port Authority property and includes connection to a rail spur.

“Attaining certification at the Intermodal Distribution Center demonstrates our focus to grow the regional economy through industrial development,” said Don Crisp, chairman of the Panama City Port Authority. “We appreciate our staff and community partners for their diligence in seeing this site to project-ready status. This is a big accomplishment for our entire community.”

Gulf Power hired McCallum Sweeney, a nationally recognized site consultant firm, to offer an objective third-party analysis of the submitted sites. The consulting firm evaluates the properties, identifies improvements that must be made and then certifies the sites once they have met all the program requirements.

“This site was already attractive because of its rail spur and direct connection to the port,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power president and CEO. “Having sites like this certified adds the advantage of eliminating most of the risk for companies looking at the site and enhances the speed to market for their products. It’s one of the many ways we are working to expand economic opportunities in Northwest Florida.”

Landowners had one year to complete the identified improvements — everything from obtaining permits, improving topography and producing engineering reports to making sure adequate utilities are available to the site.

“Growing companies today want to be able to move quickly, and this detailed analysis completed by McCallum Sweeney makes the Port’s 54-acre site especially appealing, taking the risk out of a site location,” said Bay Economic Development Alliance director Becca Hardin. “Bay County is fortunate to have another certified site. It is an excellent addition to Bay County’s long list of competitive advantages.”

Six remaining sites are working toward certification, including one each in Walton and Okaloosa counties, three in Jackson and one more site in Santa Rosa County. Most of them are expected to be certified by the end of February.

For more information on all of the sites, visit FloridaFirstSites.com.