Franklin County . All 14 of the manufacturing firms in Franklin County 

 listeci in the Directory of Florida Industries 1980 (Florida Chamber of Com- 

 merce 1980) employed fewer than 50 workers. Almost two-thirds of the em- 

 ployees in manufacturing were engaged in food and kindred products industries 

 (e.g., oyster and shrimp processing and packing). There were no new plants or 

 expansions listed for Franklin County in the period from 1977 to 1980 (Indus- 

 trial Development Research Council 1977-80). 



Gulf County . Four of the eight manufacturing firms in Gulf County employ 

 over 100 workers. In 1979, the largest was the St. Joe Paper Company Paper 

 Mill Division, which had 821 employees. The St. Joe Paper Company also oper- 

 ates a container division in the county. Two of the other major employers 

 produce chemicals and rosin, vegetable oil, and fatty acids. Seventy-five 

 percent of all workers engaged in manufacturing work in industries that are 

 associated with the production of paper and allied products. Most of these 

 industries are located in Port St. Joe. The only new manufacturing plant to 

 locate in Gulf County since 1977 manufactures plywood (Industrial Development 

 Research Council 1977-80). 



Okaloosa County . Many of the manufacturing firms in Okaloosa County pro- 

 duce military equipment such as radar, data systems, and security systems, 

 aircraft parts, electronic components, and cargo handling and timing systems. 

 Another relatively large employer (i.e., employing over 250 workers) manufac- 

 tures lingerie. 



Four new manufacturing plants have located in Okaloosa County since 1977: 

 three of these plants are in Fort Walton Beach and the other in Crestview. 

 Three of these four plants manufacture items that are used for recreation. 



Santa Rosa County . There are two major manufacturing firms in Santa Rosa 

 County; one produces acrylic fiber and the other lingerie and lounge wear. A 

 third (fairly sizeable) employer produces chemical products. Only one new 

 manufacturing plant located in Santa Rosa County since 1977 (Industrial 

 Development Research Council 1977-80). It produces ceramic-lined pipes. 



Walton County . In Walton County, most people are employed in the manu- 

 facture of apparel, lumber and wood products, and food and kindred products. 

 DeFuniak Springs is the home of three of the largest employers; a fourth 

 relatively large employer is located in Paxton. Both of these communities are 

 inland. 



Two new manufacturing firms have located in Walton County since 1977. A 

 factory producing men's shirts opened in Ponce de Leon and a winery began 

 operations in DeFuniak Springs in 1980 (Industrial Development Research 

 Council 1977-80). 



PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRIAL SITING 



Future industrial growth in Northwest Florida will depend largely on the 

 availability or capacity of fresh water, sanitary sewers, sewage treatment 

 facilities, electrical power, natural gas, and telephone service, some of 

 which are discussed in the next section. Although raw materials, transporta- 

 tion, market, manpower, and public policy are other factors of industrial 

 development, they will not be discussed in this report. 



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