News

Message from the Chairman - James Hosman

Two years ago the Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP) asked its members if they were in support of the Community Maritime Park and remarkably 100 percent of them said yes. Last month, we surveyed our membership again at our bi-monthly general membership meeting and 100 percent of the respondents listed the Community Maritime Park as one of their top five most important issues facing Pensacola. It is apparent that the young professionals in this community have supported the project from the start and we are committed to seeing it through. While the Florida Supreme Court has put a hold on the original source of funding for the development of the Community Maritime Park, the Pensacola Young Professionals supports seeking alternative funding.

Quality of life is very important to our generation. When asked what three things we liked most about downtown Pensacola, 60 percent of the membership responded special events (festivals, celebrations, gallery nights). Restaurant selection was the second most popular choice at 44 percent, followed by arts and cultural offerings at 39 percent. The Community Maritime Park will foster an atmosphere that will build upon the downtown needs of our area's young talent and hopefully be a viable stake in retaining this next generation of consumers.

This project is anticipated to create jobs and inject millions of dollars into our local economy. We’re not just talking about the recirculation of money that is already here, we’re talking about new money coming in. Many businesses open and cater to nothing but the residents of the community in which they are formed; however, this is not one of those projects. The Community Maritime Park will bring patrons in from outside of our community thus bringing new money in to the economy. As a community this is crucial as we can not grow without this type of infused capital. More businesses will open and more jobs will be created that are not directly related to the Community Maritime Park but are funded by money that comes into the Northwest Florida economy as a result of the project.

This viewpoint is not another attempt to garner support for the Maritime Park, as the voters have spoken. However, this viewpoint is to acknowledge that the voters who supported this initiative need accountability for the project. We cannot wait for drawn out litigation. Our leaders need to come together to understand and outline true measures for alternative funding. Just as most businesses or projects have a “plan B” to make things happen and do the right thing, we need viable plan B options that will acknowledge and ensure progress and accountability to the citizens of our community.

We encourage the Pensacola City Council, Community Redevelopment Agency and Community Maritime Park Associates to do what it takes to get this project done. For years, business leaders, politicians and parents have been asking what they can do to keep young professionals from leaving for other communities. The Community Maritime Park is an initiative that will help make Pensacola a place were our siblings, friends and colleagues will want to call home. PYP’s mission includes the statement, “develop the Pensacola Bay Area as a thriving and dynamic place to live, work and play.” The Maritime Project is a project that epitomizes what PYP would like to see happen within our community and we continue to support it as the project will undoubtedly make Pensacola a better place to live, work and play, not just for young professionals but for everyone.