Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Shannon NickinsonMarch 12, 2015

Maybe this is how we do it. Most folks prefer their jobs announcements on the splashy side: Golden shovels, red ribbons, oversized scissors, the whole shebang. And there is something to be said for that. Lots of economic development professionals make their performance bonuses on the backs of those big scissors. But some of Pensacola’s […]

Shannon NickinsonMarch 5, 2015

Florida-Businesses-for-a-Competitive-Workforce-Feb-24_Page_6-1024x1024.jpg

What have we learned from all of this? After spending months working on a series of stories about the state of education in the Pensacola metro area for the Studer Community Institute, I couldn’t help but learn – a lot. The days of the traditional 9-12 high school model may be nearing an end. Economic […]

Shannon NickinsonFebruary 16, 2015

Judy Bense was the one who brought it home. On Thursday, the business and educational communities got together to announce a new collaborative program called Greater Pensacola Career Pathways. The initiative is a partnership that looks at economic development through the lens of the education system with an eye toward building a strong, educated workforce […]

Shannon NickinsonFebruary 2, 2015

Tim Wyrosdick has a big idea that could change the educational and economic future of the Pensacola metro area. If you have $55 million, he says he can provide the staff and students to fill it. “It’s a pie-in-the-sky dream kind of thing,” says Wyrosdick, Santa Rosa County School District superintendent. The idea – Innovation […]

Shannon NickinsonJanuary 26, 2015

Pensacola’s business community made its pitch for the 2015 legislative session. Now it will be time to let the chips fall where they may in Tallahassee. At the recent Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Legislative Luncheon, chairman of the board of directors Justin Beck said the group had three broad areas of interest as […]

Shannon NickinsonJanuary 22, 2015

Are you ready for the class of 2027? Those who gathered at the ECARE breakfast at Sanders Beach Corrine Jones Community Center recently got a glimpse of what that graduating class may hold. The 10 sweet faces of the children from Top Notch Christian Academy who performed Bear Snores On with their teachers gave us […]

Shannon NickinsonJanuary 18, 2015

If the University of West Florida wanted to put down roots in a place to foster community, innovation and connectedness, DeVilliers Square is a natural fit. The building at 321 N. DeVilliers St. has been many things in its life cycle in the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood. All of those things have been rooted in improving […]

Shannon NickinsonJanuary 18, 2015

If the University of West Florida wanted to put down roots in a place to foster community, innovation and connectedness, DeVilliers Square is a natural fit. The building at 321 N. DeVilliers St. has been many things in its life cycle in the historic Belmont-DeVilliers neighborhood. All of those things have been rooted in improving […]

Shannon NickinsonJanuary 5, 2015

The New Year’s resolutioners are so cute. They were all over town Thursday and Friday, walking the neighborhoods, prowling the produce department at the grocery store, listening to their “getting fit” playlists. They need our help. Because helping them helps the economy of the Pensacola metro area. “Say what?” you say. “Say amen,” I say. […]

Shannon NickinsonDecember 16, 2014

Pensacola is an old city. And as we learned in the April flooding, our infrastructure on the ground has all of the flaws that the streets, sewers and storm drains of a community our size and age has. But as the city and county fathers (and mothers) pursue money from the tax rolls, federal grants […]

Tag: Shannon Nickinson

Shannon Nickinson: Small companies also crucial to economic development

Shannon Nickinson: We need to do high school differently

Shannon Nickinson: Career planning starts at 13, not 23

Shannon Nickinson: Santa Rosa dreams of Innovation High School

Shannon Nickinson: Health care, taxes top business legislative list

Shannon Nickinson: Early learning is crucial for Pensacola — and beyond

Historic building connects Pensacola citizens

Shannon Nickinson: Historic building connects Pensacola citizens

Shannon Nickinson: To get economy in shape, get body in shape

Shannon Nickinson: Pensacola slow to prepare for the wireless world