Santa Rosa County Commissioner Jayer Williamson is not only looking to keep tax revenue within the county but to provide more retail options for county residents. In addition to attracting industries to the county, Williamson said retailers are also in need.
“We have some of those larger retailers, like Wal-Mart and Target, which are good,” he said. “But there is still a lot missing where people are going to Escambia County, or Foley or Destin to fit their shopping needs.”
Williamson said retailers would not only provide a good employment experience for younger residents who are just entering the workforce, but could also provide an additional income for senior citizens and provide higher paying management positions.
With the combination of both Pace and Milton, Williamson believes the two areas have the market to bring in more retail businesses.
“With the combination of the two, I think it’s important that we work together between the two communities and try to bring in some more retailers,” Williamson said.
By partnering with Shannon Ogletree, the director of Economic Development of Santa Rosa County, Williamson plans to present a plan before his fellow commissioners before the end of this year.
“We have been working up a retail strategy plan for Santa Rosa County as a whole.” he said.
In addition to keeping the sales tax revenue in Santa Rosa County, Williamson would also like to attract residents from surrounding counties to visit Santa Rosa County.
“So people from outside our county can pay those taxes that can benefit our county,” he said.
One way to help with this goal is by attending the International Council of Shopping Centers, or ICSC Recon event in Las Vegas in May. Williamson, Ogletree and Milton City Manager Brian Watkins are planning to attend the three-day retail shopping center convention featuring networking, deal making and educational opportunities. According to the event’s website, more than 34,000 attendees and 1,000 exhibitors are expected to be present.
“This is a fact finding mission,” Williamson said. “They will have booths at this convention from retailers across the country from retail groups, strategy groups, municipalities, counties and states will probably have their own booths. I want to talk to some of these counties and find what they did to bring in some of these retailers to their counties in order to formulate for our strategy.”
While attending the convention, Williamson plans to provide county information including demographics at the convention.
From Pace to East Milton, Williams said there are plenty of retail opportunities.
“We got room in East Milton for growth, around the I-10 corridor, which could be very good for people passing through and traveling,” Williams said. “I think the Pace and Pea Ridge area there are parcels that have potential.”
Williamson plans to present a retail strategy before the board of SRCC before the end of this year.
As far as immediate retail interest, Williamson said business retailers have recently shown interest in the five points area of Pace and several restaurant developers have also shown interest in the Pace and Pea Ridge corridor along U.S. Highway 90, he said.
Currently both a Tin Cow restaurant and a Mattress Firm store are in the works for development in the Pace area.
Regardless of retailers, Williamson is encouraged by the county’s growth.
“I think this is going to be a good year for Santa Rosa County, not only just for the retail side because we are starting to see a lot of growth,” he said. “It’s a good problem to have because people are wanting to come here, move here and live here.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: SRC: Commissioner to explore retail options for the county