Jefferson County commissioners spent a substantial portion of the meeting discussing potential uses for Gulf consortium funds allocated to the county, and emphasized workforce training and broadband among priority options.

Commission staff presented ideas drawn from other counties, including examples where Bay County used consortium funds to build an emergency management center and Santa Rosa County used funds for economic development and workforce initiatives. Staff said Pot 3 is believed to include $12,000,000 and Pot 1 roughly $3,000,000; they cautioned that the consortium’s money is pooled and could be requested by other counties if Jefferson County does not put projects in place.

A proposed sewer extension to Lloyd was discussed but described as likely not cost-effective because of distance and terrain. As an alternative, commissioners and staff flagged projects such as a local emergency management center (a comparable 6,000-square-foot facility elsewhere was cited at about $4,000,000, including clearing) and improvements to river-park amenities. Multiple commissioners advocated prioritizing vocational and workforce training, saying local hiring capacity is the key to attracting industry and that training projects might move the funds faster than large capital projects.

Commission staff explained the consortium’s State/SEP amendment timeline: the amendment process begins in 2026, with a target to line up projects for 2027; the final deadline for Pot 3 funding was stated as 2032. Staff warned that if the county delays, other consortium members could seek to tap the funds. Commissioners discussed sending the item back for follow-up items on future agendas and directed staff to continue brainstorming project options and to coordinate with legal and grant staff on application timing.

The board also discussed lobbying priorities tied to these funds and other legislative asks. Members asked whether lobbyists should focus on grant bills, tracking legislation, land-use bills, or broadband funding; a $17,000,000 broadband fund was raised as a countywide priority.

Next steps: staff said they will prepare options for SEP amendment consideration in 2026, coordinate with DOT and other partners for project feasibility, and return to the board with refined proposals and timing.