Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joined the Wakulla Economic Development Council (EDC) and partners to announce Point Blank Enterprises’ plans to create 300 new jobs in the county’s growing industrial employment center - Opportunity Park where Wakulla County will construct a new 118,000 square foot manufacturing facility for lease by the company. This is the largest investment in Opportunity Park and a significant investment using public and private dollars in Wakulla County to attract a target industry in the manufacturing sector.
“The expansion of Point Blank Enterprises to Wakulla County is result of ongoing commitment to infrastructure improvements and economic opportunity across Florida, including in our rural communities,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “We’re focused on making strategic investments that help the hard-working families of our great state achieve the American Dream.”
Point Blank Enterprises is a manufacturing company based in South Florida, with multiple global locations, employing approximately 5,000 people. They custom design and produce body armor for law enforcement and the nation’s war fighters, an industry highly regarded by Wakulla citizens. The 300 new jobs cover general manufacturing, research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences, and order fulfillment for merchant wholesalers. The company will pay an average annual wage of $52,900 in addition to $8,300 in employee benefits. The new Wakulla location will generate $3.5 million annually in local, state, and federal taxes to be invested back into the community.
“Governor DeSantis has consistently and steadfastly remained committed to bringing real, lasting economic prosperity to rural Floridians and Florida’s rural communities,” said Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “This investment is the direct result of the dedication, collaboration, and vision of incredible partners, Florida’s Great Northwest, Opportunity Florida, the Wakulla Economic Development Council, Triumph Gulf Coast, and Wakulla County who worked tirelessly to bring Point Blank Enterprises to Opportunity Park—Point Blank Enterprises is renowned industry wide as a manufacturer specializing in body armor for law enforcement and military personnel, protecting those who serve diligently to protect us.”
Earlier this year, Wakulla County received $13.5 million in Triumph Gulf Coast funding and approximately $8 million in FloridaCommerce grants to support this opportunity known as Project Safety during the site search phase led by Florida’s Great Northwest. These funds will be used by the County to purchase property in Opportunity Park and construct a 118,000 square foot facility. The facility will be owned by the county and leased to Point Blank Enterprises to carry out operations necessary to efficiently serve expanding markets.
"This partnership with Point Blank Enterprises marks a transformative milestone for Wakulla County," said John Shuff, President of the Wakulla Economic Development Council. "We are thrilled to welcome 300 new jobs and applaud the County, State, and Triumph Gulf Coast investments in this state-of-the-art facility. This manufacturing facility not only strengthens and diversifies our local economy but also underscores our commitment to supporting clean industries that make a difference in the lives of our citizens, and the citizens of our region.”
Point Blank Enterprises’ Crawfordville location will be a final assembly, order fulfillment and R&D facility – leveraging 20 acres of the 240 acre Opportunity Park site which completed Duke Energy’s Site Readiness Program in 2018, existing road and utilities infrastructure, a broad talent pipeline and regional economic development partnerships. These new to Florida jobs will generate $38 million in earnings resulting in an additional 213 indirect and induced jobs for total earnings of $46.4 million circulating through the economy.
"We are incredibly excited to establish our new facility in Opportunity Park and to become a part of the Wakulla County community," said Daniel Gaston, CEO of Point Blank Enterprises, Inc. "This new location represents a significant investment in innovation and collaboration bringing us closer to markets in the Southeast US. By partnering with the local workforce and organizations like FSU’s High Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) and Wakulla School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, we aim to not only deliver cutting-edge protective solutions but also contribute to the growth and prosperity of the region.”