Project-ideas for BP settlement funds

The Pensacola, Fla., City Council is to meet Oct. 5 to rank its top five Triumph Gulf Coast requests, which could include small coastal cruise ships at Community Maritime Park, a baywalk along Pensacola Bay, and an airport expansion. The Triumph Gulf Coast (TGC) board will begin accepting applications soon from eight Florida counties to allocate $300 million from the BP oil spill settlement. Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward sent his Top 5 projects to the county in September. Hayward's No.1 is an airport expansion to attract aviation businesses, according to Keith Wilkins, assistant city administrator. The mayor’s four other projects are part of a $56 million Pensacola Bayfront Redevelopment list that the city council will consider as part of its Triumph ranking. The council will meet to rank its project ideas from the mayor and the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency - a total of 15 potential ideas. TGC was formed by the Florida Legislature to allocate $1.5 billion in BP settlement funds for Northwest Florida. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 10/03/17)