Bay County, Florida is home to a powerful combination of transportation, logistics, and industrial assets rarely found in communities of its size. From air and sea gateways to multimodal rail and highway connections, the region’s infrastructure is built to support global business growth.

Opened in 2010, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is the first new greenfield U.S. airport built since 1995 and was designed to LEED® standards. Located in West Bay near Panama City and Panama City Beach, ECP serves as a key regional gateway with service from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

With more than 6.5 times growth since opening, ECP now accommodates approximately 2 million passengers annually.

The airport spans 4,000 acres donated by The St. Joe Company and is owned and operated by the Panama City–Bay County Airport and Industrial District.

ECP provides direct service to the following destinations:

• Atlanta
  
• Austin
  
• Baltimore / Washington
  
• Boston
  
• Charlotte
  
• Chicago
  
• Dallas
  
• Denver
  
• Houston
  
• Indianapolis
  
• Kansas City
  
• Nashville
  
• St. Louis
  
• Washington, D.C. region

Surrounding ECP is West Bay, a 71,000-acre master-planned community developed by The St. Joe Company — Florida’s first sector plan, permitting long-view planning over 50 years.

The plan includes:
• 4.4 million square feet of industrial, commercial, and retail space
• 27,000 residential units
• 900 marina slips
• Over 39,000 acres preserved for environmental conservation

The expanded Bay-Walton Sector Plan extends this vision across both Bay and Walton Counties, aligning growth and resource protection.

Port Panama City is a deep-water international gateway handling over two million tons of cargo annually. In recent years, the Port invested more than $50 million in improvements and has committed another $85 million in upcoming expansion.

The Port serves shippers across Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, as well as international trade with Mexico, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia. Its facilities support container, breakbulk and bulk operations, and it is complemented by a 240-acre intermodal distribution center equipped with a 250,000-square-foot warehouse and certified industrial sites.

A Sister Port agreement with Port of Progreso, Mexico strengthens trade flows across the Gulf.

From global air service to deep-water shipping, rail, and interstate access, Bay County offers the logistics foundation your business needs. Whether you’re in advanced manufacturing, logistics, aerospace or trade, Bay County provides connectivity, capacity and a forward-looking vision for long-term growth.

Bay County is connected to the interstate system via U.S. Highways 98 and 231, and state highways 20, 22, 77, and 79. Interstate 10 lies approximately 45 miles to the north, offering coast-to-coast linkage.

Within a 265-mile radius, Bay County connects to:

• I-10 at Alford, FL (~41 miles)
• I-65 at Mobile, AL (~150 miles)
• I-85 at Montgomery, AL (~156 miles)
• I-75 at Lake City, FL (~180 miles)
• I-20 at Atlanta, GA (~262 miles)

Two major roadway projects are in the works:

• Gulf Coast Parkway will connect U.S. 98 near the Bay County/Gulf County line to U.S. 231 north of Panama City
• West Bay Parkway will create a four-lane corridor linking Walton County to ECP

These corridors will strengthen access for residential, commercial, and industrial development.