Jess Nicholas, formerly of Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance, will serve the Escambia County Industrial Development Authority as its executive director for economic development.
The board, at its regular meeting in January, extended a contract offer to Centerfire Economic LLC, of which Nicholas serves as CEO. The board had previously utilized the staff of Coastal Gateway EDA to provide economic development services, but opted to make a change in its provider. Around the same time, Nicholas had also opted to break from Coastal Gateway, where he had served as a director since 2014, and form Centerfire Economic to provide economic development services to potentially multiple agencies. The ECIDA board asked Nicholas to accept its contract for services, and he agreed.
“I really have two boards to thank,” Nicholas said. “First, I would be very remiss if I did not thank Coastal Gateway EDA and its board for six good years together. I always had great support from my board and I count many of those board members as friends still. But not many things last forever, and it was time for a change for both me and my family. And that leads me to the Escambia County IDA and its board, which I am grateful to for giving me and my company the opportunity to continue to serve Escambia County and all its residents.”
Because Coastal Gateway was already providing many of those services to the ECIDA, Nicholas said the transition would be a smooth one.
“I'm familiar with the cities, the county and its needs,” said Nicholas. “A lot of the projects that have landed here in recent years, Coastal Gateway had a significant role in developing. I was fortunate and grateful to be a part of the process, and I look forward to continuing those efforts.”
Escambia County Industrial Development Authority Chairman Rick Wilson said the decision to contract with Nicholas' firm was an easy one, and the board unanimously recommended the move.
“Jess has been very effective for this county already, and his knowledge of the job and the area were key reasons the ECIDA decided to extend this contract,” Wilson said. “We're proud to have him as a part of our organization and we look forward to many successful years together ahead.”
Nicholas will represent the county on a full-time basis and report to the ECIDA board, which is jointly appointed by the Escambia County Commission, state Rep. Alan Baker and cities within the county that commit to funding economic development. Nicholas said his firm, Centerfire Economic, will bring added value through partnerships with other economic development entities.
“I have been fortunate over the years to develop a solid network of people who have been doing this a lot longer than I have, and who have been kind enough to grant me their time and counsel,” he said. “Some of those relationships have grown even stronger, becoming true partnerships. I think this gives the ECIDA the opportunity to leverage the knowledge and skills of more than just me. I fully believe this is going to allow us to do significant things for the county and its people, not just in the way of recruiting new industry, but supporting our existing businesses, industries and our people that work there.”
Nicholas, a Monroeville native, said the opportunity to work in familiar territory was also important to him.
“My father had family all across this county and I hold many fond memories of growing up in this area and of the people I met,” he said. “When I first had the opportunity to move back to the region in 2014 and serve the people here through Coastal Gateway, I jumped at it. And I feel I was rewarded with kindness, support and overwhelming hospitality. It is easy to get excited about helping Escambia County, not just because of the past I remember, but also because this is a place with a bright future.”
