June 28, 2026 — Northwest Florida (Panhandle & Capital) new business activity

New business filings across Northwest Florida came in at 434 the week of June 7 to 13, down 25% from the week before but still 6.6% ahead of the same week last year.

Most of the slowdown came from the region's biggest counties easing at the same time. Escambia led with 80 new filings, Leon had 79, and Bay had 76. Each of those came in well below the prior week. Okaloosa cooled the most, dropping to 60 from 99, its slowest pace in a while.

The mix of new businesses held its usual shape. Construction stayed on top with 55 new filings, the same count as the week before. Professional services added 49 and administrative and support services added 41. Those three groups make up the deepest pool of new owners to reach in the region.

Retail was the one clear gainer. New retail filings doubled to 30 from 15. That means more shops and sellers getting set up, the kind of owner who needs signage, a checkout system, a commercial lease, and insurance from day one.

Pensacola and Tallahassee tied as the busiest cities at 79 new filings each. Panama City and Panama City Beach followed. The word logistics showed up far more than usual in new business names this week, a sign of fresh freight and trucking work taking root.

Very little decline over the past 13 weeks with a dip this past week pulling the average down.

The bold line is the 13-week average. Read it for the longer trend. The thin line is each week's count, which swings week to week.

Retail grew the most this week, 15 more (up 100.0%). Property Holding & Asset Protection dropped the most, 15 fewer (down 23.1%).

Escambia led the region this week with 80 new filings.

• The Panama City City Commission held its final public hearing on an ordinance setting up the Panama City North Community Development District, on land east of John Pitts Road and north of Old Majette Tower Road. A new development district is the first step toward building out raw land with roads and utilities. That opens work for site contractors, paving and concrete crews, surveyors, and engineers, and later for the homebuilders, real estate agents, and retail and personal services the new residents will use. City of Panama City, 2026-06-09
• The Panama City Planning Board reviewed a request to rezone about 0.305 acres at 2015 W 23rd Ct from residential to general commercial use. Flipping a small parcel to commercial use lets a new storefront or office open there. That is work for general contractors, electricians, and sign makers on the build, and a fresh commercial tenant for property managers and leasing agents. City of Panama City Planning Board, 2026-06-08
• The Walton County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on an ordinance to prohibit data centers in the county. A rule that closes the door on data centers steers Walton's growth toward homes, shops, and tourism instead. That points local builders, trades, real estate firms, and hospitality suppliers toward those markets rather than heavy industrial sites. Walton County Board of County Commissioners, 2026-06-09
• The Walton County Planning Commission took up a development application for a 78 unit hotel with a parking garage on about 3.34 acres along U.S. Highway 98 East, with a request to push the decision to its July 9 meeting. A 78 unit hotel with a parking garage is a sizable build for general contractors, concrete and steel crews, and electricians. Once open, a hotel that size needs housekeeping and linen service, food suppliers, landscapers, and maintenance, plus front desk and cleaning staff. Walton County Planning Commission, 2026-06-11
• A major wood products maker says it has invested $70.25 million to expand its existing sawmill in McDavid, in Escambia County, adding 30 jobs. A $70.25 million mill expansion means construction and equipment install work now, and 30 added jobs once it runs. A bigger mill also buys more from local logging and trucking firms and needs maintenance crews, parts suppliers, and safety services. FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, 2026-05-08
• A UK based aerospace manufacturer is opening its U.S. headquarters in Pensacola. The company says it will hire 50 workers in the first phase, including welders, assemblers, and machinists, with another 50 jobs planned later. An aerospace shop hiring 50 skilled workers, and up to 50 more, feeds staffing and training firms, tool and parts suppliers, and the freight haulers that move materials in and out. It also lines up demand for accounting, insurance, and IT help as the headquarters stands up. FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance, 2026-06-01
• The Washington County Board of County Commissioners approved a tax break for a welding company that is buying property in the Chipley industrial park. The county says it will bring 40 to 60 new welding and fabricating jobs. A fabrication shop moving into the industrial park needs building work and equipment install up front, then 40 to 60 welding and fab jobs. That draws staffing firms, metal and parts suppliers, freight haulers, and the safety and bookkeeping services a small manufacturer relies on. Washington County Board of County Commissioners, 2026-06-03
• An economic development group near Crestview was recognized for landing the first phase of a 1,000,000 square foot gas turbine engine plant at the Shoal River Industrial Park. The project carries a capital investment of about $1.04 billion and 336 jobs at an average wage of $69,434. A million square foot plant backed by about $1.04 billion is years of work for site, concrete, steel, and electrical contractors, plus the freight, cleaning, security, and landscaping a campus that size needs. The 336 jobs at an average wage of $69,434 also feed staffing firms and the accounting, insurance, and IT services its suppliers will need. One Okaloosa Economic Development Council, 2026-05-18
• At its June 22 meeting, Triumph Gulf Coast took up a proposed term sheet for a City of Pensacola project, Project Maeve, for up to $76 million. A funded project of this size in Escambia County would put work in front of local contractors, suppliers, and trades during the build out, then steady demand for staffing, freight, and the accounting, insurance, and IT services the new operation would need. The dollars are still under board review, so the exact scope is not final. Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., 2026-06-22

This was a slower week by the numbers, but the slowdown was broad and mild, not a sign of trouble. The region still filed more new businesses than it did a year ago, and the steady flow of construction, professional, and retail owners is the core of who to reach right now. Retail doubling points to new storefronts that need fit out, signage, and insurance this month. The bigger story is the build out ahead. A $1.04 billion engine plant near Crestview is moving forward, an aerospace headquarters is opening in Pensacola, and new hotel work is planned in Walton County. These projects line up real jobs and contracts for trades, freight, staffing, and the accounting, insurance, and IT firms that serve them. Contractors and service providers who get in front of those owners early are best placed to win the work.

These counts cover new business filings recorded with the state for the 16 counties of Northwest Florida during the week of June 7 to 13. We wait about two weeks after the week ends for the state to finish recording every filing, so the counts here are complete and accurate. We group each new business by the kind of work it does and by where it is based, then compare the week to the week before and to the same week last year.

Frequently asked questions

Why were filings down this week?

The drop was broad and mild. The region's biggest counties, Escambia, Leon, Bay, and Okaloosa, all eased at the same time. No single kind of business fell apart, and the region still filed more new businesses than it did the same week last year.

Which kinds of business are forming the most?

Construction led with 55 new filings, followed by professional services with 49 and administrative and support services with 41. Retail was the fastest grower, doubling to 30.

Where are the new businesses based?

Pensacola and Tallahassee tied as the busiest cities with 79 each, followed by Panama City and Panama City Beach. By county, Escambia, Leon, and Bay led.