NORTHWEST: Playing off its Strengths

Pensacola / Escambia County

DEVELOPMENT: Pensacola's premier economic event in 2006 was a vote, says Charles Wood, senior vice president for economic development for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce -- a vote approving development of the 30-acre, $70-million Community Maritime Park on the downtown waterfront. ... A close second: Approval of a $302-million, advanced-technology sewage treatment plant, removing it from downtown. "These are watershed events,'' says Mort O'Sullivan, managing partner of O'Sullivan Creel accounting firm and financial consultant, public cheerleader and mediator for both projects. "The move of the sewer plant opens up the entire west side of downtown for redevelopment.''

SLOWDOWN: Pensacola's economy could slow somewhat as construction drops back to a normal pace following two years of hurricane recovery.

OPTIMISM: "Summertime last year, our tourism industry moved back into tourism; before that our hotels were filled with construction workers and evacuees," says Ed Schroeder, vice president of tourism development. "Our attractions and museums will see an uptick.''

? Avalex Technologies designs electronic products for the aerospace industry, including a popular digital mapping system used by military, police and border patrols. Sales grew 53% last year, says President Tad Ihns.

? Bryan Clark's new business startup, Ceryph, markets concept mapping, an innovative way to capture and communicate knowledge and the first commercialization of research from the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, which developed the concept mapping system with the University of West Florida.

? O&M Steel Fabricators manufactures steel framing for homes, a substitute method for traditional wood framing that's innovative, faster and provides better storm protection. The company was founded last year by Oliver Darden and Marvin Ginns Sr.

Tags: Politics & Law, Government/Politics & Law, Northwest