Milton, Florida

MI LTON, FLOR IDA The wing conducts 60% of the Navy’s primary flight training, and 17% of all U.S. Navy flight hours worldwide. “The continued presence of this facility, the students, instructors and leadership in Milton points to a bright future,” says Jorgensen. In the midst of all the rapid growth, the city has worked hard to maintain its sense of community, using the expansion to make Milton a better place. Jorgensen acknowledges, “We’ve got challenges, and change is inevitable, but how you accommodate and how you make growth occur in an orderly and harmonious way is an issue our council works diligently on each day. Milton is not unlike many other towns in America. At one point planning consisted of ‘I own my land and I plan on using it’– in today’s world, we approach things differently. We actually target investments to try to reflect market demand. The market demand today is that the community possesses the amenities that the millennials, as an example, are looking The medical center does more than just provide medical care. It’s a true member of the community. “Beyond the work they actually do in healthcare, they give back to the community,” Spears adds. “They are one of the title sponsors for our ‘Bands on the Blackwater’ concert series this year, which offers 20 free concerts outdoors for our community to come together on Friday nights. It’s a great partnership. It’s beyond giving back medically.” Also critical to the city’s future is the presence of NAS Whiting Field. This naval facility is the busiest airport in the United States, with nearly 1.2 million take-offs, landings, and other operations annually. Whiting Field occupies 12,000 acres, including 13 outlying airfields. They produce more than 1,200 pilots annually, training Navy, Marines Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, and exchange students from allied nations. They are home to the largest air wing in the Navy and produce 100% of all Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard helicopter pilots.