Leveraging military installation and local community capabilities and resources
to reduce costs or risks by identifying shared values and opportunities.
how TCPI Program Works
The Economic Development Council for Okaloosa County, Florida (DBA One Okaloosa EDC) is a non-profit, public-private partnership serving Okaloosa County as its primary economic development organization committed to continual growth and diversification through existing industry retention and expansion, workforce development and expansion of key industry clusters.
Florida and the tri-county region are blessed to be home to Eglin Air Force Base (the largest military installation in the Department of Defense), Hurlburt Field (headquarters to Air Force Special Operations Command), Duke Field and Camp Simons; as well as outstanding communities and leaders that are committed to providing unmatched support to military installations and missions. Recognizing installations often have challenges advancing community partnership initiatives due to manpower, funding, or regulatory obstacles, One Okaloosa EDC created the Tri-County Community Partnership Initiative (TCPI) program to formally work in tandem with the Air Force and local installations' Community Partnership Program (CPP) processes.
A community-based volunteer member TCPI Advisory Board provides program oversight. The Advisory Board is comprised of local governments, installation representatives, service providers, utility companies, medical experts, building and real estate associations, chambers of commerce, etc. The success of TCPI is rooted in the Advisory Board creating and refining targeted work groups to address emergent needs and partnership opportunities. These tailored Work Groups, augmented by ad hoc Task Forces as needed, are led by three volunteer co-chairs; an Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and community representative. The MOU executed between Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and the EDC solidifies the military-community collaborative partnership commitment.
The TCPI exists to assist in finding innovative solutions. Since its inception, the TCPI has conducted and supported numerous community engagement events and workshops instrumental in facilitating, educating, and connecting local governments, business leaders, and military commanders. This focused engagement drives the high level involvement necessary to keep Public-Public, Public-Private (P4) successes moving forward. The TCPI’s goal is simple – build a strong foundation upon which partnerships can be institutionalized and thrive.