Mayor Gives State of the City Update at Greater Pensacola Chamber Event

The Greater Pensacola Chamber hosted Mayor Grover Robinson for a State of the City luncheon at the Hancock Whitney Club at Pensacola Blue Wahoos Stadium today, Thursday, Dec. 17, where Mayor Robinson addressed a small group about the City of Pensacola's economy, development and accomplishments in 2020.

The event was presented by the Greater Pensacola Chamber and held in an open-air space with limited attendance and masks due to COVID-19. 

Mayor Robinson discussed how the City of Pensacola has moved forward during 2020 despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Sally, highlighting numerous projects completed this year throughout the city. Mayor Robinson's presentation also featured areas of economic success in the city, including the Port of Pensacola, Pensacola International Airport and Pensacola Energy. 

"2020 has been an unusual year, but there's nothing unusual about the resiliency of the City of Pensacola," Mayor Robinson said. "We have stepped up on all occasions to make sure that we are poised to take care of where we go forward."

Some highlights Mayor Robinson shared in the State of the City include:

• Pensacola International Airport is continuing to stay ahead of national averages with COVID-19 impacts. National airline industry numbers are lagging the previous year by 60-65%. However, PNS has seen a more rapid recovery. As recently as Thanksgiving week, Pensacola International Airport saw numbers just 23% below 2019. 
• Pensacola International Airport received over $11 million in CARES Act money.
• The Port of Pensacola saw significant revenue increases in 2020, including a 110.6% increase in total tonnage and a 143% increase in total wind turbine nacelles from 2019. 
• The number of Pensacola Energy customers continues to increase every year.
• Public Works and Facilities 2020 highlights:
  • Bayview Community Center
  • Bayview Senior Center remodel
  • Two large stormwater flooding projects totaling approximately $1.5 million
  • Five stormwater treatment projects totaling approximately $2.3 million to benefit Bayou Texar and Pensacola Bay
  • Spring Street road diet project 
  • Langley Avenue roundabout project
  • Hurricane Sally recovery efforts
• Parks and Recreation 2020 highlights:
  • Numerous LOST projects, including Springdale Park, Durant Park, Kiwanis Park, Osceola Golf Course cart path, Hunter Pool upgrades and more 
  • Community center programming, including virtual programming at Bayview Senior Center
  • Community center distribution totals:
    • 29,817 youth meals/snacks
    • 15,910 senior meals
    • 22,000 masks

Mayor Robinson concluded the State of the City by thanking the Greater Pensacola Chamber, business owners and the business community for their hard work to keep the Pensacola business community thriving in 2020.

"Our job has been to keep you open during COVID, allow you to operate and be successful, and allow those opportunities for growth," Mayor Robinson said. "We have a tremendous amount of growth around the corner in the future, and we're very excited about that."

To learn more about the Greater Pensacola Chamber, visit pensacolachamber.com.

To view the Mayor Robinson's State of the City presentation, click here.