Okaloosa County is located in the Florida Panhandle, encompassing an area of over 1,000 square miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. In recent years, the County has experienced significant population growth, leading to affordability challenges for much of the area’s workforce. To prepare for and manage the impact of further anticipated growth in the region, County leaders sought to develop a strategic plan that would help to balance the impacts of the booming housing market on the tourism industry, the ability of Eglin Air Force Base to pursue its mission, and the forces pushing development into unincorporated areas in the northern parts of the County.

The project, which was completed by a team including 300 Block co-founders during their time at a previous employer, included an in-depth market analysis, community survey, and stakeholder engagement sessions. Through this process, the team identified short- and long-term strategies to address the County’s housing challenges. The report’s recommendations focused on increasing attainable and workforce housing options, maximizing the use of available land, improving infrastructure in unincorporated areas of the County, updating land use and zoning regulations, focusing on improving regional partnerships, and maximizing funding opportunities.

Since the report’s release, the County has taken steps towards implementation, including hiring a dedicated housing coordinator and creating an Orphan Parcels Master Plan to assess the viability of partnering with the Department of Defense on land utilization.