Thursday February 7th, 2008 - 3:18PM

The Request for Proposals (RFP), outlining what the non-profit Community Maritime Park Associates (non-profit CMPA) Board of Trustees want to see from the four candidates vying to win the Master Developer's contract, went out Monday (2/4/2008) and it immediately elicited an unprecedented level of excitement from each of the firms who will spend at least $100,000 of their own money just to have a shot at winning.

Critical to deciding to invest that much of their own funds is the question of the park's future viability. The fact that they are writing out checks immediately is proof that these firms - each with a track record of one success after the other - have researched all the aspects of the park, and are investing without any hesitation.

What this means to the community is that the park's concept and financial future have passed close scrutiny by the firms. Nobody invests $100,000 into anything that doesn't pass "due diligence" muster.

The Pensacola Bay Area's Vince J. Whibbs, Sr. Community Maritime Park received a sweeping vote of endorsement when put to a referendum in 2006. The four concepts that created the historic vote were, jobs and the associated economic boom they will produce, guaranteed waterfront access, a cornucopia of educational opportunities from the planned UWF Community Maritime Park campus, all adding up to a tremendous improvement in the quality of life.

Translating that into hard dollars and cents, it means we are one-step closer to creating 1,500 jobs producing a $39-million economic boost in our economy. It means we are one-step closer to seeing sales tax collections flow into funding other needed projects in the city and county. It means we are one-step closer to seeing property taxes - now estimated to be at least $250,000 annually from the office building on the site - start flowing to pay for the needs of our community. It means we are one-step closer to opening up UWF's campus with its wide-ranging academic offerings. It means we are one-step closer to seeing our quality of life improve in a never-before-seen, historic way.

Be sure to plan now to attend tomorrow's (Friday, Feb. 8, 2008) CMPA meeting that begins at 1 PM in City Hall.

If you are unable to attend, Friends will put out an email within hours of the meeting's close so you can stay up-to-date on all the excitement The Pensacola Bay Area's Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park is creating.