PORT ST. JOE, Fla. - Eastern Shipbuilding continues to expand in the Panhandle bringing jobs along for the ride.
This time they are headed to Gulf County to build on a piece of land that's been vacant for nearly 20 years.

"We have been fighting for this project for quite some time and our dream is becoming a reality," said Gulf County Commissioner, District 2, Ward McDaniel.

Gulf County officials and community leaders broke ground on the 20 acres that will be used for a new eastern shipbuilding facility in Port St. Joe.

The land used to be the location of the old St. Joe Company paper mill that opened in 1937. It later closed in 1999 and has been vacant ever since.

"We're here celebrating what we hope is a long standing relationship between Gulf County, the St. Joe Company and Eastern Shipbuilding," said Gulf County Economic Development Director Warren Yeager. 

Part of the Gulf County expansion is connected to a new contract. Eastern will build ferrys for the Staten Island Ferry Service. The company plans to build the ferry hulls in Bay County, then outline them in Port St. Joe. Eastern plans to use the new facility for ship repairs as well as build a 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse. Initially county officials hope for more than a hundred new jobs but expect that number to grow.

"I think over the years it could wind up more than 600, 700 jobs affiliated with this project," said Yeager.

Work begins immediately, preparing the site land with storm water drainage and other infrastructure improvements. The county is using a $6 million state grant to do the work.