Weekly News Conference with Mayor D.C. Reeves June 24, 2026 | City of Pensacola

This City of Pensacola weekly news conference on June 24, 2026, led by Mayor D.C. Reeves, focused heavily on economic development and housing initiatives. Key procurement-related discussions included the anticipated positive impacts of a new federal housing bill that allows more flexible use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for affordable housing construction, corporate buyer restrictions on single-family homes, and regulatory streamlining to expedite housing projects. The mayor also provided updates on the Triumph Forward grant agreement with Birdon, a major $104 million manufacturing facility project expected to bring 2,000 jobs to the city. The city is working on lease terms with Birdon, expected to be presented to the city council in August, and is addressing infrastructure needs such as road, rail, parking, and traffic flow to support the project. Additionally, discussions covered workforce development efforts to ensure local residents fill the new jobs, and ongoing conversations about an inland port to support shipbuilding and logistics. The mayor emphasized fiscal responsibility and transparency regarding public funds and noted no city tax dollars are expected to be used for the Birdon project if all grants come through. Other topics included updates on e-bike regulations, business licensing software upgrades, and the status of other economic development projects like the tech park and CRA expansion, though no immediate actions were taken on those. Overall, the meeting highlighted significant procurement and budget planning activities tied to large-scale capital projects and workforce initiatives.