Gulf County Citizens Coalition
Informed Involved Proactive
Gulf County Citizens Coalition
Working to protect and restore our land, waters, and unique ecology while educating and inspiring the next generation of guardians.
We will:
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provide fact-based information to our elected officials and the community about the benefits and hazards of proposed projects.
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raise awareness of issues impacting public and environmental health and develop community-based solutions.
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build communication between decision-makers, businesses, and citizens to advance our natural resource-based economy and recovery from industrial blight.
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plan, fundraise, and advocate for an educational facility to increase knowledge and appreciation of our waters and the life in and around them.
Our Vision
An informed, involved, and proactive citizenry that is dedicated to safeguarding our lands and waters and passing down a healthy Gulf County to future generations.
It’s not just a vision; it’s a responsibility we all share.
Building an Engaged Community
We are an all-volunteer, 500-member-strong, non-profit, grassroots coalition.
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We seek to build an atmosphere of transparency and cooperation between government, businesses, and the public so we are not at odds but working together to protect our cherished lands and waters.
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We believe that education is critical to fostering environmental preservation.
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Knowledge leads to understanding, which leads to appreciation, connection, and caring.
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People who care are willing to fight for conservation as opposed to exploitation for short-term gains.
Over 500 Coalition Members Strong
Working for a healthy Gulf County
Current Actions and Alerts
DISBANDING OUR PORT AUTHORITY IN FAVOR OF A MULTI-COUNTY BOARD
We will lose control of our own Port!
Our State Representative, Jason Shoaf, drafted a local bill for this legislative session (HB 4105) to give Gulf County a 2 in 5 vote on what occurs at our port. When so many of you wrote to House Committee members in protest, the bill was amended to add another Gulf Count Seat. That was a big victory. The other 3 commissioners on the New Port Authority will come from Liberty, Gadsden, and Franklin Counties, all will be appointed by the Governor. The stated plan is "to reopen the port at PSJ for cargo, bring industrial opportunities, and connect all 4 counties with a return of the railroad." Citizens have had no input on this new "regional port." Rep. Shoaf and Sen. Simon conducted zero public meetings. The GCCC believes that new Port Commissioners who live as much as 50-100 miles away will be concerned with their own counties' benefits not the environmental and economic risk Port St. Joe will be taking by dredging through the dioxins we know are buried at the port from the paper mill days. Nor will other counties be concerned about the detrimental effects on our city infrastructure and roads with port expansion.
It is too late to contact Rep. Shoaf or Sen. Simon. It passed the Florida House and Senate on March 11, 2026. Our last chance to stop this is to appeal to Governor Ron DeSantis (850-717-9337). On June 15th the bill was sent to the Governor's desk. If he does not veto it, it will become law on June 30th. He could sign it into law at any time. We urge you to Contact the Governor immediately via his email page! Alternatively, you can reach his staff or voice mail at (850) 717-9337. If you decide to email, use Veto HB 4105 in your subject line so that all our requests are counted together. Give him a reason he needs to veto. Here are a few to think about: (1) It is pork spending; hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to create a cargo port and rebuild a railroad when both exist a few miles away in Panama City. (2) Governor DeSantis just gave Gulf County $6 million dollars to advance ship repair at Port St. Joe as opposed to a cargo port. There is not room for both. The current Port Authority Board, which this bill will dissolve, is working jointly with the County on this project. (3) Gulf County is constructing a "First in Florida" marine workforce training facility so our kids can obtain good jobs at Eastern Shipbuilding or elsewhere. This effort will be threatened by a Port Authority pushing a cargo port as opposed to ship repair. (4) We have a 1000-fold higher level of dioxins in the bay than our State Representatives, who proposed this bill, realize. (FDEP agrees with the revised numbers). A cargo port means dredging the shipping channel deeper and wider right through these toxins. There is no provision in this bill for the three other counties on the new Port Authority to be required to pay for any cleanup or have liability for the destruction of our tourism and fisheries if the contamination penetrates the food chain.
GET INFORMED ON CURRENT PORT PLANS!
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