Major development project to bring thousands of jobs to Northwest Florida On Thursday, July 18, 2024, The Jay Odom Group proudly unveiled their most recent project, Freedom Tech Center.

Located at 1900 Lewis Turner Boulevard in Fort Walton Beach, this transformational mixed-use tech center project includes a 126-room Home2 Suites by Hilton (with over 5,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space), a 115-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites, over 150,000 sq. ft. commercial Class A office space, 4.3 acres for restaurant and commercial establishments, and a 312-unit luxury apartment complex, Zatitude at Freedom Tech Center. At the heart of Freedom Tech Center stands a grand 200-foot flagpole, proudly displaying one of the tallest US flags in Florida, measuring an impressive 105 feet by 70 feet. This majestic flag serves as a tribute to the rich heritage of the military in our local community and the freedom we enjoy today thanks to their service. It symbolizes unity and freedom, serving as the backdrop for an expansive 4-acre park with a stage for community concerts and events.

The 52-acre property is part of the United States Air Force’s Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) program and is in partnership with Eglin Air Force Base. Through a nationwide competitive Request For Proposals (RFP) process, The Jay Odom Group was awarded a long-term ground lease on the Eglin Air Force Base property that is now Freedom Tech Center. The ground rent paid on this lease, including a percentage of all revenue generated by The Jay Odom Group on the property, goes directly to Eglin Air Force Base to support their mission including enhanced military construction, operations and maintenance. Overall, the project has already brought 1200 jobs to the area for construction, and will provide approximately 1000 ongoing jobs to the community.

Over 300 attendees from the local and regional business and military communities joined together on July 18th for the official flag-raising ceremony and ribbon cutting, held in the Freedom Tech Center Park. The ceremony began with an invocation by Okaloosa County Commissioner, Mel Ponder, and the Eglin Honor Guard presented the colors and raised the flag during the national anthem. The massive flag took 15 minutes to reach the peak of the flagpole, just as the Soaring Planes of HarborWalk Village flew over to commemorate the occasion. Florida’s Secretary of Commerce, J. Alex Kelly, traveled from Tallahassee to address the audience, celebrating the economic impact the development will bring to the Fort Walton Beach area. Developer Jay Odom shared the full scope of the project and the vision for the property, as well as giving heartfelt thanks to his team, the local military community, Governor Ron DeSantis and his team, the city of Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, and his family.

“I grew up here and spent my childhood riding my bike to Eglin Air Force Base. At that time, I didn’t understand what freedom truly meant. But growing up in a military community, I learned that it wasn’t given to us, it was earned and it has to be protected. My hope for this property is that we can support and serve the military in all they do.” said developer, Jay Odom.

Following the ceremony, guests were invited inside the Home2Suites by Hilton to enjoy a reception and live painting featuring local artist, Harley Van Hyning. The piece was raffled off and proceeds benefited Healing Paws for Warriors, a local non-profit organization committed to training and placing service dogs with military veterans. Guests also toured the hotel’s guest rooms, bar, pool area and over 5,000 sq feet of flexible meeting space.

While the Home2Suites by Hilton is now open and fully operational, the project is still bustling with construction activity. The first buildings at the new Zatitude Luxury Apartments are nearing completion and are now open for leasing, with tenants moving in August 2024. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is currently under construction and expected to open in September this year. The Jay Odom Group is completing designs on the first office building and food and beverage establishments at Freedom Tech Center and hopes to break ground on those in the near future.

To see floor plans, submit an application and more information on Zatitude Luxury Apartments at Freedom Tech Center, visit www.zatitudeapartments.com. For more information on Freedom Tech Center, go to www.freedomtechcenter.com or find Freedom Tech Center on social media. Those interested in commercial leasing opportunities can contact Sales & Business Development Director, Mimy Kincaid, at mkincaid@thejayodomgroup.com.

ABOUT JAY ODOM GROUP Established in 1987, The Jay Odom Group is a real estate development group based in Destin, Florida, that has shaped the economic landscape of Northwest Florida and beyond through projects including Hammock Bay, Freedom Tech Center, Natureview, Bay Vita, Pigeon Forge RV Resort, The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach, Destiny, Destin Jet, Crystal Beach Development, Uptown Station, The Emily Odom Institute, JG Plaza, Draper J, and over 20 other subsidiary companies. As a full-service real estate company, Jay Odom Group specializes in commercial and residential properties, focusing on mixed-use development, master-planned communities, investment, property management, and the development of hotels, resorts, and mixed-use districts. For more information on past and current projects, visit www.thejayodomgroup.com.

JAY ODOM GROUP OFFICIALLY UNVEILS FREEDOM TECH CENTER IN FORT WALTON BEACH