The Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office (SREDO) received final approval today, Jan. 13, on an agreement that will enable Element Outdoors to lease a 20,000-square-foot building in Milton. The Iowa-based maker of outdoor and hunting apparel will bring 10 new, high-paying jobs back to Santa Rosa County where the company was launched.
“We’re very pleased that Element Outdoors is moving home to where it all started,” said Commission Chairman Bob Cole, District 2. “This one company demonstrates that Santa Rosa County is both a great place to launch a new business as well as to expand an existing one.”
Company vice president Chris Nallick and his wife, Angie, created Element Outdoors as a direct-to-consumer business in 2013. In 2019, the company joined with Xpedition Enterprises and moved to Decorah, Iowa.
Nallick says the move is based on the availability of the facility, easier distribution, and lower operating costs. He expects more growth will follow as companies affiliated Xpedition Enterprises make the move as well.
“It’s great to welcome Element Outdoors back to Santa Rosa County,” said Erica Grancagnola, assistant director of SREDO. “We clearly have a strong affinity with the company’s leaders and its target customers. It’s especially gratifying to see a company that ‘grew up' in Santa Rosa County finds it attractive to return.”
SREDO has leased the facility at 7999 Armstrong Road from Terhaar and Cronley since 2015. Under the agreement approved by the county commission, Element Outdoors LLC will sublet the facility from SREDO at cost plus insurance and taxes.
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