By GARETT VALCOURT
Community leaders gathered Thursday at Probes Unlimited in Bonifay for a tour of the company’s manufacturing facility, celebrating the completion of a major Florida expansion and the continued growth of advanced manufacturing in Holmes County.
The tour coincided with Probes Unlimited’s announcement that it has completed a 3,000 square foot expansion at its Holmes County facility, a project expected to bring nearly 30 new high skilled jobs to the local economy. The expansion strengthens the region’s advanced manufacturing capabilities and reinforces the company’s long-term investment in Northwest Florida.
Probes Unlimited relocated to Bonifay in 2021, fully repurposing and renovating a large portion of the former Bonifay Middle School. What was once a campus for classrooms and science labs has been transformed into a state of the art production hub outfitted with high end manufacturing technology.
“Our journey down here started about five years ago,” said Ernie DeLany, President and CEO of Probes Unlimited. “We looked at several locations across the Panhandle and decided this was the best fit for what we were trying to accomplish. We were looking for a building that we could grow into, and today really reflects that vision.”
Probes Unlimited designs and manufactures precision, custom sensing devices, primarily temperature sensors, used in global industries such as aerospace, automation, scientific instrumentation, green and smart grid technologies, and commercial food service.
“If you are building a piece of commercial equipment with a control system, we manufacture sensors designed to match that system,” DeLany explained. “If you walk into Starbucks and order a sandwich, the oven heating that food has one of our temperature sensors inside.”
Company officials emphasized that the expansion represents more than additional space.
“This facility represents more than an expansion for our company. It reflects our long-term commitment to Holmes County and Northwest Florida,” DeLany said. “The strength of the local workforce and the support we have received from the community, region, and state have exceeded our expectations. We are proud to grow here and continue delivering the precision and quality our customers depend on.”
The project was made possible in part by a 362,000-dollar Rural Infrastructure Fund grant from Florida Commerce to the City of Bonifay, supporting the infrastructure needed for the facility’s expansion.
Local and regional economic development leaders praised the investment.
“The addition at Probes Unlimited is a testament to the strength and readiness of Holmes County’s workforce and business climate,” said Joe Rone, Executive Director of the Holmes County Development Commission. “We are proud that Probes Unlimited chose to invest here.”
Jennifer Conoley, President and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, noted the project’s broader significance. “It was May 2021 that we were all together announcing that Probes Unlimited would be expanding its operations to Holmes County,” Conoley said. “The success of this project is a testament to the power of partnership and proof that companies can expand and thrive in the resilient rural communities of Northwest Florida.”
Probes Unlimited currently employs 34 people and is in the process of adding approximately 12 more positions as customer demand continues to increase. The company is also adding two new production cells to expand manufacturing capacity.
Team members credited the support of local leaders and the community as a key factor in the company’s success.
“We talk about making a positive impact,” said Kyle Hudson of Probes Unlimited. “If you are making an impact, it is either positive or negative, and I am proud to be part of a group that is making a positive impact on this community.”
Probes Unlimited is currently accepting applications, with employment opportunities available through the company’s careers page.
Staff Report 
AMBER PATINO 