- April 24, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
The county is beginning to finalize elements of a new economic development arm.
After the county rejected its most recent retooling plan and the city of Palm Coast declined to fund it in its upcoming year’s budget, Enterprise Flagler’s board of directors unanimously agreed Aug. 18 to begin the organization’s dissolution process.
Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts referred to it as the “swan song meeting.”
“After the county meeting (where they rejected the retooling plan), it was overall resolved,” said Greg Rawls, Enterprise Flagler executive director. “We’re just on different pages — what the county wants and (what we want).”
For the past six months, the county has led several workshops and summits to discuss the future of economic development and of Enterprise Flagler. The commissioners met Aug. 22 to begin formalizing what Commissioner Nate McLaughlin referred to in an earlier meeting as a “foundational something.”
Piggybacking off a proposal County Administrator Craig Coffey presented recently for a Tourist Development Council-like economic development organization, which he called the Economic Development Council, board members began talking specifics.
They agreed that funding to the future organization will not exceed $400,000 from the county.
The organization’s board (eight individuals and a commissioner — Barbara Revels was unofficially nominated for the commissioner’s seat) will be chosen by the commission.
No staff members will be employees of the county or the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates.
To ensure a quality CEO is hired, he or she will be guaranteed a three-year contract.
“I feel good about this,” McLaughlin said. “I feel like we’ve got something.”
Enterprise Flagler will officially close Sept. 30. Coffey will present structuring options Sept. 7.
