It's official: Enterprise Flagler is no more

Palm Coast Observer
Business

The embattled, public-private economic development organization known as Enterprise Flagler was officially disbanded in its final board meeting by a unanimous vote Thursday, Sept. 29.

Barbara Revels, who represented the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on the Enterprise Flagler board, made the formal motion to dissolve.

“It’s not a motion I ever wanted to make,” Revels said. “I’m really sorry this is happening. It’s kind of like, poof. I don’t know exactly what went down here.”

She praised volunteer co-presidents David Ottati and Craig Wall, both of whom fulfilled their responsibilities admirably, she said.

Michael Chiumento III seconded the motion. He noted that former Enterprise Flagler Executive Director Greg Rawls was tireless in his efforts to promote economic development in the county.

“I think we all owe Mr. Rawls and (Project Coordinator DeAnna O’Flaherty) a hand,” he said. The group applauded. “When I lieft my office across the street many nights at 8 or 8:30, Greg’s car was still there.”

Then Chiumento said to Rawls: “I apologize on behalf of this organization for the political conundrum you found yourself in.”

Rawls has been hired by the county to lead the transition to the Economic Opportunity Council.

Before the dissolution, the board voted to split the remaining funds in the organization’s account evenly between Palm Coast and Flagler County, the largest donors to the group in recent years. Each of the two municipalities will receive about $47,000 to continue their own economic development efforts.

Ottati added: “Just because we’re dissolving, doesn’t mean we need to stop doing economic development. We want to support the county in their efforts. At the end of the day, it’s us, the people who live here, who are impacted.”