- April 24, 2024
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If a new county proposal is adopted, Enterprise Flagler will disband in favor of a TDC-style EDC.
Enterprise Flagler, the organization tasked with attracting industry into the county, could be dissolved, if a proposal presented by County Administrator Craig Coffey to the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates gains favor.
“I believe we have to continue to work on various options … that will work for our community,” he said, in an email. “What I put together is really the combination of the remaining viable ideas taken from a lot of great people.”
With Flagler touting the second highest unemployment rate in Florida, and with the sixth Economic Summit canceled, staff outlined a plan to replace Enterprise Flagler with an Economic Development Council, modeled after the Tourist Development Council.
Like the TDC, the EDC would have a nine-member, public-private board and would be chaired by a county commissioner. Doug Baxter, chamber president, would have hiring/firing power over EDC staff.
Instead of tourists, the organization would focus on bringing industrial, technological and agricultural businesses to Flagler. It would also have about double Enterprise Flagler’s funding which is key, according to Lea Stokes, chamber chairwoman.
Although the chamber has not made any partnership decisions, she said, more funding means greater marketing potential. TDC, for example, is currently funded at approximately $1.3 million, with three full-time employees and more than $700,000 in advertising. Enterprise Flagler, in contrast, operates on a $241,200 budget, with two full-time employees and $5,000 in advertising.
In Coffey’s plan, the new council would have a staff of three and operate on a budget of $410,000. The county would expand its current contribution from $93,500 to $225,000. (See box above for details.)
“(The TDC) has certainly been a work in progress,” Stokes said, “but it’s obviously successful, and is having trackable continued success … That being said, I understand that tourism is different from economic development.”
A Palm Coast perspective
Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon said the City Council has not received a formal EDC proposal from the county; therefore, it has no formal position.
Landon did say, however, that he supports Coffey’s TDC-modeled EDC, aside from the suggestion that Palm Coast and the other cities contribute $1 per capita.
“I don’t believe cities should be required to contribute to industrial recruitment, other than city residents contributing through county taxes,” Landon said.
He said the city is working to help existing businesses, stabilize neighborhoods and promote ecotourism.
“If Palm Coast residents pay in addition to that,” Landon said, “we’re just doubling up on the taxes being used to support the program. Let’s quit duplicating our efforts and our funding source.”
Boards from Enterprise Flagler and the chamber will meet Aug. 4, to workshop economic development plans. The county will workshop the plan Aug. 8.
“I think this is one of best remaining options,” Coffey said. “However, should it not work out, we owe it those who want jobs in our community to move onto the next option and so on until we reach a solution.”
