- December 16, 2025
Rawls’ appointment would be temporary; a CEO to lead the county’s economic development will be sought nationally.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, at a Sept. 7 meeting, agreed to move forward with the structure of a new economic development arm to replace Enterprise Flagler, which will close its doors Sept. 30.
Although several details remain pending, commissioners said Enterprise Flagler Executive Director Greg Rawls will be offered seat at the table — at least for the transition period.
“My recommendation is to bring him on for up to a year as a county employee,” County Administrator Craig Coffey told the board.
Before Coffey came to Flagler, he was county administrator in DeSoto County. There, he hired Rawls to help manage a 4,000-seat $10 million events center. Later, Rawls was assigned additional duties in economic development. Coffey describes Rawls as a workaholic.
After he took the reins in 2007 in Flagler, Rawls applied to become a deputy for then-Enterprise Flagler director Tom Cooley, Coffey said.
“I told the board, ‘If you want to hire him, hire him, but don’t do it because of me,’” Coffey recalled. “I got my job because of merit, from a national search. He got his job out of merit from a national search.”
Ultimately, Rawls replaced Cooley as executive director.
In regard to Rawls’ future salary, Coffey said he would ask Enterprise Flagler to transfer his severance pay to the county in exchange for a job offer not to exceed a year. He would be awarded the original severance if he is let go before the year is up. After the year, he could potentially be rehired by the organization’s CEO.
But a lot could happen between now and then. For example, Enterprise Flagler could decline Coffey’s request. Rawls could “tell us to pound sand,” as Commissioner Nate McLaughlin put it. The county could offer Rawls a separate consulting contract, deducting his severance pay from its salary offer.
As for structure, the organization will have a nine-person board, which will be selected by and will report to the County Commission. Its CEO, also chosen by the commission, will be sought nationally, a process Coffey said could take up to four months.
“There are those out there who like to take nothing and build something,” McLaughlin said. “And I think that’s the kind of (CEO) we’re going to get to come to Flagler.”
After the board and CEO positions are filled, the commission said it will know better where the organization will be housed, who will write its checks and how its relationships with other community organizations (i.e. the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates) will be handled.
— Brian McMillan contributed to this story.
TO REGIONALIZE OR NOT TO REGIONALIZE ...
Jerry Mallot, president of the JAXUSA Partnership, visited the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Wednesday, Sept. 7, to speak on the importance of regionalism in economic development.
JAXUSA was formerly known as Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership.
County Administrator Craig Coffey suggested Mallot, as the president of a nearby economic development arm, may be able to shed light on the commission’s current process.
“I know that you guys are going through a lot of discussion and evolution in economic development,” he said. “(But) we do think we’d all work better together than separately.”
He said Northeast Florida has just suffered three or four of the toughest economic years of his life but that he remains optimistic.
“No matter what the deal is, we’re going to have a good period moving forward,” he said. “So, now is the time to be more organized.”
“I believe in regionalism,” County Commissioner Milissa Holland said, in support of Mallot’s call for participation. She is a member of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, along with Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts.
Mallot said Northeast Florida is part of the “global marketplace,” noting that JAXUSA is currently conducting a target industry cluster study, measuring the strengths and weaknesses of the region, to better understand its market. Results are scheduled to be released next April.
“We want you to be part, and welcome you and hope that you will (join us),” he said. Membership is not free, he added, but it’s inexpensive.
