- December 16, 2025
At the start of the Tuesday, Jan. 31 Economic Opportunity Advisory Council meeting, Chairwoman Barbara Revels announced that the county’s incoming economic-development director, Helga van Eckert, will not start in Flagler on Feb. 20 as expected. Due to moving complications, her arrival from New Jersey has been delayed until March.
“I would (also) recommend we give her a couple weeks in the county before we expect her to sit here and (work with us),” Revels told the board.
After a short session to schedule future meeting times — regular EOAC meetings will be held 9 a.m. every first Wednesday of the month — the board left the Emergency Operations Center to tour the UCF Business Incubator and NextGen aviation facility at the Daytona Beach International Airport, as well as the Advance Technology Center, at Daytona State College’s main campus.
Next month, the board will visit the county’s largest employer, Florida Hospital Flagler, as well as go on an agricultural tour. The tours are meant to give members a dynamic view of all of the area’s resources.
Board member Bob Cahil was absent from the meeting. Joseph Marotti was absent from the meeting and tours.
There will not be an EOAC meeting tomorrow, Feb. 1.
“We need to basically create what are going to be our guiding principles,” Revels said toward the end of the meeting, “(as well as) what we’re going to expect of Miss Eckert.”
After those guidelines are created, they will be brought before to each municipality for support, she added.
“(It’s about) having things we can report against,” Vice-Chairman Greg Federline added. “So people can look and say, ‘Yes, you really are accomplishing this.’ “
For past EOAC coverage, CLICK HERE.
