- April 18, 2024
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Upon reading a recent opinion in the Palm Coast Observer, I was disappointed to learn that there are still supposedly informed citizens in our community who are unaware of the great strides and successes the county has made in economic development.
My initial reaction to the opinion was to sigh and move on. However, the comments I’ve received from my associates, friends and general residents regarding the potential damage of allowing misinformation to go uncorrected has led me to rethink my position and instead use this as an opportunity to educate and inform.
The county took over the lead for the local economic development efforts in 2011, coordinating with the economic development professionals of the cities, local business/education associations, the chamber, and state and regional entities. Our current economic development model is credited by experts in the field as helping to “lead the pack.”
Before providing an update on our current approach, it is important to note that the statistics provided in the prior opinion are outdated, referencing the period between 2005 and 2010. My comments are focused on initiatives/activities that have transpired since 2011, when our genesis began. Some examples are as follows:
• Attracted/expanded six new companies (Coastal Cloud, Designs for Health, Gioia Sails South, Aveo Engineering, TBD Partners, WP Rawls)
• Created hundreds of new employment opportunities
• Laid the foundation for new facilities to be constructed
• Partnered with the University of Florida and the county ag extension office to develop and implement an Agriculture Business Retention and Expansion Program
• Developed and implemented a Manufacturing Business Retention and Expansion Program partnering with SCORE, the Chamber and Career-Source Flagler/Volusia
• Co-hosted Industry Week’s Roundtable in the South, a site selector program, accessing leading international industry reps, for two years
• Sponsored Entrepreneur Night with Office Divvy and the SBDC Business Assistance Center
• Obtained a $600,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield grant in collaboration with Bunnell and Palm Coast
• Recognized by the governor’s office for successful economic development, with two personal visits.
• Recognized locally and statewide, by JaxUSA, Florida High Tech Corridor and Enterprise Florida as a leader in economic development.
An Economic Opportunity Advisory Council was created to guide the overall methodology and approach of our economic development efforts. Highly qualified residents from the community were selected to serve on the board based on their areas of expertise, including agriculture, engineering, business development, marketing, high technology, manufacturing, government, finance and entrepreneurial backgrounds. The selection process was intentionally designed to develop a board with a broad spectrum of business knowledge to provide a balanced view and approach. It is my pleasure to serve with these members, who volunteer their time simply for the betterment of the community.
The first task taken on by the EOAC was to hire an executive director. Recognizing the pivotal role that this person will play in the county’s future, a national search was conducted. The process was conducted with full transparency: The press and public were invited and in attendance during each step. After personal interviews with the top three candidates, the members were pleased to select Helga van Eckert, our current executive director. Ms. van Eckert’s qualifications are extensive and detailed on the Flagler County Department of Economic Opportunity website.
The county's economic development mission is to facilitate the expansion and diversification of the county’s economic base with targeted businesses that provide sustainable employment opportunities for its residents.
Over the past two years, Flagler County has achieved numerous successes, as detailed above. The comprehensive approach has developed a balance between the recruitment of new businesses (both large and small), the assistance and development of existing businesses to allow for expansion, and the ongoing need to ensure that our local businesses are retained. We consider our model to be an economic development tripod; only through the continued strengthening of each leg will our economic development efforts succeed.
We drew upon the rich pool of local expertise, hired an economic development expert and transformed the county in two short years from a small county with a local perspective to a finely tuned economic development engine within the state. We’re attracting new industries, expanding businesses, creating new jobs and realizing a newfound confidence in the future while still maintaining the high quality of life that we all enjoy.
I’d like to invite the public to attend our monthly economic development meetings and participate first hand.
Barbara Revels is a member of the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners.
