- June 16, 2025
Dear Editor:
Palm Coast strategizes job growth. But, Palm Coast has no idea and no ability to reach the goal wished for. First off, Palm Coast can’t decide if they are a prime spot for development demand. U.S. 1, I-95, the railroad and major airports nearby ought to answer that. Next, the city leadership says they have been working on ways to incentivize to attract businesses for years! And after years, Palm Coast is still at the starting line. Why?
In order to get off the starting line Palm Coast needs a real economic development team quasi separate from the standard city staff, because the city staff is stagnant and not up to date on current practices. Palm Coast needs a separate stand-alone funding mechanism to support this team and to build a war chest of incentives to funds investment in economic development infrastructure and an economic development hunting team. Some ready developed parcels and raw land in prime development locations need to be set up for more rapid development.
Palm Coast needs a more directed, shorter and concise online presence. As it stands now there are 20 plus pages of gobbledygook directing everyone everywhere trying to cover everything instead of concentrating on the prize: industrial development that brings in real jobs, real capital and real tax dollars.
Palm Coast has been centered on retail development and residential development. Retail development helps some, but new businesses to some extent are diluting the established businesses. Residential development is going to dry up here with the current mismanagement spread across the entire City Council and mayor. There is no team here and the word moratorium with a quick Google search of Palm Coast finds 20 or more articles discussing 30, 60, 90 (day), half year and full year moratoriums on development. What business of the so called 15 inquiries wants to deal with that?
Individual members spout off with their own agendas and there is no team plan or concept being extolled, which is harming this city even more.
Every construction trade, retail trade and school district takes blow after blow to their bottom lines whether financial or pupil enrollment when jobs are being scared off that are here now or could be here. The city of Palm Coast has a poor relationship with the staff, has no plan in which to build on to help direct hiring a qualified city manager and is unwilling to put up funds upfront to get a good city manager, economic development team or anything else done.
Two Cities with similar size to Palm Coast — Abilene, Texas, 127,000; Provo, Utah, 113,000 — are on the cutting edge of 21st century tech development. Abilene has a ½-cent dedicated sales tax earmarked for economic development, and wow is it paying off! Large business developments that keep multiplying the tax base to expand the zoo, airport, parks, fire stations, water access and all kinds of jobs.
Abilene’s Economic Development focuses on Abilene. If Palm Coast wants economic development to offset some of the burdens on home property owners and others these areas will be helpful:
1. A Dedicated STEM high school. 2. Coordination with local higher education. 3. A comprehensive STEM program throughout all the schools. 4. Emphasis on U.S. 1, I-95, rail lines, airport and access to ports. 5. Development of industrial parks before land use is much more disorganized. 6. Stop talking about moratoriums, a potential job killer. A city not growing is dying!
Don Wilson
Palm Coast
