- December 4, 2025
Flagler County, Palm Coast and the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of commerce have all sent letters to Boston Whaler inviting the company to sit down and discuss its decision to leave the area.
The Brunswick Corporation, which owns Boston Whaler, announced the closure of its Flagler County manufacturing plant on Sept. 17 in a press release on the company’s website. The models made at the Roberts Road facility will be consolidated to its Edgewater facility, the press release said.
The employees at the Flagler location will be offered the opportunity to transfer the Edgewater location. By summer 2026, the transition is expected to be completed, the press release said.
With around 300 workers employed at the Flagler facility, Boston Whaler is one of the county’s larger employers. The letters, written by Chamber President John Phillips, Deputy County Administrator Jorje Salinas and Palm Coast Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston all sent the letters hoping to discuss other solutions with the company.
"We are committed to engaging in open and constructive dialogue to explore options that could mitigate these impacts," Salinas wrote. "Flagler County offers a range of economic incentives and resources, and we are eager to discuss whether these, or other creative solutions, could support continued operations or alternative opportunities for Brunswick in our community."
In a Sept. 29 interview with the Observer, Phillips said the Chamber has not yet heard from Boston Whaler about its decision to leave.
"Sometimes there's economic decisions that are beyond our control, and that may be the case here,” Phillips said. “But I think most important is just to have an open dialogue and conversation with them, to see if there's anything we could do.”
Boston Whaler opened its Roberts Road, Flagler Beach facility in 2021. Brunswick also announced in the press release that it will close its Reynosa, Mexico facility fiberglass boat manufacturing facility, transitioning production to its Merritt Island and Vonore, Tennessee, plants.
One of the biggest concerns is the rippling effect the future closure could have on surrounding jobs in the area. All three letters reference the potential loss of jobs for the employees at the plant who choose not to or can’t commute to Edgewater, but also negative impact on local suppliers and service providers who work with Boston Whaler.
Salinas wrote in his letter to Boston Whaler that the losses will have an impact on even the “broader business ecosystem.”
“This development is a matter of great concern to or residents and local government,” Salinas wrote.
There is a worry that Boston Whaler’s exit will impact future economic growth, as well.
“It’s a PR hit, at minimum,” Phillips said, “to have a brand name and a well-recognized name in the boating industry, to potentially close up their facility here in our town.”
The news came on the heels of Palm Coast adopting a budget that included over $1 million in economic incentives, the most money Palm Coast has ever dedicated to economic incentives. Phillips said the city's decision to invest more in economic incentives adds another "tool to the tool box" to use to help draw in more industry.
In a phone interview with the Observer, Johnston said she did not think the news would have a negative impact on the city gaining interest from other businesses.
"We know through the national side that there's a huge momentum of bringing more manufacturing jobs back here to the U.S.," she said. "So we're still hopeful that we will have the opportunity to help a business come to Palm Coast and provide those manufacturing jobs."
Phillips said it would be most important for Flagler County, its cities and other stakeholders to work together to draw other companies and business. That's why he, Salinas and Johnston invited Brunswick to sit down with them for "an exit interview."
"If we can work together to try to attract more industries, whether it's in the marine industry like Boston Whaler, or in a different industry, we just want to work together to try to improve the quality of life, bring more jobs here to our area," Phillips said.
Johnston agreed and said the city of Palm Coast and the county are working together on initiatives for economic development for the area "because it affects us all."
"It's important that the community know how much the city of Palm Coast and the county are working together to either keep businesses here or attract new businesses," she said.
Salinas wrote the county's goal was to better understand the factors driving this decision and identify pathways to sustain economic vitality for all stakeholders.
Johnston wrote in her letter that the potential loss of the jobs, and the broader economic ripple effect, is deeply concerning to our community."
Johnston told the Observer that though business ebbs and flows, the city wants to focus on the future. The exit interview would be a perfect opportunity to sit down with Brunswick and discuss what plans the company has for the site and what the cities and county could have done better.
"So in the way that business goes," Johnston said, "we're wanting to see, 'hey, you have a site here. What are your intentions, and how can we help?'"
Most important, Phillips said, is having open dialogue.
“if it's something that can be salvaged, fantastic, and if it's not something that can be salvaged, then at least make it as good as possible for the employees and for the residents here.”
