- November 20, 2024
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The Flagler County Chamber has plans to become more vocal in local politics and to streamline its operations.
A new government affairs director position, headed by Gretchen Smith, will help the chamber keep abreast of local political developments, Chamber Chairman David Fowler said.
The chamber scrapped plans to build a political action committee, Fowler said, deciding that it can be vocal on government issues without one.
“The Business Issues Committee at the chamber will be honing in on local government issues and policies and which affect business,” he said. “We’ll be building relations and really keeping our thumb on the pulse on a daily level.”
The chamber has also replaced its affiliate chambers with five-member area councils to represent members with businesses in Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler Beach and The Hammock.
The move to area councils will streamline the chamber’s operation by reducing the number of hours board members spend at board meetings across the county, Fowler said.
“The councils will try to engage businesses out there that aren’t members of the chamber,” Fowler said. “Their focus will be on area business issues.”
The director of each council will have a seat on the Flagler County Chamber board of directors. The Young Professionals Group will remain an affiliate organization.
Fowler hopes the area councils will help the chamber become more engaged and grow its membership in 2014.
“We really want to continue to have the quality community events that we have — like the Creekside Festival out at Princess Place — but our biggest focus will be helping businesses in the county that are not chamber members to see that value of becoming members,” he said.
“There are a lot of small businesses that don’t really know what we do, and we’re looking to change that in 2014. We really want to be that place that they come for information and resources.”
What else should we be watching in 2014? Click here for the full list.
