Ted chats with Debbie Dodge about her exciting new adventures. | | Community Partner Spotlight | | One Big Beautiful Bill Act Resources from Warren Averett | | |
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act is now law, and true to its name, it’s big, complex and packed with tax changes that could impact your business and personal finances in major ways.
This resource page brings together straightforward explanations and expert insights to help you:
· Break down what’s in the bill (in plain English),
· Understand how the changes could affect you or your business, and
· Learn what steps to take now to stay compliant and prepared.
Visit the page now to get the clarity you need to help your business thrive, and check back often for the latest updates and expert guidance.
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Click on event below to register NOW for our Upcoming Chamber Events.
Don't forget to apply your discount, Click here
(Discount only applies to First Friday Coffee, Nothing But Networking, & Business After Hours)
| | Upcoming Committee Meetings: Are you seeking opportunities for professional development and personal growth. Come to one or all eleven of our chamber committees to see what the buzz is about! | | September New Member Luncheon: Tom Lazzaro, Tommy Lazzaro Foundation | Pamela Meredith, Foundations Medical Center | Lacey Smith, VITAS Healthcare | Jaci Goodrich, The Brain Injury Connection, Inc. | Daniel Harper, Individual Member | Sharon Thomas, Blu Vue Vacations | Erica Beal, Kitchen and Bath Center | Jordan & Samantha Hadley, Rhody Brothers of Florida | Juvanda Battle, Covenant Home Health Care | Jenna & Damian Mendez, Sugar & Co. | | Check out these short tutorial videos that provide a step-by-step guide on how to navigate through the online Member Information Center (MIC). These instructional videos will show you how to update your profile, add keywords, add job postings, register for chamber events/add your benefit discount, add events to chamber community calendar, pay invoices and much more! | | |
We take the responsibility of providing essential government services seriously in Okaloosa County. Over time and as the County has grown, the need for improvements has become necessary. Fortunately, we are able to complete a substantial portion of these improvements without using your property tax dollars. To help avoid confusion on how your local government makes these improvement and their funding sources, we spoke with Deputy County Administrator Jason Autrey on three of these non-property tax funding sources. View the video interview at https://youtu.be/j5pw02mKVow?si=mSoJgf82bo76MgIx
Learn more about each of these funding sources at:
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Exciting news in south Crestview! The grand opening of the new 24/7 Library Lending Location in South Crestview took place recently at the Crestview Welcome + Adventure Center located at 5131 S Ferdon Blvd., Crestview, FL 32539. This new 24/7 library kiosk and library lockers will let you pick up and return library items anytime, perfect for your busy schedule.
Learn more at https://readokaloosa.org/alwaysopen
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Manage your water use, detect water leaks with City’s “MyH2O” portal
Did you know that your new city water meter features Advanced Metering Infrastructure, which provides more accurate readings and real-time data?
You can access this data through our “MyH2O” water customer portal. MyH2O allows you to monitor your water usage in real-time and gain insights into your water consumption on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis.
With “MyH2O” you can:
- Identify immediately if you have a water leak in your system
- Gain understanding of your water usage and costs through real-time monitoring
- Set custom alerts on water consumption to avoid billing surprises
- View peer comparisons to better gauge what is normal water usage
- Remotely monitor rental and vacation properties
- Modify water usage to save money
- Add multiple addresses/accounts to the same MyH20 account
The portal can be accessed from a desktop/laptop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. To get started, point your smartphone to the QR CODE ON THE ATTACHED IMAGE or visit the link below:
https://my-fwbfl.sensus-analytics.com/login.html#/signin
Click “Need to set up an account” and follow the prompts. You’ll need your utility billing information and account number (including the dash/hyphen).
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Local businesses donate items for the Fort Walton Beach’s new fire/rescue boat
We’d like to thank a couple more local businesses who generously donated their time and materials to help support the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department’s new fire/rescue boat.
Advanced Fire Protection Services of Fort Walton Beach recently donated about $3,500 worth of safety items including PFDs, safety helmets, ropes, a rescue litter, fins, and masks and other items essential for conducting boat-based rescue operations.
Founded in 1989, Advanced Fire Protection Services is a life-safety company providing everything from extinguishers and fire alarms to fire suppression systems and fire alarm monitoring. AFPS President Dana Sudheimer said partnering with the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department was a natural fit for the for the company.
We’ve been in the fire protection business for decades,” Sudheimer, whose father, Mike Brown, founded the local company in 1989.
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Zachary Meeks, owner of Calypso Marine Decks in Niceville, built and installed custom MarineMat decking for the boat, complete with Fire Department logos and the boat’s name. The MarineMat decking is high quality closed cell EVA foam that does not absorb water and is extremely resistant to stains and mildew.
“We just want to help support our local first responders,” said Meeks, who estimated the value of the custom mats and installation at about $2,000.
Thank you, Advanced Fire Protection Services and Calypso Marine Decks, for you generous donations to help support our Fire Department.
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Superintendent Marcus Chambers Elected President of the Florida High School Athletic Association
The Okaloosa County School District is proud to announce that Superintendent Marcus Chambers has been elected to serve as president of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Board of Directors. The election took place during the board’s meeting held on Monday, September 23, in Gainesville. The FHSAA Board of Directors serves as the executive authority of the association. Composed of 13 members, elected by the membership or appointed by the Governor of Florida and confirmed by the Senate, the board guides the direction of interscholastic athletics across the state. Board members serve three-year terms and may succeed themselves once. Read more...
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Okaloosa County School District Reminds Families to Apply for Free & Reduced-Price Meals
The application window is now open for families to apply for free or reduced-price school meals for the 2025–2026 school year. Healthy, nutritious meals play an important role in helping students stay focused and ready to learn. Applying is quick, confidential, and helps support both students and schools.
Families must reapply each school year for meal benefits, even if they qualified previously. For students with expiring benefits, the deadline to apply is September 22, 2025. Applications, however, may be submitted at any time throughout the school year.
To apply, visit www.myschoolapps.com. For questions or assistance, please call 850-301-3020.
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Angel Tree Returns for Okaloosa Students
The Okaloosa County School District and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office are once again partnering to bring holiday joy to students through the Angel Tree Program. Last year, more than 300 children received gifts thanks to the incredible generosity of staff, local businesses, and community members. This fall, school guidance counselors and school resource officers will work together to identify students in need and create wish lists. Community members can support by sponsoring a child or providing a monetary donation by visiting https://ocsostarcharity.com/angel-tree.
For additional details, please contact:
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Join our "A Roadmap to Small Business Funding" webinar this October to get expert guidance on securing the money your business needs. Our panel will demystify everything from SBA loans to conventional lending, giving you a clear path forward.
Ready to find your way? Register now to save your spot! tinyurl.com/sbdc-roadmap
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