Coastlines! Your Source for Chamber Info and Happenings.

"We are a Community Development Organization that Advocates for Businesses Across Okaloosa County, Creating Greater Opportunities for ALL!"

Ted chats with General Chuck Horner about the upcoming Honoring Our Heroes event celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the end of the Gulf War.

Community Partner Spotlight

Upcoming Chamber Events!

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)

Featured Chamber Events!

Join Us!

Annual Fees Apply

Learn More

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!

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners recognized Gabriel Rosenblatt, Security and Hospitality Specialist, with the H.E.R.O. (Humanitarian Efforts Recognized by Okaloosa County) Award during the latest Board Meeting. During a Night to Honor event in November at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, one of our guests collapsed in the ballroom. Someone called out for an AED and Gabriel responded. He was able to grab the AED and attend to the guest within 45 seconds of the call for help. He monitored the guest and flawlessly transitioned him over to the EMT's. We thank him for his quick action and care for the Convention Center guests.

We are now offering training to become a member of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). This is a rare opportunity for everyday citizens to be trained and make a difference in the event of a disaster.

To register, contact the following:

North Okaloosa County: Mark Brown, nokaloosacert@gmail.com.

South Okaloosa County: Phil Tritschler, northbaycert@gmail.com.

When: (Attendees must complete two consecutive weekends)

• Jan. 24-25 and Jan. 31-Feb 1

• April 18-19 and April 25-26

• July 18-19 and July 25-26

• Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 14-15

For additional questions or concerns email Destiny Nunez at dnunez@myokaloosa.com

The Fort Walton Beach CRA is looking for your input

The Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a special district created by the City to eradicate blight, enhance infrastructure, and improve community safety through targeted urban design and investments that create a more attractive, safe, and economically vibrant downtown area.

The CRA has an administrator, and the seven Fort Walton Beach City Council members serve as the CRA’s Board of Directors.

As it exists today, the City’s CRA district includes 607 acres, representing about 12 percent of the city.

The CRA uses a portion of the taxes collected on properties located in the CRA district to fund projects to improve public infrastructure and promote redevelopment within the district.

Examples of CRA projects include:

Improvements to the historic Gulfview Center building
Fort Walton Beach Library mural project,
Community Policing to combat vagrancy
Renovations of Sound Park and Chester Pruitt Park
Leasing of property for additional parking downtown and the Fort Walton Beach Landing

Want to get involved?

Join one of the CRA’s monthly Citizens’ Input Meetings. Get updates on existing CRA projects and give your input on future projects. Meetings are held at the Growth Management offices (105 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW) from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. The next Citizens’ Input Meeting is set for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026.

You can also attend the CRA's Board Meetings, which are held in the City Council Chamber (107 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW). The next Board Meeting is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Fort Walton Beach is seeking input for new roadway safety plan

The City of Fort Walton Beach wants your input on a new Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP).

This data-driven plan evaluates crash history within the City of Fort Walton Beach and identifies opportunities to provide infrastructure, policy, and program improvements to make our roadways, sidewalks and trails safer for users of all kinds.

Whether you’re a pedestrian, wheelchair user, bicyclist, motorcyclist, or motorist, no death or serious injury on our roadway network is acceptable.

We need to know from you where you feel safe and unsafe using the city’s roadway network.

Is there an area you'd love to bike if it had better lighting?
Is there a dangerous crosswalk where vehicles don't stop for pedestrians?
Have you seen or experienced a "near miss" incident that could have been a crash?

Let us know, and we will investigate what can be done to minimize the risk of such things continuing to occur.

Join our public meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, at the Fort Walton Beach Public Works and Utility Services Department or visit the online comment portal at:

https://engage.publiccoordinate.com/en/project/fort-walton-beach-csap

Okaloosa County School District Celebrates Three High Schools Recognized on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll

The Okaloosa County School District is proud to announce that Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach High School, and Niceville High School have been named to the 2025 College Board AP School Honor Roll, a prestigious national recognition honoring schools that expand access to Advanced Placement (AP) coursework while supporting student success.

Choctawhatchee High School earned Gold AP School Honor Roll recognition.
Fort Walton Beach High School earned Silver recognition.
Niceville High School earned Silver recognition.

Okaloosa County School District Celebrates 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical and Poster Contest Winners

The Okaloosa County School District proudly recognizes the students who were selected as winners in the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical and Poster Contests, held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Fort Walton Beach High School. Hosted in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sigma Omicron Omega Chapter, the annual event brought together students from kindergarten through 12th grade to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through powerful speeches and creative artwork reflecting his message of leadership, service, and unity.

“These students honored Dr. King’s legacy in a truly meaningful way,” said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. “Their words and artwork reflected not only creativity and talent, but also a deep understanding of Dr. King’s message and its importance in today’s world. I am incredibly proud of each student who participated.” Read more...

Ready to get crucial insights into the state of small business lending? Our webinar on February 4th is your opportunity to hear directly from financial experts, understand your funding options, and get the guidance you need to secure financial support for your venture. Make sure you don't miss out on this valuable session and register now! tinyurl.com/feb-capital

River Bank & Trust

MidSouth Bank

Hancock Whitney

SEO is changing faster than ever! 🌐 From ChatGPT to Google’s AI Overviews, the way your customers find you is evolving.

Are you prepared for AEO and GEO? If those acronyms are new to you, you won't want to miss our latest webinar on February 25th! We’re sharing the exact strategies you need to stay visible in AI-driven search results and voice queries.

What you’ll learn:

🔹 How AI search engines choose which brands to cite.

🔹 The difference between SEO and Generative Engine Optimization.

🔹 Practical tips to optimize for voice search today.

Stay ahead of the curve and keep your brand at the top of the (AI) list!

🗓️ Save your spot: tinyurl.com/febr-ai