Hello!
Will you start your Friday morning with us at our Business Before Hours on the Beach at Henderson Beach State Park? Enjoy a beautiful beach view, a Chick-fil-A breakfast, and great company. We'll learn more about the park and the City's Leave No Trace Program, as well as award the Business Person of the Month. Join us! Registration is required.
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Potential Fuel Supply Disruption
Message from Patrick Maddox, Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety
Please see this Federal Hours of Service Waiver from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for The Colonial Pipeline, a major oil infrastructure component. This waiver allows drivers to exceed the 10 hours of operation due to a regional declaration of emergency as the pipeline has been temporarily disrupted due to nefarious activity. This affects Eastern Seaboard states up to New York, and includes Texas and Tennessee as well. You will notice lines at gas stations and some stations temporarily out of fuel in the region. Our local Citgo hub, a major distributer in Okaloosa County, advises that we have adequate supply at the moment. There are undefined mitigation efforts in progress.
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Destin's Week of Blessings
Thanks to the Church of Destin, we are continuing the tradition of Destin's Week of Blessings! We hope to see you at Wednesday's Blessing of the Marketplace at Destin High School and Thursday's Blessing of the Fleet at the Destin Fishing Fleet Marina. See the full schedule below.
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15 Graduate from Destin Forward Community Education & Leadership Program
On May 4, we celebrated the graduation of our Destin Forward Class of 2021. This is the 13th graduating class, bringing the total number of alumni to 200.
Congratulations to Cassy DeJulio of the Destin Chamber for winning the prestigious Destin Forward Leadership Award. She was chosen by vote of her classmates. Four class members were also chosen by class vote to serve a 3-year term on the Destin Forward Advisory Board. They include Brenda Gray, Hilton Garden Inn Destin Miramar Beach; Clayton Hicks, Progress Bank; Lindsey Polk, Harris Business Machines; and Michelle Royce, Emerald Coast Business Intermediaries.
Other graduates include Renea Black, Early Learning Coalition of The Emerald Coast; Scott Brom, Harris Business Machines; Matt Butler; Branden Crosby, Warren Averett, LLC; Alexsis Evans, Warren Averett, LLC; Shaun Foster, Hancock Whitney; Stefanie Greenwood, Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican; Richard Martin, Destin Water Users; Chuck Mitchell, CRC Data Technologies; Natasha Smith, Vacasa; and Presley Sullivan, Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican.
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Census Data Released, Florida Gains Congressional Seat
Florida’s population per the 2020 Census stands at 21,538,187 people. This is an increase of nearly three million residents since the 2010 Census, a growth of 14.6%. Florida also continues to comprise a larger share of the national population. According to the 2020 Census, 6.5% of all Americans live in Florida, up from 6% in the 2010 Census, as the national population now stands at 331,439,281.
Florida added one congressional seat in the U.S. Census apportionment data, meaning the state will have 28 Congressional districts beginning in 2022 and continuing through the 2030 election cycle. The new Congressional district will likely benefit Central Florida and the I-4 Corridor.
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Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program Public Workshop Series
Please join the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program on May 11, at 6 p.m., for an interactive virtual workshop to share your thoughts on the importance, concerns, and needs of your local waterways. The Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program, the University of Florida and the University of West Florida will be hosting this workshop to help shape priorities for management strategies of the Choctawhatchee Bay Watershed.
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Important Policy Issues Slated for Discussion During Environmental Permitting Summer School
The 35th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School is scheduled for July 20-23, at the JW Marriott in Marco Island, Fla. This annual event provides top notch environmental education to engineers, attorneys, consultants, state and local officials, environmental managers, developers and others with a professional interest in environmental permitting. Breakout sessions include an overview of the 2021 legislative session, a growth management update, sessions on water supply challenges, and a special course series on water quality. The 70+ courses offered will also cover coastal permitting and state sovereign lands, imperiled species, waste management and site remediation, and wetlands permitting and mitigation.
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Save $ On Office Supplies
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Florida SBDC Virtual Office Hours at the Destin Chamber
Thursday, May 12 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Virtual
The Florida SBDC at UWF is hosting virtual consulting hours specifically for business owners in our area. Florida SBDC at UWF Business Consultant Diana Jernigan is available by email for impromptu meetings assisting with business challenges or opportunities.
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Young Professionals Sunset Social Sponsored by Okaloosa Gas
at Concerts in the Village: M-80s
Thursday, May 13 | 6 - 9 p.m.
Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village
Join the Young Professionals of Destin and sponsor Okaloosa Gas for a Sunset Social at the Concerts in the Village featuring the M-80s! Registration is required, and there will be NO charge at the gate, thanks to our sponsor.
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Business Before Hours on the Beach
Friday, May 14 | 7:30 - 9 a.m.
Henderson Beach State Park
Please join us for our May 14 Business Before Hours on the beach! We'll learn more about this beautiful state park and the City's Leave No Trace Program, while enjoying the beach view.
If you are registered for breakfast, there is no fee to enter the park that morning. In case of bad weather, our backup location is the Destin Chamber.
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Tourism & Hospitality Lunch: Creating a Digital Tourist Trap for your Brand
Wednesday, May 19 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center
The tourists are here. Now what? How do you get them into your business? Jason Hall, Founder and CEO of Five Channels, will explain how to 'Create a Digital Tourist Trap for your Brand.'
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Progressive Business After Hours at Regatta Commons
Thursday, May 27 | 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Start at the Destin Chamber
Guests will check-in at the Destin Chamber and will receive a map to explore other businesses and delicious food and beverages around the office park. Thank you to Destin Brewery, Destin Custom Home Builders, Emerald Coast Business Intermediaries, Emerald Grande, HomeFi Digital Mortgage, Kombi Keg, Matthews & Jones LLP and Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club!
Cost is $5 for members.
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Military Affairs Council (MAC) Meeting
Wednesday, June 2 | 12 - 1 p.m.
Destin Chamber
Our guest speaker will be Lt. Col. James D. Pritchett, the 6th Ranger Training Battalion Commander.
Anyone is welcome to attend. There is no charge.
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Thank You To Our Renewing Members |
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