October 6, 2020

Greetings! Did you know that four Destin City Council seats are up for election on the Nov. 3 ballot? Friday's Business Before Hours Sponsored by Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican offers you the chance to hear from candidates and make an informed decision on those that will lead our city. The breakfast also features our non-profit partner Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center. Register here! The Nov. 3 ballot also includes six constitutional amendments and two city of Destin charter amendments. Earlier today, we held a virtual Q&A featuring Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs & Coalitions Advocacy for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, focused solely on Amendment 2 and why it is bad for business. Listen here.

President’s Message: The Election Looms The election on Nov. 3 is the biggest, most important election this country has ever faced. The political mood in the United States is unlike any I’ve ever experienced, and something I never thought I’d see. But lost in the shadows of the Presidential Election are several state and local issues that will also be on the ballot. Keep reading here.

Green Earth Southeast Claims Top Spot at Golf Tournament Twenty-seven golf teams teed off in the Destin Chamber’s Annual Golf Tournament Sponsored by Renasant Bank on Oct. 1, at Emerald Bay Golf Course. Green Earth Southeast took home top prize, followed by CPC Office Technologies and Warren Averett. Drew Armacost of Affordable Home Insurance and Matthew Howard of 360 Blue won the Longest Drive prizes. Kevin Bowyer of Warren Averett, Jeremy Sprenkle of 360 Blue and Erik Thompson of Five Channels won the Closest to the Pin prizes.  Keep reading here.

BizTech Has Been Postponed The 2nd Destin Business Technology Summit / BizTech, which was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13, has been postponed. A new date will be set soon. Thank you to our sponsors! Breakout Sponsors - Bit-Wizards and Warren Averett Lunch Sponsor - CRC Data Technologies Cookie & Coffee Sponsor - Tecaba Tech Booth Sponsor - Five Channels, Kloud 7, and Planet Secure Accommodations Sponsor - Compass Resorts Media Sponsor - AB+Production, LLC

Want to Serve on a Local Mom Panel for Destin-Fort Walton Beach? The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism organization is dedicated to helping all kids, both local and visiting, experience the outdoors and get out on the water. Between the pandemic, virtual school and the latest social app, we know kids don’t get to safely explore the world around them as much as any of us would like.    To help change this, your help is needed. The Tourism organization is creating a local panel of moms to try out new adventures. It will include approximately 50-75 area moms and their families just like you. Over the next six months, the organization wants to find out what would help you get out and take adventures on the water by testing the experiences (online and in person) and sharing how it could be better for everyone.    Interested in being a part of this panel? Please take this quick survey to learn more.

Do You Need Masks For Your Business? Thank you to the Florida Department of Health of Okaloosa County for providing masks for us to distribute to our members! If you would like to pick up masks for your place of business, please email espies@DestinChamber.com to arrange the quantity and pickup.

Current COVID-19 Data Now Available on DestinChamber.com Visit our website for up-to-date, local COVID-19 metrics.

Your Census Makes A Difference From directing federal funds to local communities to determining political representation in all levels of government, accurate census counts are vital. Destin is only reporting a 32.8% response rate to the 2020 Census. The state average is 63.2%. Please take time to complete the census today! Call (844) 330-2020 or complete the Census online at www.My2020Census.Gov.

Hilton Garden Inn - Destin/Miramar Beach Celebrates Grand Opening Phi Theta Kappa at Northwest Florida State College Inducts 69 New Members for Fall 2020 Cram the Van 2020 October - National Domestic Violence Month Facebook Ad Design Quick Tip #3: Use Call-to-Actions Become a Corporate Sponsor for FFT Cultural Arts Alliance Celebrates Arts & Humanities Month Throughout October City of Destin Government Week – “Staying Connected to the Community We Love” Destin Garden Club Donates New Gardening Books to Destin Library City of Destin to Host Special Meeting on Undergrounding Utilities Costa Enterprises McDonald’s Gifts Educators in Northwest Florida Free Coffee and Soft Drinks Northwest Florida State College is Awarded a $413,836 Grant from the Florida Department of Education to Stand Up a CDL Training Program Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida Announces the New 2020 – 2021 Governing Board of Directors Mattie Kelly Environmental Institute at NWF State College Publishes Comprehensive Study on Local Coastal Dune Lakes Emmanuel Sheppard & Condon Firm Loses Perdido Key Location Hello Frances Podcast: Enneagram Type 4 Watch Local Veteran & Entrepreneur in CNBC Town Hall Meeting Thank you to those businesses and organizations stepping up to help each other and the community. We want to share your upcoming events and highlight your good works. Please send updates to espies@DestinChamber.com.

Florida SBDC Virtual Office Hours at the Destin Chamber Thursday, October 8 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Virtual Find details here. 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.

Business Before Hours Candidates Forum Sponsored by Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican Friday, October 9 | 7:30 - 9 a.m. Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village Registration and prepayment required! Join us for our Business Before Hours Candidates Forum sponsored by the Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican and learn more about the candidates running for Destin City Council. The breakfast also features our non-profit partner Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center.

Business After Hours Sponsored by Aegean Restaurant Thursday, October 22 | 5 - 6:30 a.m. Aegean Restaurant Miramar Beach Registration required! Join us for our Oct. 22 Business After Hours Sponsored by Aegean Restaurant in Miramar Beach! There is no charge to attend this event, but we do ask that you register ahead of time so we can ensure we stay within recommended capacity.

Oct. 6 - Dennen IP Law, LLC Oct. 22 - Step One Automotive Group's Subaru Fort Walton Beach

Ariza Forest View Apartments Gulf Coast Axe House  Honor Processing  Jet's Pizza  TripShock

Thank you to our renewing members!

790 on the Gulf Restaurant Acme Oyster House Adventures Aboard Sea Blaster - Destin's Original Affordable Home Insurance, Inc. All In One Cleaning Allstate Insurance - Ryland/Morrow Agency Bay Breeze Patio Bay Club Of Sandestin Beach Liquors Blacktip Fi BluePoint Financial LLC Boshamps Oyster House Camp Gulf CECO of Destin, Inc. Centennial Bank Century 21 Blue Marlin Pelican Championship Title Agency Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County Cumulus Broadcasting Destin Botox Destin Commons Destin Flooring, Inc. Destin Holiday Beach Resort Destin Ice & Tackle Destin Life Destin Middle School Destin Surgery Clinic Emerald Coast Marine Emerald Coast Rental Management Emerald Coast Title Services, LLC Emerald Coast Vacation Rentals FamilyVest Five Channels Fudpucker's Beachside Bar & Grill Great Southern Yacht Company Gulf Coast Electric Habitat For Humanity, Okaloosa County Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Hand Arendall Harrison Sale LLC Harmony Beach Vacations Holiday Inn Express Holiday Surf & Racquet Club Home2 Suites by Hilton Infinity Flooring Inn on Destin Harbor

Integrity Laundry Services Jan-Pro of Northwest Florida Jim Liufau Ins. Agency, Inc., State Farm Ins. Kloud 7 LegalShield/ID Shield loanDepot LuLu's McGill Escrow & Title McNeill Hotel Company Motel 6 National Fire Extinguishers & Systems Norton Insurance Of Florida Ocean Reef Resorts Office Depot - Business Solutions Pelican Adventures Destin Pepito's Cantina & Grill Pepito's Mexican Bar & Grill Pepito's Mexican Restaurant & Cantina Perfleek, Inc.  Pinkie Flamingo & Friends LLC Pleat & Perry, P.A. Randy Wise Homes Regional Self Storage Rhodes Auto Repair Salt Water Vacations Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund ScubaTech of NW Florida, Inc. Silver Dunes Condominium Sinfonia Gulf Coast Smileology at Miramar Beach Smileology at Niceville Smileology at Santa Rosa Beach Dental South Walton Utility Co., Inc. Southern Earth Sciences, Inc. Sugar Beach Interiors, Inc. Tecaba Tech The Red Door Saloon  Travel South Media, LLC Twin Cities Hospital Twin Cities Transmission & General Repair Waterfield & Associates, Inc. Whataburger Wind Creek Hospitality /Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wyndham Destinations

Save $ On Office Supplies Did you know Destin Chamber members save money on office supplies with Office Depot? Click here to print a store purchasing card to use in the Destin location or visit www.mychamberadvantage.com/Chamber_SignUp to sign up online.

DestinChamber.com | (850) 837-6241

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