Chambers of commerce eye changes in 2018

MILTON — The new year brings changes for three area chambers of commerce.

SANTA ROSA COUNTY CHAMBER

The Santa Rosa County Chamber of Commerce's new office and Tourist Information Center breaks ground this year and President Donna Tucker said various events will celebrate each leg of the project.

The chamber’s current Stewart Street facility has just 13 parking spaces, but 22 board members. The new facility will have much more parking, a board room large enough to hold 50 board members and smaller administrative spaces, according to Tucker.

The new facility is modeled after the Asa May House in Capps, Fla., and will be made of solid wood from 50-year-old Virginia pine. The chamber researched the new Avalon Boulevard location and found that the area has the county's highest traffic count.

NAVARRE CHAMBER

The Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce will have an official mascot and an updated logo, President Tamara Fountain said. It will also partner with the University of West Florida’s Small Business Development Center to bring free consulting to members through the “Ask Adam” Series with Adam McCloskey, SBDC's associate director.

The chamber plans to create an interactive “Digital Downtown" since they lack a physical downtown area. In addition, the chamber will introduce Navigators, a group of members who volunteer to promote businesses and chamber functions. Also, an internship for high school and college students will begin for positions in administration, destination sales, membership, visitor services and events.

The chamber will kick off a capital campaign in 2018 to fund a permanent home. During the early months of 2018, the chamber will temporarily relocate from its Navarre Parkway office to a location on Highway 98. The chamber is working to identify and purchase property for a permanent headquarters.

GULF BREEZE CHAMBER

The Gulf Breeze Chamber will celebrate its 30th year in 2018 and will establish a nonprofit organization, President Kristen Loera said.

“We are looking to reestablish a 501c3 organization in order for us to work more on some of the aspects of our mission such as education — our support to the education system is a big part of it — and community development,” Loera said. “We’re still in the process of developing the exact mission for the foundation, but we’re moving forward to get that established within the next year.”

The Gulf Breeze Chamber's office also will relocate. “The building that we have been in for the past 17 years is owned by the Santa Rosa County School Board,” Loera said. “They have sold the property, so we do not know where we are going yet — we are exploring different options — but we will be moving to a new [temporary or permanent] home in 2018."

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Chambers of commerce eye changes in 2018