Palm Coast Is Now "Jingle Worthy!"

   When I first came to Flagler County, Florida, I didn't even know that Palm Coast existed.  It was 1999 and I was thrust here, by chance, for a family wedding.  The bride and groom lived in Flagler Beach and we stayed at the Topaz Hotel (home of "Blue at the Topaz," my favorite Flagler County eatery)

   I had flown from Virginia to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale for Real Estate conventions and training in the 90's, but had never driven around or gotten a feel for the Atlantic Coast.  I graduated from the University of Tampa in 1973 and had ties to Sarasota and Port Charlotte... I was more of a self-declared "Gulf Coast guy."  The wedding was in St. Augustine, so all we did was drive up and down A1A.  Who knew what goodies ITT and the team of "Ponch and Garfield" had to offer across the bridge?

   Well, unforeseen events moved me here in 2001 - and the first few years were akin to "Real Estate Heaven."  Then 2006 happened and my crystal ball has been in for repair ever since!  How can it be, that someone could buy a 6,500 square foot building lot (not on the ocean) in Hammock Beach, for $580,000 in 2005... and sell it for "what the market would bear" in 2011... for $65,000?!?!?  Ouch!

Getting Back on Track!

   So, here we are in the infancy of 2012.  Are those flickers of hope I see?  Will we really start to come out of this quagmire?  Both Flagler County and Palm Coast have renewed and re-energized "Economic Development" initiatives in the works.  The County has a new "Economic Opportunity Advisory Council" and it's new boss, Helga van Eckert, will be on board later this month.  I'm blessed to be a member of this council and we all feel a real responsibility to take decisive action to bring jobs and revenue to Flagler County.  Palm Coast is also doing the same.  See what's going on at:

• www.PalmCoastGov.com
• www.DiscoverPalmCoast.com
• Check out the new Palm Coast video and jingle:  
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pYRP-NNzD3A
• Also, visit the Flagler County site at:  www.FlaglerCounty.org
• For Economic Development news, follow the topic at:
• www.FlaglerLive.com
• www.PalmCoastObserver.com
• www.news-journalonline.com

   Recent political debates and discussions across the country tell us of the burning issue on people's minds, as we struggle to get going again and hear Bill Clinton whispering, "It's the economy, stupid."