Palm Coast Small Business Assistance Center Grand Opening

Palm Coast Small Business Assistance Staff

City of Palm Coast established a Business Assistance Center, soft launched in May 2011, celebrated its grand opening today with many of the Palm Coast and Flagler County government officials, economic development folks, and business leaders present.

The new Business Assistance Center is affiliated with the University of Central Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network, and it will operate as a UCF SBDC sub-center, under the umbrella of City of Palm Coast, and will be managed by a Palm Coast resident, a retired executive and entrepreneur, Joe Roy.



The new space for Palm Coast Business Assistance Center does not resemble the typical government office you may have gotten used to. It's presented as a professional space with soft-colors, where the staff will meet you with smiling faces and a helpful attitude towards the business owners.

The physical location is at the City of Palm Coast offices, at Suite 105 located in City Marketplace (previously referred to as City Walk). It houses the offices of the previous Business License department staff, the Palm Coast Economic Development Team-leader Beau Falgout's office, as well the new SBDC area manager Joe Roy's office.

In today's short ceremony Palm Coast mayor Jon Netts said:

" We're going to solve our problems ourselves. We're going to do it ourselves. We're going to work hard. We understand local businesses, entrepreneurial startup businesses, and businesses that can grow to so called second stage businesses...that's our future. That's what this is all about!"

Here's the full contacts of the new Business Assistance Center if you have any questions, have a business need or dilemma, or would like to extend a warm welcome to Joe Roy:

    Joseph Roy, Area Manager
    Palm Coast Business Assistance Center
    UCF Small Business Development Center
    At the City of Palm Coast
    386-986-4765

New Traffic Light On US1 & Royal Palms in Palm Coast and Bunnell border features a new light indeed

If you are driving on U.S. 1 South towards Bunnell or northbound towards Palm Coast, you will notice a new traffic light and a new style of left-turn signal right at the intersection of Royal Palms Parkway.

The lights are already up, the intersection has been resurfaced/paved, and the traffic lights are scheduled to be activated as of June 13th.

The new traffic light at this intersection will contain a new type of signal:  
...a flashing yellow left arrow!

This is the first time this particular signal has been installed in Flagler County and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 5 --including Brevard, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Lake, Sumter, and Marion counties.

The light will feature the traditional red, yellow and green arrows along with this new flashing yellow. The flashing yellow light means to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians when making a left turn.

Faith Alkhatib, Flagler County Engineer says:

“This is a way we can improve safety and improve traffic.”

The new flashing yellow signal was developed as a result of a national study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The study determined the flashing arrow to be:

• A low cost safety measure to help prevent crashes.
• Moves more traffic through an intersection
• Provides additional traffic management flexibility
• Provides a clear distinction between when motorists who are turning left are protected from oncoming traffic and when they must yield.

FDOT will be installing flashing yellow arrow signals at various locations throughout the state on a case by case basis.

Celebrate 2011 July 4th in Flagler Beach with Fireworks

Fireworks, Floats, Flip Flops, Food and Fun on July 4th, 2011 in Flagler Beach: Get the whole family, bring your shades and get some quality sunscreen and come to Flagler Beach on Monday, July 4 for one of the most popular Independence Day celebrations in Flagler County and Central and Northern Florida.

Sponsored by the Politis Law Firm and hosted by the Flagler Beach Chamber of Commerce, this one-day celebration starts at 9 a.m. with fun scheduled throughout the day. Visitors will line the streets that morning in anticipation of a parade celebrating “the Good Ole Summer Time” (hosted by Flagler Beach Rotary), followed by our Second Annual “Cornhole” competition, as well as watermelon and hot dog eating contests.

At dusk, claim your space to watch a magnificent fireworks display over the Atlantic Ocean.

Last year over 25,000 people joined this beachside holiday tradition. This year in 2011, and there are even more reasons to be there:

10 a.m. Independence Day

11 a.m. “Cornhole” Competition

12 p.m. Watermelon Eatin’ Contest

1 p.m. Tiny Tiki/Lil’ Kahuna Event

2 p.m. Hot Dog Eating Competition sponsored by Chi Dog

3 p.m. Battle of the Bands

9:15 p.m. Fireworks display

The Third Annual Tiny Tiki & Lil’ Kahuna Event for three to five year olds will take center stage in Veterans Park starting at 1 p.m. Watch some of the cutest kids you’ve ever seen dance the hula, share a favorite “surf move” or otherwise entertain while building self esteem and confidence. Every kid is a winner and will receive a goody bag for participating. (Please note advanced registration is necessary. Click here for the application before the June 20 deadline.)

Like live music? Battle of the Bands, will feature six local bands in a competition for bragging rights and cash prizes. The music starts at 3 p.m.

Advance registration forms for vendors, contests and events can be picked up at the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, or downloaded at flaglerchamber.org.


Source: Flagler Chamber news release

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