Thanks to the efforts of Greg Blose II, Flagler County’s business community has a local voice advocating for its interests. Blose has been building the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce from the ground up since 2020 when the previous chamber of commerce dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the former chamber’s dissolution, local business leaders contacted Blose about forming a new organization. Relying on his eight years of experience working for Florida Chamber of Commerce in Tallahassee, Blose started a new chamber from scratch.
Blose noted that it is a common misconception that a chamber of commerce is part of the government. The chamber is actually a private organization that exists to advocate, educate and connect local businesses and government entities. They act as a community steward and liaison with local government officials. “Everything in the community is affected by government in some way,” said Blose.
The chamber provides economic analysis, strategic partnerships and government partnerships. The chamber also provides analysis and insight on data and metrics that measure community health. “We have the 360-degree view of Flagler County,” said Blose.
The chamber offers members education, mentorship and opportunities to connect with consumers. The often host guest speakers who discuss topics such as managing a team, human resource issues and generational differences in the workplace.
Recently, the chamber held a small business expo in Palm Coast’s Central Park. The expo featured approximately 150 small businesses and was funded by a partnership with career source and a grant administered through the chamber.
The chamber has formed a Junior Chamber of Commerce, which operates as a separate non-profit organization. Through the Junior Chamber of Commerce, students are partnered with business professionals in various industries. Sometimes it can lead to an internship or apprenticeship.
“Why not engage high school students in a conversation about their future,” Blose said. “Are we exposing students to enough information to make an educated decision before they spend tens of thousands of dollars on college.”
The Junior Chamber also offers financial literacy workshops through a partnership with Trustco Bank and Intracoastal Bank. The workshops provide teens with information on banking basics, credit and long-term savings/retirement.
Raised in a military family, Blose spent much of his youth in different parts of the country. He moved to Palm Coast in 2000 to pursue a career in broadcasting. He attended ACI Broadcasting school in Daytona Beach. After graduation, he worked in various roles in the radio industry. He left radio to work with the Volusia Building Industry Association. After the real estate collapse, he went back into broadcasting.
In 2013, Blose joined the Florida Chamber of Commerce in Tallahassee as a director of grassroots development and engagement. In 2017, he became the Board of Governors Program Director there. He earned his MBA from University of Phoenix in business management/administration. He currently lives in Palm Coast with his wife and two children.
Palm-Coast Flagler County Regional Chamber of Commerce is looking to the future. They’re looking at data and trends to predict issues that could impact local businesses and the whole community.
“As a community, we need to start thinking at a bigger level,” Blose said. “We need a better understanding of where we are going as a community and how that affects both business and residents.”
