October 2022 Meeting Minutes

Freeport Merchants Association
Meeting Minutes
October 20th, 2022

Present:
Chase Barfield
Ethan Barfield
Yolanda Ellis
Aaron Ellis
Bill Blanken
Amber Williams
Nanci Spears
Josh Spears
Sam Gipson
Marion Brooks

Next meeting: September 15th, 2022, 8:00am, Blount House

1. Announcements

• Current Membership Total: 97 Members

• Current account balance: $8,646.66

• Expenses:

  o Membership works, Food for Meeting, Snyder app, Shirts, Night Out For Freeport Check

  Events Committee:

• Evening Social Updates:
  o November – Freeport Flooring o December – Sports to Geaux o January – Cara Griffith

• Looking towards Night Out For Freeport 2023: May 13th date for now we will open up nominations for Charities/non-profits – Local in Freeport on Dec. 1st.

  Voting until Jan 1 – Then decide. This will give ample time to get with them to market etc.

  Marion: Next year in September for Sponsorship and tables info to come: Cause: Charity for Malformation – they do a walk every September 3-4 Saturday all across America.

  An Evening Social can be as elaborate or simple as you want, a presentation for your business.

  Membership Committee:

  New Members:

  • Resort Resale Furniture and Consignment

• Hello Neighbor

• VFW Post 3447 – only one in Walton County: Open to the public Fridays and Saturdays –

  Bands and food trucks. If a Veteran you can become a member.

• Repicci’s – Marion Brooks – Italian Ice, Sorbet, Gelato food truck. Moved down from Atlanta. Amber also is doing a fantastic job with FMA social media

General Topics:

• We are working on making the FMA website the focal point for Freeport. If anyone is wondering what is going on in Freeport, send them to the FMA site Calendar https://thefma.online/events?view=calendar&month=11-2022

o If someone wants to submit an event, go to Thefma.online Under “Events” there is a link to submit and it will send it to Amber

o All citizens of Freeport are welcome to submit their events by the 15th of the previous month – no advertising, no politics, just Freeport Information and Events

• We have had compliments on our newsletter

• Redirect any complaints to president@thefma.online

• Owls Head:

o Right on the corner of old and new HWY 331 there is a sign that says “Commercial Available” This sign is not valid. Tom Watson, their CEO traded the land to the city. It was an 80-acre parcel traded for future Water/Sewage of equivalent value. They are discussing a variety of options for the land.

• FHS 2022-2023 Sponsorship opportunity:

o An email was sent out. They are asking for pre-game meals for the soccer team. You can pay someone else to cook and get the credit. “Sponsor a meal”. A lot of times you will get a discount and a shoutout on social media.

• Mentoring Emerald Coast:

o Program was started back in 2009 – pairs you up with those seeking to learn what you do.
o 10-month program where a mentor and mentee.
o Contact Gabriel and they will pair you with a proper mentee – there are requirements. You will go through a program to be trained and understand how much time is spent and how to spend the time and best practices of the Chamber. o You meet with your mentee at least once per month.
o This is one of the largest programs in the state.

Open Discussion:
• Partially constructed strip mall by the carwash on HWY 20

o They went Bankrupt
o Chase reached out, they said the son would contact him. 6+ weeks ago and still no call.
o The contractor they were using up and left as they didn’t have funds to finish building it out.
o The investors are not wanting to sink more money in and there are now legal issues.
o Chase contacted the head developer – still waiting on a follow-up call. Knowing they are in financial trouble, sometimes instead of bankruptcy, they will sell it for whatever they have in it.

• Trunk or Treat on the 29th

o Hand out candy to kids
o At the Sports Complex