May 2022 Meeting Minutes

Freeport Merchants Association
Meeting Minutes
May 19th, 2022

Present:
Chase Barfield 
Ethan Barfield 
Yolanda Ellis 
Bill Blanken 
Lori Logue 
Nanci Spears 
Josh Spears 
Marion Gipson
Sam Gipson 

Next meeting: July 21st, 2022, 8:00am, Blount House

1. Announcements 

• Current Membership Total: 79 Members

• Current account balance: $5155.67 

• Expenses:

  • FB Ads, Renewed PO box, event supplies, Membership Works

Events Committee: 

June – no social – instead we have Night Out for Freeport – all info on website – sponsorship etc. https://thefma.online/events/2nd-annual-night-out-for-freeport 

• Benefits local charity – RISE Animal Refuge

• 5-8 Band Shenanigans

• Children's activities, bounce house, food trucks, vendor booths, Swag Bags, 50/50 raffle, Silent Auction, etc. 

 July needs a host for the Social – July 14th 
August – Estelle Gallery – August 11th 
September and forward are open as well for Social hosts. 

New Members: 

• Mitchell land and title

• Rutile LTD

• 3 Hammers Electrical

General Topics: 

• FMA asked to come to speak at the Rotary meeting – Thursday, June 23rd @ café 20

• Tim Corzene – contacted me – represents Thompson Thrift – a developer. Apartments, Townhomes, and Single-Family Homes. Already building in other parts of Florida – they wanted to know more about Freeport
  - I spent an hour discussing what was going on here. He was going to have his team come meet with Latilda. I suggested they think about doing some affordable housing. We need houses 200-250K. or apartments 750Mo.

• Last meeting city came and talked with us about the 4th or July – IF you want to apply to be in the parade go to the website: https://www.freeportflorida.gov/community/page/2022-parade-information

Open Discussion: 

• Steamboat landing – selling lots and building houses
  - Have not been able to go to the pier, docks, or boardwalk. They are clearing all of that and we are not aware if they will allow our fobs to work again or not.