Community Partner Spotlight | | |
Click on event below to register NOW for our Upcoming Chamber Events.
Don't forget to apply your discount, Click here
(Discount only applies to First Friday Coffee, Nothing But Networking, & Business After Hours)
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Business After Hours
at Step One Cadillac FWB Grand Opening Event
Step into an evening of timeless elegance as we celebrate the grand opening of our Cadillac showroom.
Thursday, May 21st
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Step into our brand new showroom where luxury meets nightlife.
- Handcrafted, themed Cadillac cocktails
- DJ to play your favorite songs to dance to
- Elevated passed hors d’oeuvres
- Photo booth moments you won’t forget
Dress to impress and get ready for a night that feels luxurious!
| | May New Member Luncheon: Madison Garner, Stand Strong Fencing of Niceville | Michelle Black, Ricks Seafood & Sports | Mia Delamater, EXSA | Jon Sankey, Decked Out Docks LLC | Maura Ruiz, Safe Connections | Jill Gaiser, Sonic Drive-In | Laurie Frank, The Island Resort | Timothy Walter, Wayne's Pest Control | Helen Hunt & Pat Roberts, Okaloosa Public Arts | Kwon Faison, CrossCountry Mortgage The DiCarlo Group | | |
Browse the Business Directory and view current News Releases, Job Postings, and Hot Deals from fellow members.
Ready to add your own? The tutorials below walk you through how to post and manage your own content on the Chamber Website.
| | Check out these short tutorial videos that provide a step-by-step guide on how to navigate through the online Member Information Center (MIC). These instructional videos will show you how to update your profile, add keywords, add job postings, register for chamber events/add your benefit discount, add events to chamber community calendar, pay invoices and much more! | | |
Okaloosa County’s tourism team with Destin-Fort Walton Beach is excited to announce its continued environmental efforts through a partnership with the Yamaha Rightwaters initiative. The partnership includes projects that support sustainable fisheries, environmental stewardship and eco-tourism.
A key component of these efforts includes the planned deployment of the SS United States as the World’s Largest Artificial Reef, as well as the County’s ongoing management of the Emerald Coast Open (ECO) Lionfish Tournament.
The partnership includes a three-year sponsorship with Yamaha Rightwaters, who will promote environmental stewardship through marketing, outreach and direct project support while collaborating with Destin-Fort Walton Beach, who will provide branding, recognition and engagement opportunities to Yamaha. This includes the promotion of the SS United States Project with prominent Yamaha Rightwaters logo placement on the vessel, integration into Destin-Fort Walton Beach social media, press releases and marketing campaigns. They will also be recognized as a Gold sponsor for the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament.
Learn more about Yamaha Rightwaters at https://yamaharightwaters.com/
Yamaha Rightwaters will provide significant in-kind and financial support, including:
• 2- 300 HP Yamaha outboard motors
• 1 - Helm Master EX with joystick control system (boat control system)
• 1 - G3 boat package (All-aluminum fishing vessel)
• Annual cash sponsorship of $15,000 for three years ($45,000 total) in support of the Emerald Coast Open and Tarpon Invitational Tournaments
(The boat motors and other equipment will be placed on an existing boat that was donated to the County in March 2026.)
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Looking for something to keep your kid occupied this summer away from digital devices and learning valuable life skills?
Sign them up for the Junior Lifeguard Program - ages 9-17!
SIGN UP HERE: https://bit.ly/2026JRLifeguards
Session- $325: July 13th- July 24th
Please email the completed form to: fwatson@myokaloosa.com or drop it off at the Beach Safety Headquarters at the Boardwalk on Miracle Strip Parkway, next to Anglers on Okaloosa Island. If you have any questions please contact Lt. Faith Watson at (850)-259-3999.
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FWB Landing is now open
We’re excited to mark the official reopening of the Fort Walton Beach Landing with a ribbon-cutting during the opening night of the Musical Echoes Flute Festival.
We’d like to thank those who worked so hard to make this renovation a success (many of whom were on the stage for the ribbon-cutting). We thank Mayor Nic Allegretto for leading the ceremony, the organizers of Musical Echoes for accommodating us, and the public for their patience during the construction process.
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The Concerts at the Landing 2026 Spring Series kicks off this Friday (May 8)
Join us as we welcome Miles Flatt to the stage in the first show of the Concerts at The Landing 2026 Spring Series. All concerts are free and held Friday nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fort Walton Beach Landing, located at 139 Brooks Street SE in the heart of downtown.
Here’s the schedule:
· May 8: Miles Flatt (Country/Party rock variety)
· May 15: Josh Drake Band (Reggae beach funk)
· May 22: Count The Years (Party rock variety)
· May 29: Stormfolk (Alternative folk rock)
· June 5: Emily Bass (Pop/Country)
We will also have a special Fourth of July celebration on Saturday at the Fort Walton Beach Landing, featuring live music from Scratch 2020, followed by a fireworks show over Santa Rosa Sound.
Grab a blanket or folding chair and come join us!
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Scam alert: criminals impersonate city department, send email requests for payment
We’re seeing a new and disturbing trend of criminals impersonating the City of Fort Walton Beach’s Growth Management office in phishing emails that requests payment for services.
Just last week, a local business contacted the city after receiving a fraudulent email bill requesting payment for various “processing” and “review” fees related to an application.
The bill included the official city seal, referenced an actual city project, and was signed with the name of one of our city council members. This was a sophisticated phishing attempt that had just enough real details and appropriate wording to “seem” legitimate. It wasn’t, and we’re glad the business owner spotted it and reached out to us.
We want you to know that you will never receive a bill DIRECTLY from the City of Fort Walton Beach for the processing of Permits/Inspections, Planning/Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) applications, Business Tax Receipts (BTRs), and Code Enforcement cases.
The City of Fort Walton Beach partners with the web-based service My Government Online (MGO). All applications for those services are made directly through the MGO portal, and all billing will come through MGO as well.
If you receive an unexpected or suspicious bill purporting to be from the City of Fort Walton Beach, or if you have any questions about your permit, inspection, or any communication you receive, please contact our Growth Management office directly at 850-833-9504 or building@fwb.org.
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Okaloosa County School District Board Member Tim Bryant Recognized with Distinguished Leader Award
The Okaloosa County School District is proud to announce that School Board Member Tim Bryant has been honored with the prestigious Distinguished Leader Award from the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA), recognizing his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to student success. The Distinguished Leader Award is one of FSBA’s highest honors, presented to board members who exemplify excellence in governance, leadership development, and continuous professional learning. To earn this distinction, recipients must first complete both the Certified Board Member (CBM) and Advanced Certified Board Member (ACBM) programs, demonstrating a deep commitment to effective school board service. Read more...
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Niceville High Softball Honors America 250 with Custom Military Appreciation Jersey
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Okaloosa County schools are finding meaningful ways to honor both the milestone and local military families. At Niceville High School, the Lady Eagles softball team honors America's 250th anniversary in a highly visible way. This season, the team unveiled custom-designed Military Appreciation jerseys, paying tribute to America 250 and recognizing the service and sacrifice of military members, veterans, and first responders. Read more...
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Okaloosa County School District and Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Celebrate Student Talent at 2026 K-12 Art Show
The Okaloosa County School District, in partnership with the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, hosted the 2026 K-12 Student Art Show on April 22–23 at the Destin Fort Walton Beach Rigdon Center. The annual event showcased more than 2,000 student artworks from over 14 elementary schools and 15 secondary schools across the county. The free public event welcomed families, educators, and community members to celebrate the creativity and achievement of Okaloosa’s student artists. A special evening reception on April 23 featured live music from the Choctawhatchee High School Jazz Band and the presentation of Best of Show and Superlative Awards recognizing outstanding student work. Read more...
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Master the art of intelligent note-taking and document analysis with a guided walkthrough of Google NotebookLM led by Jenni Arnold. In our webinar on May 12th at 11:30 AM Central, you will learn how to use this powerful AI tool to synthesize information, generate creative insights, and organize your research more efficiently than ever before. This is an essential session for students, educators, and researchers looking to supercharge their learning process. Save your spot, register now! tinyurl.com/may-ai
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Master your business bookkeeping from the comfort of your home or office during this comprehensive QuickBooks 101 webinar series. Join our first session on May 20th at 12 PM Central to learn the essential features of the platform, including expense tracking, invoicing, and generating critical financial reports. This virtual training provides the perfect opportunity to streamline your accounting processes and gain real-time insights into your company’s financial health under the guidance of a professional instructor who will guide you through setting up your books in a live session. Limited seats are available for this webinar, so register today to secure your spot! tinyurl.com/sbdc-quickbooks
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Unlock the capital your business needs to grow by joining this comprehensive session on navigating the complex world of small business financing. Join the Florida SBDC at UWF for our webinar panel "A Roadmap to Small Business Funding" with partners First Capital Finance/Florida First Capital & Hancock Whitney on May 27th at 9 AM Central. You will gain a clear understanding of the various funding pathways available—from traditional bank loans and SBA programs to alternative lending options—and learn exactly what lenders look for in a winning application. This roadmap is designed to demystify the funding process and give you the financial confidence to take your enterprise to the next level. Reserve your digital seat now: tinyurl.com/roadmap-may
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