Daytona Beach chamber updates: readers-to-leaders, Tallahassee advocacy and annual meeting dates

A representative of the Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce updated the Economic Development Advisory Board on recent advocacy and community programs and on the chamber's calendar of events for the first half of 2025.

The chamber said its director of advocacy presented the organization’s position opposing development moratoriums to the Volusia County Council following a seven-hour council meeting. The chamber representative said the organization continues to work with partners to address flooding and infrastructure concerns while opposing broad moratoriums that would restrict development.

The chamber also described a readers-to-leaders literacy initiative developed from a leadership class; the program involves a consortium working with school systems, early-learning partners and coalition groups to raise third-grade reading scores. The chamber announced its annual meeting will be Feb. 6 at the News-Journal Center and said Michael Schnappsteiner (incoming chamber chair, Cobb Cole) will be the new chairman in 2025. The chamber plans a small Tallahassee pre-visit tied to the Florida Chamber legislative event (Feb. 10–11) and a larger Volusia Days trip March 31–April 1 to advocate priorities in the state capital.

There was no formal board action on the report; the update was informational and board members encouraged coordination on upcoming events and legislative priorities.