EDA quarterly report approved; commissioners debate scope, metrics and future county role
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Summary
The Walton County Economic Development Alliance presented a quarterly update and received board approval for its quarter payment. Commissioners and community members debated EDA performance metrics and whether county-funded economic development should continue in its current form or be restructured.
DeFuniak Springs — The Walton County Economic Development Alliance (EDA) presented its quarterly update on Aug. 12; commissioners approved the EDA's quarterly payment after a motion and second. The EDA reported modest wins including new jobs at industrial parks and a site‑selection firm visit; the EDA director described recent business attraction work and an increase in web traffic for Walton brand marketing.
During the meeting Commissioner Drake and several residents questioned the EDA’s return on public investment. Commissioners and commenters compared job counts and capital investment: the EDA said it had recently reported several wins, including deals at industrial parks and increased investment pipeline activity; critics noted the EDA’s historical job/cost ratios and asked for clearer metrics and stronger private investment commitments.
Commissioner Drake moved (then withdrew) a motion to defund the current EDA structure and asked staff to return alternatives; the board ultimately directed staff to convene a stakeholder review with the EDA board and private-sector partners to identify what has not worked and what reforms might improve performance. Staff was asked to engage the EDA director, private investors and municipal partners and return with recommendations.
EDA representatives said some projects take many years to mature and pointed to recently secured grants and prospect activity as evidence of progress. Commissioners directed staff to report back with a stakeholder-informed plan that evaluates performance metrics, alternative governance models and options to increase private-sector contributions or to create a county-run economic development function if stakeholders recommend a change.
The board approved the EDA's quarterly report and payment; staff will schedule the stakeholder review and return findings to the board at a future meeting.