Putnam County Chamber of Commerce partners with Retail Strategies to bring increased restaurants, retail, and service opportunities to the community.

 Palatka, FL - Putnam County Chamber of Commerce has engaged Retail Strategies; a firm that specializes in recruiting national retail, restaurant and service businesses; on a three- year contract.
The Retail Strategies team visited Putnam County and spent time in each of the communities to analyze the markets' existing retail landscape and what opportunities exist to bring in new businesses. The team has relationships with many national businesses, each of which has certain preferences and targets when looking to open new locations. The Retail Strategies team will match the real estate assets of Putnam County to the preferences of national commercial tenants resulting in local business growth.
This program is supported by the Elevate Putnam Campaign Investors and the Elevate Putnam Strategic Plan. Over 700 retail workers, 268 waitresses and waiters, 259 fast food workers, 207 cooks, and 155 cashiers leave Putnam County daily for employment. This effort seeks to reverse that trend and recapture those workers.
Chair-elect, Benjie Bates, said “Putnam County is full of untapped opportunity, and we are excited to support another effort that brings more businesses into the community and local economy. These new businesses will increase local job opportunities and provide valuable services to our communities that promote a better quality of life.”
Mark Litten, Vice-President for Economic Development stated, “We are excited to be working in partnership with Retail Strategies to address retail and downtown development in our cities to help strengthen our overall economy and sense of place. This addresses a vital component of our new 5-year Strategic Action Plan.” "Retail Strategies has wanted to work in Putnam County for some time now, they have great real estate, the need for additional retail and restaurant businesses, and plenty of opportunity for new business growth," said Clay Craft, Vice President of Client Services at Retail Strategies. "We will work our network of retailers, developers, and brokers in the region to attract new development to the County. We're proud to be an extension of the Putnam County team and bring a proactive retail strategy to the area."
The Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is organized to advance the general welfare and prosperity of the Putnam County area so that its citizens and all areas of the business community shall prosper. All necessary means of promotion shall be provided, and particular attention and emphasis shall be given to the civic, commercial, cultural, industrial and educational interests of the area. The Putnam County Chamber of Commerce shall observe all local, state and federal laws which apply to non-profit organizations as defined in Section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code.