Sebastian, Florida

SEBAST I AN, FLOR IDA We also have great support staff who are very outreaching to the members, fielding questions and getting them established in the area.” The staff also helps with the Chamber’s signature events, like the annual Pelican Cup Golf Tournament at the Sebastian Municipal Golf Course. “In addition to that, we work with all five of the city’s unique food and nature festivals,” notes Cheryl Thibault, President/CEO for the Sebastian Chamber of Commerce. “These events are big and the Sebastian River Area truly is a hidden treasure. We’d love to keep it that way, but the truth is that we really are exploding.” To enhance these events and drive revenue growth, the city is developing its Riverview Park area and coming through with a Park Master Plan to create a grand promenade that would allow for more public involvement in these types of outdoor community affairs. “About 10 years ago, we purchased what we call Fisherman’s Landing in an attempt to revive a working waterfront area along the lagoon as part of Sebastian’s fishing village heritage,” says Carlisle. The vision for the project was ultimately to link several parcels together to educate the public about the community’s roots in commercial fishing through a retail/wholesale seafood house, exhibitions, educational venues, and events. “The fishing piers were going to close down but we were able to get a Florida Community Trust grant worth $3.1 million to purchase the property,” Carlisle adds. “And that’s re-energized the whole area down there. It gives patrons and visitors an opportunity to go see how commercial fishing efforts are managed. It’s been a big event for us as a city and a big economic turn for that downtown district. It’s spurred off additional restaurants, different shops, and there’s some interest in the vacant properties now.” The Comprehensive Plan Update has been