From the President's Desk

*******Happy 2023! It’s a brand-new year with 12 months of empty calendar pages to fill with memories.

*******As the weeks unfold, look for some fresh and exciting programs designed to grow your business. And remember, your Chamber membership covers all your employees. So, help broaden their horizons and bring them with you or send them on their own to an upcoming meeting or function. They’ll make new friends and new business contacts.

********This year, Chairman of the Board Jake Prokop proclaimed a “We Approach” to our efforts with a focus on membership enrichment and a celebration of the community partnerships we’ve forged. This includes strategies to heighten the Chamber’s visibility and relevance.

******You can help play a part simply by responding to our 2023 Business Survey. It takes just a few minutes to let us know how you’re doing so we can develop appropriate programs and services. Here’s the link, and thanks in advance: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CentralChamber2023BizSurvey

******All the best for a great month!

******Tom Morrissette

It's for the kids! Please show your support!

Purchase tickets for the Caribbean Nights Casino Party here

Coffee An' Networking

When: Thursday, January 19 at 7:45 AM

Where: Serenity Funeral Home & Serenity Gardens Memorial Park, 13401 Indian Rocks Rd., Largo 33774

FREE for Members: $25 for Non-Members

Register as a Sponsor here. (Sponsorships are $250! They include logo placement and time on the mic.)

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

When: Thursday, January 12

8:30 AM

Where: Any Lab Test Now - Largo

13847 Walsingham Road, Suite J,

Largo 33774

Register here.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Let's celebrate with our Trustee, Chair-Elect and Women Leadership Chair, Mia Cloud!

When: Thursday, January 26

8:30 AM

Where: Cloud Law Firm

2000 West Bay Drive, Largo 33770

Register here.

Manatees survive Florida's first cold spell better than feared

Already famished manatees managed to avoid any mass die-offs or the need for any dramatic rescues during Florida's first significant cold snap of the season.

Lawmakers look to stabilize agriculture industry

As Florida lawmakers look to reduce foreign ownership of farmland, Senate Agriculture Chairman Jay Collins said Wednesday he thinks growth is possible for the state’s agriculture industry.

Florida's law allowing compensation for student athletes may be expanded

The proposal would make a major change to Florida’s athlete-pay law, commonly known as a name, image and likeness law, which went into effect in July 2021.

Desperation is driving latest surge of Cuban rafters arriving in the Florida Keys

Cubans keep leaving the island for the United States, risking their lives and, at times, overwhelming local authorities who, like this weekend in South Florida, had to respond to more than 500 Cuban migrants reaching the Florida Keys.

With private insurers retrenching, Citizens property policy count swells by 50%

With private insurers dropping customers and raising rates, the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. saw its number of policies increase about 50 percent in 2022.