Weekly eConnection
801 West Bay Drive, Suite 602 Largo, FL 33770
Tel: 727-584-2321 Fax: 727-586-3112
Membership Edition
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Central Pinellas Chamber Upcoming Events
Check our home page for registrations, times and locations
In light of the ongoing pandemic, we are following CDC Guidelines and postponing events for the time being. Please stay tuned to our newsletter and social media outlets for event updates.
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Follow Facts,
Not Fear
Your Chamber and our partners at the Florida Chamber of Commerce urge you to be cautious but not fearful when it comes to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Florida Chamber is the official state chapter of the National Safety Council, and we are all committed to helping keep Floridians safe. The safety of our collective employees is paramount, and they deserve the facts.
A website has been launched with information you can use to prepare, both internally and externally, for potential impacts from the Coronavirus. It includes important links from Governor DeSantis’ office, the Emergency Operations Center, Centers for Disease Control, Florida Department of Health and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It will be updated regularly.
https://www.flchamber.com/follow-facts-not-fear/
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Make Pinellas Count! U.S. Census 2020
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Members of the Chamber’s new Manufacturing Day Planning Committee seen here promoting the 2020 U.S. Census. You should have already received your invitation to be counted. The census counts every person in the country, and those figures are used to determine a host of benefits, from a state's share of federal dollars to its representation in Congress. As the nation's third-largest state, Florida needs to receive its fair share. Please respond to your Census invitation today!
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We would like to thank everyone who took place in our It's Great to Belong! 14th Annual 2020 Business Expo / After Hours
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Renewed Business Members
Our sincere thanks to the following businesses who renewed during the past four weeks. Their continued loyalty is inspiring! To learn more about them, please visit
www.CentralChamber.biz
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Achieva Credit Union
Alexander Spine Center
ASC Incorporated
Baxter Christenson, Inc.
Boulevard Apartments
Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc.
CIO Technology Solutions
Cribb Philbeck Weaver Group, Inc.
Grow Financial Federal Credit Union
Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Co
Jon Myers Roofing & Construction, Inc.
Largo Coin & Currency
Mary Kay - Penny Jackson
Minuteman Press, Largo
NASCAR Car Wash Largo
Omnicell
Pool Cleaning and Inspection Service
Ranchero Village, Inc.
Regions Bank - GOLD TRUSTEE
S.S. White Technologies, Inc.
Salon Studio 400
Sea Vista Home Loans
Staples #229
Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation
The Original Crabby Bill"s Family Brands
Ultimate Medical Academy
Urbaniak Plastic Surgery and Medical Spa
Wealth Builders – Silver Trustee
Wealth Builders
Welcome New Trustee
MID-Florida Credit Union – Silver Trustee
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Bluewater Media
John K Carter Law
Liberate Physician Centers
Profits on Hold Productions
Quick Response Fire Protection
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Member Spotlight: Meet your Chamber's newest trustee!
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What is MidFlorida Credit Union?
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union started as the Polk County Teachers Credit Union in 1954. Rebecca Keith, a history teacher and our first treasurer, was known to keep deposits in a shoebox at her home. Since our humble beginnings, our branch network has grown to 65 locations, spanning north and south from Gainesville to Naples, and east and west from Port St. Lucie to Clearwater.
What services do you offer your clients?
We proudly offer a full array of personal and business banking services. Whether you need a checking and savings account, a credit card, line of credit, first or second mortgage, auto loan—or just about anything else—you can turn to the experts at MIDFLORIDA. We are a nonprofit co-op. This means that our members are our owners, and profits are given back in the form of lower rates on lending products and higher rates on deposits.
What types of clients do you work with?
Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in our service area, which includes all of Central Florida and beyond. We serve individuals, families, and businesses of all sizes.
What sets MidFlorida Credit Union apart from other companies in the industry?
While many other financial institutions are switching to virtual bank tellers, we’re committed to offering face-to-face banking. We’re also very proud to offer instant-issue debit and credit cards in our branches—if you ever need a new card, you can stop into a branch and get one on the spot. Our 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. drive-thru hours are especially beneficial to our business members, especially since there is no early cutoff time for deposits. What’s more, we offer full-service Saturdays and all of our loan approvals are performed locally, giving the members the advantage of fast decisions.
What do you enjoy most of being the news Chamber Trustee?
The opportunity to share the benefits of becoming a member of our credit union with the community. I also, enjoy doing my personal business with fellow chamber members. Getting to know the local business owners has helped me connect individuals in our community with their various needs.
Thank you to Barbara and MidFlorida Credit Union for your investment in the Chamber!
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In Tallahassee….
State budget deal set, topped by money for teacher pay and coronavirus reserves
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A roughly $92 billion state budget was finalized Saturday, with House and Senate negotiators reaching Gov. Ron DeSantis’ teacher pay goal while also adding $300 million to reserves to deal with the spreading coronavirus. The deal sets lawmakers on course for a budget vote to end the 2020 legislative session next week, probably Thursday. The House and Senate ended work on all other bills Friday, just before midnight, but extended the session into next week to settle the spending plan. More from the
Florida Times-Unio
n
and the
Orlando Sentinel
.
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We greatly appreciate our Board of Trustees
. Their added financial investment supports our diverse program offerings. If you’re interested in joining this celebrated leadership association to take advantage of specialized benefit offerings, please contact Tom at
tom@CentralChamber.biz
or 727-584-2321.
CHAIRMAN
-Rob England – England Brothers Construction
PLATINUM
- Duke Energy, Piper Fire Protection
GOLD
– Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, Home Instead Senior Care/Be a Santa to a Senior, Jackson & Associates CPA, Melody Hunter-Charles Rutenberg Realty, Paradise Air, Platinum Information Services,
Regions Bank
, Serenity Funeral Home, Spectrum Reach, Tech Data
SILVER
–Bay Care/Morton Plant Hospital, Brown Insurance Services, Hampton Inn & Suites-Largo,
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
, Nova Southeastern University Tampa Bay Regional Campus, The Palms of Largo, Valley National Bank, Village Inn,
Wealth Builders
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The Weekly E-Connection is made possible by the following generous sponsors:
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We’re about Value!
A new Chamber program year is upon us! And we’ll be continuing to tout our five “value” principles and how each relates to being part of the organization.
Value of Investment
- The Chamber brings members valuable cost-savings resources that directly impact their bottom line. From member-to-member discounts to affinity partnerships - all are designed to lower the cost of doing business.
Value of Information
– The Chamber brings members unique resources. Roundtable discussions, workshops, advocacy on local and state issues, contacts, reference to other businesses, expertise, etc. Information that is timely and relevant to the success of all business operations.
Value of Influence
– The Chamber represents the interests of its members and communities. Whether at the local, state or federal level, it is the advocate on all issues of importance to business.
Value of Interaction
– The Chamber provides its members opportunity. People want to do business with people they know, like and trust. Networking events, B2B programs, and partnerships foster relationships that encourage leads, referrals and more business for our members.
Value of Impact
– The Chamber is one of the few, if not the only, organization that can impact the three main pillars in its service area – government, citizens, and businesses. We deliver results that directly benefit our members.
If you would like to assist in volunteering on a committee to help influence these values, just give us a call. It’s another sure way to build business connections. It really is great to belong!
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Reserve your space now!
Run your Ad or Logo in the Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce's eConnection Newsletter that publishes weekly. Be seen by over 2,000 members and friends. Take advantage of an open/read rate that exceeds 25%.
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