July 20, 2015

OUR SPONSOR THIS WEEK:

COMMITTEE OF 100 RESUMES IN SEPTEMBER

The next Committee of 100 meeting is set for Friday, September 11, 2015, at 8:00 a.m. Committee of 100 meetings are held at the Health and Life Center (old Hospital), 1239 E. Main Street. If you are interested in becoming a member of this prestigious group, contact Chairman Brian Hinton at (863) 533-4196.

CLICK FOR A LIST OF MEMBERS

SCORE ROUNDTABLE IN BARTOW COMING UP


MARK YOUR CALENDAR! FREE to Business Owners and those interested in starting a business, on the second Thursday of each month, 7:30-8:30 a.m. at the Chamber: The popular SCORE Roundtable for businesses! Join us the 2nd Thursday of every month as we explore various topics of interest to our members. Chamber Business Roundtable is brought to you through the partnership between SCORE, Polk County SBA Center and the Chamber. To register, go to www.bartowchamber.com, or you may click here.

NEXT ROUNDTABLE:
Really Helpful Accounting Tips! by Tracy Kimbrough, Baylis & Company, PA

NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

RESTAURANT
JK'S Cafe

Mr. Todd L. Sapulski, Sr.
211 1st Ave., NW
Mulberry, FL 33860
(863) 425-5080
Join Date:06/22/2015

COMIC BOOKS
Main Street Comics & Memorabilia

Mr. John Harrison
415 E. Main St., Suite C
Bartow, FL 33830
Join Date:07/06/2015

RESTAURANT
Joshua's Kitchen

Mr. Todd L. Sapulski, Sr.
2020 Shepherd Rd.
Mulberry, FL 33860
(863) 701-7230
Join Date:07/08/2015

BUSINESS MARKETING CONSULTANTS
Alphagraphics

Mr. George Byfield
4130 S. Florida Ave.
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 646-5699
website
Join Date: 07/15/2015

SPORTS BAR
The Wine Stable

Mr. Fred Martin
150 S. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 232-2785
Join Date: 07/20/2015

SMALL BUSINESS HELP IS ON ITS WAY

SBDC Is Available At
Chamber On August 13

The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida, assists existing and emerging businesses in Polk County, through no-cost confidential business consulting, and low-cost training. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business topics, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization. A consultant will be at the Chamber on August 13, 2015 and available to Chamber Businesses. To schedule an appointment, visit www.bartowchamber.com and follow the links on the home page, or call (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES IN BARTOW

Looking for a commercially zoned lot, building for rent or to buy for your business? Please check out this site :

You'll get to create an account for free and check out MLS commercial listings for Bartow.
For a downloadable CRA District map, click here, scroll down and look under IMPORTANT LINKS in the right hand column of the Chamber's website.


$25 per run (up to 35 words), call 533-7125 or email Virginia.

COMMERCIAL RENTAL SPACE
perfect for small business client consultation and/or satellite office space in Polk County's county seat. Minutes from the courthouse and county administration buildings. The 40-600 square foot move in ready space is located at 1480 N. Broadway Ave., Suite C in Bartow. Rental rates $450-$650 per month. Interested parties should call (863) 559-3180 or (863) 559-0101.

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sharon Casey, President
    Community Southern Bank
Myrtice Young, Immediate Past President
    Polk County Board of County Commissioners
Jennifer Hall, President-elect, Vice President
    SEMCO Construction
Gail Smith, Treasurer
    Community Southern Bank
Emily Spath Clark, Vice President
    Spath Jewelers
Clint Edwards, Vice President
    Tom Edwards Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Rob Clancey, Vice President
    Polk State College
Carole McKenzie, Vice President
    Polk County Farm Bureau
Shannon Medley, Vice President
    Florida Industrial and Phosphate
    Research Institute


DIRECTORS
David Carmichael

    Boswell & Dunlap, LLP
Lennon Jordan
    Madrid Engineering Group
Jeremy M. Katzmann, MD
    Watson Clinic
Jeff Kincart
    A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure
J.C. Martin
    Kelley Buick GMC
Phil Minden
    Bartow Regional Medical Center
Callie Neslund
    Mosaic
Josh Palmer
    Palmer Insurance Agency, Inc.
Freda Ridgway
    Mosaic
Carlos Sandoval
    Bartow Ford Company
David Sandow
    Spherion Staffing
Anita Stasiak
    CenterState Bank
Lea Ann Thomas
    Polk County Board of County Commissioners
Valerie Tillmon
    Citizens Bank & Trust

SUPPORT YOUR ADVERTISERS




















WANT YOUR COMPANY
LISTED HERE?
Contact Barbara@bartowchamber.com

REACH 22K HOMES WITH YOUR MESSAGE

Reserve your space now in the Fall Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 20,000 households for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.

SEE US HERE!

FROM THE PRESIDENT:

     There are a lot of small towns in Florida, and each has its own charm; but Bartow, to me, is a very special place. I wonder what we could do to make it more attractive to desirable businesses.
     Several thinking people in this community have asked themselves that very question, and here are some of the suggestions I've heard.
     Bartow needs to become proactive in business recruitment and retention - especially for specialty retailers. An economic development plan should target prospective businesses with business information packets. The packet could include a comprehensive land and building inventory from the Central Florida Development Council. And, we should all do our best to make sure the gems of our town are at their very best - downtown Bartow, our many parks and recreation areas, our shops and restaurants and our museums - all need to look inviting and attractive.
     To get some of these things rolling, of course we would need dedicated funding for these economic development efforts.
     These are only a few ideas that have been floating around the past few months; and although we know there are a lot of things we are doing right, there are things we can improve upon.
     I feel that one of our biggest strengths is that Bartow is fortunate to have a city government that is proactive, accessible and responsive to its citizens; and is willing to work with our business partners to make the city better.
     Do you have a suggestion for improvement? Call the Chamber today!

Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Community Southern Bank, VP
Chamber President, 2015

BUSINESS OF THE MONTH: AFFORDABLE APPLIANCE


Monday the Dog and his helpers invite you to stop by and see the July Business of the Month, Affordable Appliance. Left to right are Joey Cain, Sherri Savary, and Monday, all from Affordable Appliance; and Barbara Adamson, Membership Director at the Chamber.

Business of the Month of July is . . .
AFFORDABLE APPLIANCE
Stop by and wish Monday the Dog a Happy Birthday and receive 10% off any major appliance purchase at Affordable Appliance, the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for July! Affordable Appliance is located at 220 Manor Dr., Bartow. Call 863-533-8775; or visit the Affordable website at www.appliancesbartowfo.com for more information.

WANT TO DO WORK FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD?

TRAVEL WITH THE CHAMBER!



We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:

NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY
November 30 - December 4, 2015

(Deadline: June 23, 2015. Reservations made after this date are subject to availability)
and
DISCOVER TUSCANY
April 14 - April 23, 2016

Call Linda Holcomb, 533-7125, for more information!

MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES

30 YEARS
Barbara Osthoff
Church Service Center


5 YEARS
Paula A. Jackson

ENGAGE NEWS: STUFF THE BUS

STUFF THE BUS NOW ONGOING!

Please join the ENGAGE Chamber Young Professionals in gathering school supplies for Polk's Homeless and Low Income Students. Won't you help? DeeDee Wright, Homeless Liaison with the Polk County School Board, said that last year ENGAGE helped 853 homeless students in Polk County receive school supplies!
     DeeDee also sent us a list of what's needed most this year: 3-prong folders, notebook paper, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, color pencils, markers, highlighters, scissors, flash drives and empty book bags. All of these items may be dropped off at the Chamber from now until 5:00 p.m. on August 7, 2015.

BARTOW RETAIL ACADEMY DATES CHANGE


BARTOW RETAIL ACADEMY TO TEACH
MARKETING & SALES TACTICS TO BUSINESSES

      Polk County business owners are invited to learn new marketing and sales tactics for their small businesses at the Bartow Retail Academy, beginning July 21 at DMAR Business Center, 300 East Summerlin Street, Bartow. The Academy, presented by Main Street Bartow, Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency, and the Florida Small Business Development Center at University of South Florida, will include four seminars for just $120. The seminars take place June July 21, 23, 28 & 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
      Businesses in the Bartow CRA District qualify for a scholarship and can register by calling Main Street Bartow at 863-519-0508 or Greater Bartow Chamber at 863-533-7125.

read more...

CHAMBER EVENTS

CHAMBER EVENTS & MEETINGS
(Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be in the Chamber conference room.)
 
JULY

Now through July 21, every Tuesday
BIZ KIDS PROGRAM

Now through August 7, 2015
ENGAGE STUFF THE BUS
Bring school supplies to the Chamber now through August 7th and help homeless Polk County students.

July 21, 23, 28, 30, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
BARTOW RETAIL ACADEMY at DMAR Business Centers USA
300 E. Summerlin St., Bartow. Sign up here.

Tuesday, August 21, 3:00 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Wednesday, July 29, 10:00 a.m.-noon
HOW TO BID ON SCHOOL BOARD PROJECTS
at Florida Industrial and Phosphate Institute Conference Room
1855 W. Main Street, Bartow. Sign up here.

Wednesday, July 29, noon
DIPLOMATS BIRTHDAY BASH
 
AUGUST

Tuesday, August 11, 6:00 p.m.
EMERGING LEADERS AWARDS BANQUET
Bartow Civic Center
2250 S. Floral Avenue, Bartow
BUY TICKETS HERE.

Thursday, August 13, 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
SCORE ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION, Tax Tips with Baylis & Co., PA
Sign up here.

Thursday, August 13, all day
FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Representative Available to All Chamber Business Members. Call to schedule an appointment: (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.

Thursday, August 13, 5:15 p.m.
TOM EDWARDS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FUN THURSDAY
1425 W. Main Street, Bartow

MEMBER MICRONEWS

MAIN STREET'S FRIDAY FEST IS AUGUST 21
Bartow’s next monthly Friday Fest will be held on Friday, August 21, from 6:00 - 9:00 P.M., along East Main Street and Central Avenue in downtown Bartow. This DJ Dance Party will feature activities for the children, and a variety of food from vendors on the street as well as the downtown restaurants. There will also be an open car cruise-in. Friday Fest is held on the third Friday of every month and is hosted by Main Street Bartow, Inc., Bartow’s Community Redevelopment Agency, the City of Bartow, the Polk County Democrat, and Kelley Buick GMC. For more information, call 863-519-0508. 
  
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SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LUNCH & LEARN

UF-IFAS Sustainable Business Solutions
FREE Brown Bag Lunch & Learns
     Join UF/IFAS Extension Agent, Shannon Carnevale to learn and discuss how environmental issues affect your business, and discover practical solutions to help create a more beautiful, resilient Polk County. Both Lunch and Learns will take place at the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, 510 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830 (in the conference room).

Two Days:
DAY 1, WATER: Tuesday, August 4, noon - 1 p.m.
Why is water conservation important to Polk County’s business community?
What can my business do to benefit our water supply?
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: (Limit 18)

DAY 2, ENERGY: Thursday, August 6, noon - 1 p.m.
How can I get the most out of my electricity?
How does my energy use affect the community?
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER: (Limit 18)

PLUS!  Faucet Aerator Exchange Program: Interested participants can bring in their
sink faucet aerators can exchange them for FREE water-smart replacements.

REGISTER NOW! BRING YOU LUNCH FOR THIS FREE EVENT, sponsored by UF-IFAS Extension Office.

ENGAGE SOCIAL AT THE WINE STABLE

Nice crowd, and nice networking at The Wine Stable on Friday, July 17, 2015. Thanks to all who attended, and thanks for helping us kick off STUFF THE BUS!









 
Newsletter1 - July 20, 2015