RETAIL STORES
Purple Cloudz
Mr. Eric Bell
2405 EF Griffin Rd., Suite 4
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 733-4814
website
Join Date: 07/22/2015

RESTAURANT/GIFT BOUTIQUE
Sweet Magnolias Café & Gift Shop
Ms. Sandy Mendez
125 & 139 S. Central Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 537-6083
Join Date; 07/30/2015
 
PAINTER - COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL
Goff Painting, Inc.
Mr. Cory Goff
Winter Haven, FL 33880
(863) 877-5252
Join Date: 07/30/2015
 
WEB DESIGN
Torch Designs, LLC
Mr. Kevin Farnsworth
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 614-0029
website
Join Date: 07/30/2015

CLEANING - INDUSTRIAL
Orange Industrial Services, Inc.
Mr. Eric Knaak
1420 Chamber Dr.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 519-0831
www.orangeindustrial.com
Join Date: 08/14/2015

HOSPICE
Vitas Healthcare
Ms. Dora Viltre
6850 New Tampa Hwy., Suite 600
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 583-7100
www.vitas.com
Join date: 08/13/2015

 FINANCIAL PLANNING
The Lem Group, LLC
Mr. Bernardo Rossello
Davenport, FL 33896
(863) 353-7916
www.thelemgroup.com
Join date: 08/21/2015
 
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
Blackmon Roberts Group, Inc.
Ms. Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts
902 S. Florida Ave., Suite 205
Lakeland, FL 33803
www.blackmonroberts.com
Join date: 08/21/2015
 
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER
Chamber Diplomat
Ms. Diane Oesterreicher
Join date: 08/20/2015

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.

Click here to read the Summer Business Quarterly Magazine!
















Want to find a retail or service business? Click here.

There is always something going on in Bartow. Whether it's a Chamber of Commerce event, Main Street Bartow event, a Civic group event, or having a picnic in one of our beautiful parks, there's always something to do. And let's not forget the Polk County History Center and the Bartow Library. Both are wonderful places to explore and they're free!
      In addition, Main Street Bartow has a new program, "Pop Up Art Galleries," now at some of the unoccupied buildings on Main Street. Artwork is displayed in the windows of the vacant buildings for viewing as you take a stroll down Main Street. This sounds like a great way to showcase downtown real estate that is currently for sale or rent, while bringing something beautiful to Bartow at the same time. Win, win.
      It is the responsibility of ALL OF US to help the economic growth in Bartow thrive by supporting our merchants. Please shop and dine here whenever possible. Support our own. It's the right thing to do.

Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Chamber President, 2015
 

Left to right, Barbara Adamson, Bartow Chamber; Tim Jones and Kathy (Kat) Farrer Mullins of Tim Jones Barber Shop.

Business of the Month for August is . . .
TIM JONES BARBER SHOP
We are a friendly small town barber shop with a comfortable atmosphere. We offer discounts to policemen, firemen, active duty military and Summerlin Academy students. Come in and pick up your customer loyalty card, and the 10th haircut is on us! Tim Jones Barber Shop is located at 170 S. Wilson Ave., Bartow. Call 863-224-6114 for more information.

We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Please join us on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m. for the Discover Tuscany travel presentation hosted by the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce. Italian food samples will be provided by Cruise Planners, Ruthelise Anderson. Reservation required.
Call Barbara Adamson, 533-7125, for more information and to secure your seat.

Diversity Luncheon
To Promote Equality
 
To reaffirm its commitment to racial and ethnic equality, the City of Bartow’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) will hold a Diversity Luncheon on September 16, 2015, at noon, at the Bartow Civic Center in conjunction with Bartow’s Multicultural Awareness Month in September.
 
The month is set aside by Bartow’s City Commission to spotlight racial and ethnic equality and justice issues that confront people every day.
 

FORTRESS FITNESS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER

The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce presents “FORTRESS Fitness,” a new program to promote family fitness beginning in September at Fort Blount Park.
 
“FORTRESS Fitness is a community-wide outdoor workout program for all fitness levels, all ages, and it’s absolutely free,” said Marie Wilmot, organizer of the new program. Wilmot is a wellness and fitness enthusiast and instructor of Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba and other cardio-fitness programs.
 
“We hope whole families will join us for a variety of unique group workouts led by professional wellness instructors,” Wilmot added. “FORTRESS Fitness is free and open to all ages, instruction is for all levels.”

(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)

AUGUST

Thursday, August 27, 3:30 p.m.
CRC COMMITTEE, Bartow City Hall


SEPTEMBER

Tuesday, Sept. 1, 9:30 a.m.
SWEET MAGNOLIAS CAFE & GIFT SHOP
RIBBON-CUTTING
125 & 139 S. Central Ave.

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 4:00 p.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES COMMITTEE

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6:00 p.m.
TRAVEL PRESENTATION

Thursday, Sept. 10, 5:15 p.m.
BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY
2800 US 98 N., Bartow

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 4:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11:45 a.m.
CRC DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Bartow Civic Center

Thursday, Friday, Sept. 17, 18
LEADERSHIP XVI SECOND YEAR RETREAT
Clearwater

Thursday, Sept. 24, 4:30 p.m.
HAMILTON ENGINEERING & SURVEYING, INC. RIBBON-CUTTING
& Grand Opening - Barbecue
310 E. Main Street, Suite 4, Bartow

Saturday, Sept. 26, all day, 11:00 a.m. RC
NICKELODEAN DAY OF PLAY AT NYE JORDAN PARK
with Ribbon-cutting for new tennis courts

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 4:00 p.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES COMMITTEE

OCTOBER

Thursday, October 15, all day
FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Representative Available to All Chamber Business Members. Call to schedule an appointment: (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.
 

BARTOW CHAMBER MEMBERS CHOSEN
AS BEST PLACES TO WORK
Congratulations to CareerSource Polk's 2014 Best Places to Work. Those listed below practice dedication to the employee and exhibit exceptional workplace practices that serve to recruit and retain a quality workforce: Small Business Category - Madrid Engineering, and Spherion Staffing. Medium Business Category - A-C-T Environmental, Allen & Company of Florida, Citizens Bank & Trust and Lanier Upshaw. Large Business Category: MIDFLORIDA Credit Union, and Walmart Logistics DC6071.

ATTENTION: SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IS IN NEED OF LOCAL VENDORS!
FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION SESSION AT THE CHAMBER ON
SEPTEMBER 9^TH 7:30a.m.-8:30a.m.
 
Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts, Blackmon Roberts Group, will be at the Chamber to provide free expert advice on how your company can become an approved Polk County School Board  vendor. Don’t pass up this opportunity to “grow your business.” Please take advantage of this free small business resource!
R.S.V.P.  by calling the Chamber (863) 533-7125 or email Barbara,  Barbara@bartowchamber.com.
 

SBDC Is Available At
Chamber On October 15th
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 October 15, 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.