• 93% of Chamber Members Prefer Email Communications• Flag Sponsorship• Legislative Session Wrap-up• Workforce Conference 2008- Save the Date• Security Alert Notification |
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• Small Business of the Month: Sallis Associates, Inc. • Statewide Preservation ConferenceGot News? |
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Ribbon Cuttings
93% of Chamber Members Prefer Email CommunicationsYour feedback is already being implemented to improve your Chamber. Read more in the executive summary by clicking here. Anyone interested in giving more feedback or participating in a focus group to improve Chamber services, please call Hope Allen at 850.438.4081. Flag Sponsorship- Part of Military Appreciation MonthYour appreciation for the men and women in the armed forces can be shown throughout history with an American flag and commemorative plaque decorating Downtown Pensacola. Your personalized plaque will adorn one of 262 flag poles around Downtown to honor the military, our freedom and our country. Flags will be raised annually during: Veteran's Day, Patriots Day, Memorial Day, Martin Luther King Day, President's Day, 4th of July and Labor Day. The cost is $100. Checks should be made payable to the Downtown Improvement Board. This is a tax deductible item. Forms and payment must be returned to the DIB by May 12th at 5 p.m. Click here for more information on how to participate or to purchase online go to www.downtownpensacola.com Visit us online at pensacolachamber.com and click on Armed Services for a complete listing Military Appreciation Month events and activities. Legislative Session- 2008 Wrap-upThe 2008 Legislative Session was one of the most difficult of recent times with unprecedented budget cuts. Nevertheless, there were several bills passed that may provide opportunities for the business community. Health InsuranceSenate Bill 2534 provides affordable health insurance options to uninsured individuals. The "Cover Florida" plan will allow the State to negotiate with health insurers to develop affordable coverage for individuals who are uninsured between the ages of 19 to 64. Small businesses are also included in this package. Cover Florida will allow a benefits package of about $150 per month and cover preventive services, screenings, office visits, outpatient/inpatient services and related health care needs. Additional benefits will allow policyholders to carry dependents until age 30 in certain circumstances. There are no mandates requiring employers to participate however, employers will be able to allow for payroll deductions or cost-sharing of premiums. Since health insurance is one of the critical issues for small businesses, we will be following this closely in the months ahead in its initial implementation phase. Lowering Property Insurance CostsSeveral measures intended to stabilize commercial property insurance rates did not pass. However, Senate Bill 2860 was passed which lowers the maximum assessments from Citizens Insurance on businesses by 12%. However, it increases assessments on Citizen policy holders who are paying less than actuarially sound rates by 15%. Economic Development StimulusA $2 billion stimulus was passed by the House and Senate which should help to jump-start the economy. CS/HB 1295 and SB 2310 is awaiting the Governor's signature. It will authorize the State Board of Administration to identify and invest up to 1.5 percent of the Florida State Retirement System to industries that offer the potential for high-growth and high-paying jobs in Florida. EnergyAfter two years, the Governor's energy bill (HB 7135 and CS/SB 1544) was finally passed. It is intended to address Florida's need for affordable and environmentally responsible energy. The bill will set benchmarks for conservation, promote the use of renewable energy and set up a sell and swap credit system for industries that contribute to climate change. It will also enable power companies to get permits for building nuclear plants a little easier than it has been in the past. The bill is awaiting the Governor's signature. Save the Date for Workforce Conference 2008
The Chamber announced Workforce Conference 2008 "Possibilities through Partnerships" scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2008 at the University of West Florida Conference Center beginning at 8:30 a.m. Hosted by the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Escarosa, Inc., this one-day conference will explore new opportunities including two keynote speakers, Susan Pareigis and John Kemp. Several break out sessions featuring "Developing Local Talent," "Recruiting Talent" and "Growing Talent." This event will offer the opportunity to network with leaders in business, government, education and workforce development. Early bird registration is $50 until July 15, 2008. Please find the registration form at www.workforce2008possibilitiesthroughpartnerships.com/registration.html The Chamber staff contact is Natalie Prim and can be reached at 850.438.4081. Security Alert Notification- BusinesSafeThe Florida Department of Law Enforcement in conjunction with Florida's Regional Domestic Security Task Forces and business partners unveil a new alert system designed to bolster the ability of Florida's businesses to protect themselves and their communities against potential threats. "BusinesSafe creates a two-way communication highway that can be accessed and traveled by every single business in Florida," said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. "With the click of a mouse, we can directly connect with businesses ranging from restaurants to retailers to service industry providers." This web-based initiative also provides businesses with sector specific safety tips that highlight ways to identify suspicious activity and better protect assets. Businesses are encouraged to pass on unusual activity through BusinesSafe's online reporting form. To help reach the state's business community, FDLE is working in conjunction with private sector representatives on Florida's Regional Domestic Security Task Forces and some of Florida's major business associations. FDLE is also partnering with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the Department of State (DOS) who between them incorporate, license or regulate hundreds of thousands of Florida businesses. To learn more about BusinesSafe or to sign up for alerts, businesses are encouraged to visit FDLE's website, www.fdle.state.fl.us and click on the "BusinesSafe" icon. Source: FDLE, Office of the Executive Director |
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