Member News
Florida Chamber of Commerce member press releases/updates.
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Jan- 2026 -26 January
Publix Charities Donates to Meals on Wheels of Sarasota
Publix Super Markets Charities has made a $10,000 donation to Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, supporting the nonprofit’s mission to deliver nutritious daily meals, social interaction, and wellness checks to homebound neighbors in the Sarasota community. The contribution is part of Publix Charities’ broader focus on alleviating hunger and strengthening local support networks, with the organization having donated millions to hunger‑related programs across the Southeast over recent years. Read More: Publix Charities supports Meals on…
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26 January
Nova Southeastern University Earns Carnegie Community Engagement Classification
Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, recognizing its strong partnerships with local communities, promotion of civic engagement, and extensive experiential learning opportunities. NSU is the only large, professions‑focused university in the country to hold this designation alongside its R1 Highest‑Level Research and Opportunity classifications, validating both its research strength and community impact. The Carnegie distinction highlights NSU’s participation in more than 3,500 community collaboration projects annually,…
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26 January
Bank of America to Distribute $1 Billion in Stock to Employees
Bank of America will award $1 billion in company stock to non-executive employees through its Sharing Success Program, marking the ninth consecutive year of broad-based stock grants. Roughly 96% of eligible employees outside senior management will receive awards, which aim to align compensation with long-term company performance. Since the program’s inception, Bank of America has distributed nearly $6.8 billion in stock. The initiative complements other workforce investments, including a $25 minimum hourly wage, expanded hiring…
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26 January
PortMiami Cuts Pollution with $125 Million Shore Power Upgrade
PortMiami has invested $125 million in shore power infrastructure, allowing cruise ships like Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas to plug into the city’s electrical grid while docked instead of burning fuel. The upgrade, funded in part by federal grants and county dollars, has already enabled ships to plug in for 175 calls, cutting 6,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions—roughly the annual electricity use of 1,250 homes. Five of the port’s nine cruise berths now…
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26 January
Novartis to Build Radioligand Therapy Facility in Winter Park, Florida
Novartis is expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint with a new 35,000‑square‑foot radioligand therapy (RLT) facility in Winter Park, Florida. The site is part of the company’s $23 billion investment strategy to advance precision cancer treatments and improve access for patients. RLT combines tumor-targeting molecules with therapeutic radioisotopes to deliver radiation directly to cancer cells, making proximity to treatment centers critical. The Winter Park facility is expected to come online by 2029 and will complement existing…
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26 January
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Six to the State University System Board of Governors
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Ashley Lukis, Michael Okaty, Keith Perry, and Nick Sinatra and the reappointment of Ashley Bell Barnett and Charles Lydecker to the Board of Governors of the State University System of Florida. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. Ashley Lukis is a shareholder at GrayRobinson, P.A., with experience representing public entities and private clients and has served on the Florida Commission on Ethics. She holds…
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26 January
Three FSU Alumni Reappointed to Board of Trustees
Governor Ron DeSantis has announced the reappointment of Maximo Alvarez, Vivian De las Cuevas-Dias, and Jorge Gonzalez to the Florida State University Board of Trustees, pending final approval by the Senate. All three appointees are FSU alumni. Jorge Gonzalez, CEO of The St. Joe Company, has extensive experience in community development and economic initiatives in the Panhandle, serving on boards including the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Bay County Economic Development Alliance. The 13-member Board…
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26 January
Department of Defense Invests $1 Billion in L3Harris Missile Solutions, Plans IPO in 2026
Melbourne-based L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) announced a $1 billion investment from the Department of Defense to create a direct-to-supplier partnership with its new Missile Solutions company, which will later become a separate entity. L3Harris plans to pursue an IPO for Missile Solutions in the second half of 2026 while retaining a controlling interest. The partnership aims to scale the domestic supply chain for solid rocket motors, modernize facilities, increase production, and strengthen industrial resilience as…
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26 January
Rep. Sam Garrison Prioritizes Behavioral Health Ahead of Florida’s 2026 Legislative Session
As Florida lawmakers prepare for the 2026 Legislative Session, Rep. Sam Garrison emphasized that behavioral health, including mental health and substance use disorders, will remain a top priority. Speaking at the Florida Chamber’s Legislative Fly-In, the Fleming Island Republican—who is in line to become House Speaker after November’s elections—called the issue a “first-tier” challenge that affects all demographics, amplified by technology and social media. Garrison noted that mental health is one of the few areas…
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26 January
Olympia Ross Duhart Appointed Dean of Nova Southeastern University College of Law
Olympia Ross Duhart, J.D., has been named Dean of the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University, effective immediately, after serving as interim dean since April. Her appointment follows a faculty, student, and alumni search process that highlighted strong support for her leadership and vision. Duhart is a tenured professor and alumna of the law school with more than 20 years of experience at NSU, including roles as associate dean for academic affairs,…
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26 January
DUDA Donates $200K to Cancel Student Lunch Debt in Seminole County
As part of its 100th anniversary, the family-operated agriculture and real estate company DUDA donated $200,000 to help eliminate student lunch debt in Seminole County. The contribution, made in partnership with the nonprofit All for Lunch and Seminole County Public Schools, cleared outstanding meal balances for thousands of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, relieving financial burdens for families and ensuring students can access nutritious meals. Read More: Emily Duda Buckley family business…
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26 January
Rick Case Parking Garage Unveiled Following $1 Million Gift to Baptist Health Orthopedic Care
Baptist Health Foundation recognized a $1 million philanthropic gift from Rita Case, president and CEO of the Rick Case Automotive Group, with the naming of the Rick Case Parking Garage at Baptist Health Medical Center in Plantation. The donation supports advanced microsurgery research and technology at Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, strengthening treatment options for patients with hand, nerve, and orthopedic injuries. The gift will fund technology, equipment, education, research, and infrastructure related to microsurgery and…
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26 January
Google Grant Fuels AI Integration Across Florida Polytechnic University Curriculum
Florida Polytechnic University has been awarded a $500,000 grant from Google to support the integration of artificial intelligence across its academic curriculum. The one-year grant funds the University’s Faculty Innovation Lab, which provides training and resources to help faculty embed AI concepts into courses across all STEM disciplines. The initiative will begin with 20 faculty members developing AI-integrated courses and leading workshops to train additional instructors. In its first year, 40 professors are expected to…
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26 January
TECO Sends Workers North to Support Winter Storm Recovery
Tampa Electric Company (TECO) is sending more than 200 workers from Florida to assist utilities in Georgia and other Southern states as a major winter storm threatens power infrastructure. The crews, including line workers and contractors, will help restore service and support recovery efforts through industry mutual-aid agreements. Read More: TECO Sends Workers North to Support Winter Storm Recovery
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9 January
Central Florida Partners Launch “Holiday Bus” to Deliver Meals to Families During Winter Break
As winter break disrupts reliable access to school meals for many children, the “Holiday Bus” Drive Out Hunger initiative is stepping in to support the 1 in 6 Central Florida children facing food insecurity. Throughout December, the Holiday Bus will distribute nutritious, shelf-stable meals across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties to help families bridge the gap during the holidays. This collaborative effort — led by AdventHealth Central Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Orlando Magic,…
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