Member News
Florida Chamber of Commerce member press releases/updates.
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Oct- 2025 -28 October
FPL Opens Applications for $50,000 Classroom Makeover Grants to Enhance STEM Learning
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), through the NextEra Energy Foundation, is inviting K-12 public, private, and charter schools across Florida to apply for one of ten $50,000 Classroom Makeover Grants designed to transform STEM education spaces. The grants target Title I schools or those with at least 40% economically disadvantaged students and support upgrades such as 3D printers, robotics kits, and other hands-on learning tools. Previous winners include Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale,…
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28 October
Duke Energy Foundation, Tampa Bay Rays Team Up to Donate $82K to Support Energy Assistance
The Duke Energy Foundation teamed up with the Tampa Bay Rays to donate $82,000 to help Florida customers struggling with energy bills, contributing $1,000 for every Rays win this season. The funds will go to community agencies that provide financial assistance to those in need, turning each on-field victory into meaningful support off the field. This creative partnership highlights how corporations and sports organizations can collaborate to address community challenges, raise awareness about energy affordability,…
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28 October
Derrick Brooks Named the No. 1 Player in Tampa Bay Buccaneers History
In a milestone tribute marking 50 seasons of Buccaneers football, Derrick Brooks has been voted the No. 1 player in franchise history—surpassing more than 1,200 players who have worn the uniform since 1976. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Beginning with his selection in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft, Brooks went on to start 224 games, never missed a contest due to injury, earned 11 Pro Bowl selections, claimed NFL Defensive Player of the Year…
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28 October
BNY Expands Lake Mary Campus into Global Hub for Growth and Talent
BNY has completed a major expansion of its Lake Mary campus, growing the site to 300,000 square feet and establishing it as one of the company’s six global hubs for talent, innovation, and client partnerships. The financial services firm, which has maintained a presence in Lake Mary since 2001, debuted its expanded offices on Oct. 21 following the lease of more than 200,000 additional square feet across two buildings on Colonial Center Parkway. The upgraded…
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28 October
Florida Poly Partners with Sittadel to Launch Student-Led Cybersecurity Operations Center
Florida Polytechnic University has joined forces with Lakeland-based tech firm Sittadel to establish a new student-driven Security Operations Center (SOC) on campus, designed to enhance cybersecurity education and strengthen Florida’s digital defenses. The partnership, formalized with a memorandum of understanding on Oct. 20, will allow students to gain hands-on experience monitoring, detecting, and responding to cyber threats alongside industry professionals. Sittadel will provide technical expertise and operational support, while Florida Poly contributes institutional resources and…
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28 October
Celebrating Leadership: Florida 500 Honorees from Our Boards
We are honored to recognize the following board members who have been recognized in Florida Trend’s Florida 500. Thank you for your support in making Florida one of the Top 5 economy’s in the world. Here are our nominated Board Members: Jeff Johnson | AARP Chas Bailes | ABC Fine Wine and Spirits Bob Ritchie | American Integrity Insurance Company of Florida Joe York | AT&T Florida Doug Davidson | Bank of America Andrew Koeing…
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24 October
KEITH Volunteers Support Palm Beach County Teachers Through Red Apple Supplies
KEITH Community Champions recently returned to the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County’s Red Apple Supplies—not as consultants, but as hands-on volunteers—helping operate the free teacher resource store that provides essential classroom materials to local educators. Through their efforts, KEITH supported 51 teachers in saving more than $18,000 in supplies, directly benefiting students across the county. This initiative reflects KEITH’s continued commitment to strengthening education and equity, echoing the Foundation’s impact where 95% of teachers…
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24 October
UF/IFAS Launches 40,000-Square-Foot AI Center to Boost Florida Agriculture and Environmental Resilience
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is breaking ground on a new 40,000-square-foot Center for Applied Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture at its Gulf Coast Research & Education Center in Balm, Hillsborough County, aimed at helping Florida farmers protect crop yields and the environment while fostering a tech-driven agribusiness economy. The hub will unite AI scientists, engineers and extension specialists to develop innovations like precision breeding, robotic spraying and reduced-chemistry crop…
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24 October
Polk State College Launches AgriPolk to Cultivate Future Agricultural Leaders
Polk State College has launched AgriPolk, a new initiative designed to connect students passionate about agriculture with higher education and workforce training that lead to sustainable, rewarding careers. The program blends a transferable Associate in Arts (AA) degree with hands-on coursework, certifications, and seamless transfer opportunities to four-year universities, including the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). AgriPolk targets students interested in fields such as crop and livestock production, soil and…
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24 October
Florida Poly President Devin Stephenson Named to Florida 500 List for Second Consecutive Year
Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Polytechnic University, has been named one of Florida Trend magazine’s Florida 500 most influential business leaders for the second year in a row, recognizing his leadership in advancing innovation, education, and economic development across the state. Under his guidance, Florida Poly has seen record-breaking enrollment for two consecutive years, national recognition for academic excellence, and continued expansion of its state-of-the-art campus. Recent milestones include the upcoming openings of the…
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21 October
Tampa Electric Team Collects Over 3,000 Pounds of Peanut Butter to Fight Hunger
Tampa Electric employees came together in a big way for the annual Peanut Butter Challenge, collecting an impressive 3,118.56 pounds of peanut butter in support of Feeding America. The friendly competition among teams across South Hillsborough, Network, Eastern, Transmission, Plant City/Dade, Winter Haven, Western, and Central regions was part of The Cheesecake Factory’s nationwide Peanut Butter Drive, held in honor of National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day. This initiative is rooted in the Oscar & Evelyn…
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21 October
FAMU’s School of Business & Industry Awarded $50,000 Ryder “Future of Excellence” Grant
Florida A&M University’s School of Business & Industry (SBI) has received a $50,000 “Future of Excellence” grant from Ryder System, Inc. and the Ryder Charitable Foundation to support scholarships, program enhancements, and the creation of a new “Ryder Room” on campus. The initiative underscores a growing partnership between academia and industry, aimed at preparing students for leadership roles in business and logistics. By investing in academic excellence and workforce development, Ryder’s contribution will help expand…
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21 October
Health Care District of Palm Beach County Expands Impact Through Strategic Partnerships
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County is strengthening its role as a leader in community health through a series of innovative partnerships designed to improve access, efficiency, and outcomes across the region. In a recent feature by the South Florida Business Journal, the District’s CEO underscored the organization’s focus on collaboration as a driving force for progress. Key initiatives include a partnership with Tampa General Hospital to enhance rural health services at Lakeside…
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16 October
Florida Poly Repeats National Top 10 Career Outcomes Ranking
LAKELAND, Fla. – Florida Polytechnic University has earned a Top-10 national ranking for graduates’ career outcomes in WalletHub’s 2026 College & University Rankings, released Monday, Oct. 13. This marks the second consecutive year Florida Poly ranks among the nation’s best for career success, placing it alongside elite institutions such as Caltech, Yale and Duke, and ahead of academic powerhouses such as Harvard, Notre Dame and MIT. The University also earned high rankings for affordability, placing No.…
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10 October
Vinik Sports Group, Benchmark International Launch $3 Million Community Investment with Fan-Driven Impact
Tampa’s sports and entertainment scene is set to gain new momentum: Vinik Sports Group (VSG) and Benchmark International have unveiled a $3 million community investment initiative tied to their naming rights partnership for the newly christened Benchmark International Arena. The effort will focus on supporting food security, education, and health and wellness programs across the Tampa Bay region, with beneficiaries selected jointly by The Lightning Foundation and Benchmark. Unique to this strategy is the Voices…
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