Member News
Florida Chamber of Commerce member press releases/updates.
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Oct- 2023 -3 October
President Sasse announces strategic funding awardees
An expansion of outdoor wireless connectivity on campus, a program using augmented reality for certifying new teachers, a neurotechnology lab, astrobiology experiments, and a “Gulf Scholars” program are among 19 new projects receiving strategic funding through a program aimed at advancing the student experience and interdisciplinary scholarship at the University of Florida, UF President Ben Sasse announced today. “When we asked campus leadership to come up with their best ideas for how to use this…
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3 October
Floridian consumer sentiment retreats as perceptions of personal economic conditions decline
Consumer sentiment in Florida dropped 1.2 points in September to 66.3, down from a revised figure of 67.5 in August. Similarly, national sentiment declined 1.4 points. “The decline in September is not unexpected, as this month’s reading reflects the impact of Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall on August 30 in Florida’s Big Bend region, resulting in business closures, agricultural production losses, and property damage. These economic disruptions are not expected to have a lasting effect…
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2 October
Florida Poly advances campus growth with Gary C. Wendt Engineering Building
Florida Polytechnic University revealed on Monday the modern design and functionality of the new Gary C. Wendt Engineering Building, a 40,000-square-foot academic facility that will begin construction next spring. The $15-million, two-story building will house research and development labs for a variety of engineering disciplines, staff and faculty offices, collaboration spaces, and a conference room. The facility will also feature an open courtyard on the exterior, which will connect to the Barnett Applied Research Center,…
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Sep- 2023 -30 September
Member Spotlight: GE Vernova
Mo Mattocks is the Executive Plant Manager at GE Vernova. Focused on accelerating Florida forward and creating long-term investments in Florida’s energy, water, transportation, telecommunications and rural infrastructure, Mo and GE Vernova are involved in the Florida Chamber Infrastructure Coalition. What is one thing Floridians may not know about your industry? Wind is a quickly growing industry and a reliable, affordable source of renewable energy that powers approximately 10% of commercial utilities in our country. GE Vernova’s…
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29 September
Leading Voices: Three Questions with Keith Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture
We sat down with Florida Chamber Board of Directors Member and Chair-Elect Keith Koenig, CEO of CITY Furniture to answer three important questions. Keith serves as Regional Advancement Chair for the Broward region and is Chair of the Florida Chamber Policy Council. Q: What is one piece of advice you would share with your peers? A: Don’t bet against America or Florida. The future is bright. Q: What keeps you up at night? A:…
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29 September
Lake City – Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Breaks Record, Welcomes 30 New Members in Quarter 3
The Lake City – Columbia County Chamber of Commerce welcomed 30 new members in the third quarter of 2023 breaking the previous record of 29 new members. “The Chamber continues to see immense growth in our organization. In addition to a fantastic staff that is able to meet the diverse needs of our members, I believe the local business community is seeing the value in the services and programs we’re providing and ultimately want to…
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27 September
Barnett family’s transformational gift names Florida Poly’s state-of-the-art research center
Florida Polytechnic University announced a new name for its state-of-the-art research building: the Barnett Applied Research Center. The name honors the Barnett family and its longstanding support and generosity for the University. The Florida Poly Board of Trustees approved the naming during its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27. According to the board’s agenda materials, the request honors and recognizes the Barnetts’ significant contributions to the University, which exceed $10 million and support student success. “We…
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26 September
Boeing grant helps Miami seventh graders soar in STEM
Last week, 25,000 seventh graders in Miami-Dade Public Schools got to learn about the Wright brothers and see the engineering process come to life on stage during the Kitty Hawk musical performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Kitty Hawk is part of the Arsht Center Learning Through the Arts initiative that aims to fuel students’ interest in pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Soaring into its seventh year,…
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25 September
Healthy Lee: Call to Action for Our Community
Healthy Lee is excited to announce the launch of a vital initiative aimed at assessing, understanding, and addressing the health needs of our community and the related social drivers of health (SDOH). We know your involvement will significantly contribute to the success of this effort and our collaborative impact to improve the health and well-being of our community. We are gathering input from our community through the attached community survey. This quantitative assessment will be…
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25 September
MakeMore Manufacturing Summit: Unleashing Digital Transformation
Associated Industries of Florida, CareerSource Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and FloridaMakes announce the 2023 MakeMore Manufacturing Summit on October 25 – 26 at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Launched in 2018, the MakeMore Manufacturing Summit is a forum to exchange ideas, challenges, and opportunities needing to be addressed or pursued to strengthen and advance Florida’s manufacturing sector. “Digital technologies are changing the way we make things today and the rate…
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21 September
Hurricane Idalia: Florida agricultural production losses top $78M, UF economists estimate
Early reports from agricultural operations in Florida’s Big Bend region indicate production losses caused by Hurricane Idalia fall in an estimated range of $78.8 million to $370.9 million, according to University of Florida economists. Some 3 million acres of agricultural lands were in the storm’s path, including row crops like peanuts and cotton, dairy and poultry farms, aquaculture operations and more. The UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program’s (EIAP) assessment continues, but director Christa Court, assistant…
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20 September
56 million Americans unknowingly exposed to secondhand smoke
More than half of American adults have been recently exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke – and the vast majority of them were unaware, according to new research. Nationwide, the new findings suggest that 56 million Americans are unknowingly and routinely exposed to toxic secondhand smoke. “There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure, and long-term exposure can increase the risk of many chronic conditions, such as coronary heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancers,” said…
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18 September
Florida Poly ranks as Top 20 public engineering program nationwide
U.S. News and World Report ranked Florida Polytechnic University a top 20-public engineering program without a Ph.D. in the nation, as part of its 2023-2024 Best Colleges list released today. The University was also ranked the No. 1 public college in the Southeast Region for the third consecutive year. Here’s a full list of Florida Poly’s U.S. News rankings: Top 20 public engineering program without a Ph.D. in the country (a jump of eight spots…
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18 September
Celebrity Cruises to Homeport Celebrity Equinox in Port Canaveral
Celebrity Cruises has chosen Port Canaveral to homeport their award-winning Celebrity Equinox to expand the brand’s sailings to the Caribbean starting December 3, 2024, through April 19, 2025. Celebrity Cruises is the seventh major cruise line to choose Port Canaveral as its homeport, underscoring the Port’s status as the world’s busiest cruise Port. “We are thrilled to welcome Celebrity Cruises as our new partner and honored to be part of their Caribbean expansion plans,” said Capt. John Murray, Port…
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18 September
JAXPORT Receives Check for Purchase of New Container Cranes
Members of the Florida Legislators recently presented JAXPORT with a $30 million check during the port’s monthly Board of Directors meeting. The funding will be used to purchase two new container cranes for the port’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. The funds were appropriated by the Florida Legislature during this past legislative session under the leadership of House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo with support from the Duval Legislative Delegation. Members of the…
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