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Finnish American Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

  October 2011
Issue 10 Volume 2 

Greetings!

 

six packAs we are gearing up for the busy season we'd like to remind all of our readers to consider getting active with FACC. The FACC membership is like a gym membership that it doesn't give you a six pack the day you sign up at the gym, but only if you are willing to put hard work into, get off the sofa and get involved. Even that we can not promise you a six pack abs, but we will promise to develop the organization to the direction our members want. The only way we can do this it that YOU work with us. We provide many opportunities (read more below) to get involved from sponsorships to organizing events, to speaking engagements and so forth.

 

October is full of activities from networking events with international traders to local business mingling with city officials in Lake Worth. 

 

So we encourage to you get involved and make sure your business get the exposure it needs! 

 

At your service,

 

 

FACC-FL board


Join FACC-FL!
 

Membership info 

 

Become a member  

 

Current members 

 

Quick Links

FACC-Florida 

Embassy of Finland 

News from Finland 

State of Florida 

News from Palm Beach News from Miami  

Enterprise Florida  

 

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FACC HAS A NEW INTERN 
idamy
"My name is Ida Myllykangas I was born in Kokkola to a family of five children. I have from an early age been interested in international and multicultural environment, languages, and human behavior. I studied at Novia, the Turku University of Applied Sciences. I got a chance to travel as an exchange student to Bangkok, and study at the Kaesetsar Univerity.  When I was studying international business in English, it became clear to me that I want to focus on international studies and live abroad. I graduated with BBA in June 2011, after my graduation at Novia I searched for the next challenge. So now I'm on a 6 month Internship at the Finnish Honorary Consulate and the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce. My goal here is to learn work routines and to tackle planning and management tasks as well.
  
After my internship I am motivated to continue my studies at an MBA program in some U.S. University.  I am ambitious, goal-oriented and multi-cultural personality, and these qualities will help me in the coming years."
 
Please join us in welcoming Ida to our team!

Economic news from Florida

MIA resort

 

 

PLANS UNVEILED FOR MASSIVE, LUXURY MIAMI BAYFRONT RESORT

With plans for four hotels, two condominium towers, more than 50 restaurants and bars, 60 luxury shops and massive convention including 5,200 hotel rooms, it's being billed as one of the largest projects in Florida history, Genting Group's new bayside resort in Miami. After showing a dramatically voiced video, Genting Group principal Colin Au also made a pitch for changes to Florida law that would allow the Asian casino giant to include gambling in the resort.

"We belive it is the right time for Florida to permit a multi-billion dollar destination resort in Miami-Dade and Broward counties" read more

 

MIA MOVER OPENS AT MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Miami International Airport unveiled its MIA Mover, an elevated people mover that will transport travelers from the airport terminal to the rental car center, which opened in July 2010. It can transport up to 3,000 passengers an hour, features eight train cars and will help reduce airport fuel emissions by 15 percent. The mover will also connect to the Miami Central Station, a terminal scheduled to open in 2013 with access to various transportation services, including Amtrakand Tri-Rail. Metrorail will also connect to the station via the 2.4-mile AirportLink extension that is to be complete in April 2012. read more

 

SOUTH FLORIDA CONDOS AND SINGLE-FAMILY HOME SALES UP

Despite the positive growth for single-family the median pricing dropped in Miami-Dade by 1 percent, Palm Beach 14 percent and Broward's median pricing increased 5 percent. The Florida Realtors data conflicts with other recent reports that showed pricing has been flat. And downward pricing pressure is expected to continue, which will likely play a role in future foreclosure activity, especially as a significant number of mortgage holders remain upside down on their homes. Debt of all South Florida residences with a mortgage continued to outpace pricing in the second quarter, with nearly half of properties in the tri-county area having negative equity. read more

 

MORE RENTERS, FEWER OWNERS IN DOWTOWN WEST PALM BEACH

Just 14 percent of boom-time condominium units sold in downtown West Palm Beach are occupied by their owners, evidence of overwhelming investor and second-home buyer dominance in the market. A report scheduled for release Thursday by the Miami-based consultancy group Condo Vultures found 2,759 units have been purchased in downtown buildings constructed in or after 2003. Of those, 389 have homestead exemptions - a partial release of property taxes granted permanent residents. read more

 

SOUTH FLORIDA ECONOMY IMPROVES SLIGHTLY IN 2010

South Florida's economy had a slight boost in 2010, despite having the largest gross metropolitan product (GMP) in the state. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the GMP of the tri-county area was $257.6 billion in 2010, a year-over-year growth of 1.15 percent from the inflation-adjusted figure for 2009. GMP is the sum of the gross domestic product (GDP) originating in all industries in a metropolitan area. Nonetheless, South Florida's GMP ranks the highest in the state, followed by Tampa ($113.7 billion), Orlando ($104.1 billion) and Jacksonville ($60.3 billion). read more

News from Finland

 

FINLAND 4TH ON THE GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS REPORT

The Global Competitiveness Report 2011-2012, comes out amid multiple challenges to the global economy and a continuing shift in the balance of economic activity away from advanced economies and toward emerging markets. This year's report findings show that Switzerland tops the overall rankings, Singapore for second position, Sweden (3rd), Finland (4th), Germany (6th), the Netherlands (7th), Denmark (8th) and the United Kingdom (10th). Japan remains the second-ranked Asian economy at 9th place, despite falling three places since last year. read more 

 
US TO OPEN INNOVATION CENTER IN HELSINKI
The United States will open a 74 million euros innovation center in Helsinki according to the U.S. Ambassador to Helsinki, Bruce Oreck. It will be built as of the embassy in the Kaivopuisto district of the city. The focus will be on energy efficiency. Further details will be realized by the embassy in the next few days.

 

TEKES LAUNCHES TEMPO - FINANCING FOR MOBILE SERVICES

Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, has launched a new financing program to support growth companies developing mobile services and applications - Tempo. Tempo is a sign of the organization changing tracks fundamentally and putting most of its feedback into practice.
Tempo also encourages companies to include test marketing in their projects and they furthermore understand that it's of crucial importance to get customer feedback as early as possible to develop their products into the right direction. Furthermore, Tempo also looks to strengthen the mobile ecosystem by co-operating with existing parties. read more

Lake Worth Business Development Expo

LW1
Come and visit FACC-FL booth at the Business Development Expo and meet the new Mayor Rachel Waterman.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

 
 
Attention: Prospective, New and Existing Business Owners
 
 
Mayor Waterman and Vice Mayor Mulvehill will be hosting a Business Development Expo at the Lake Worth Golf Course on October 20th. Over 20 business support agencies will be present offering resources and information to business owners such as grants, loans, networking programs etc. City department staff will be available to discuss business related issues such as permits, business licenses, signs, utility accounts, commercial energy conservation programs, and more. 

For more information call Mayor Rachel Waterman's Office 561-586-1730

Welcome to Florida-event November 10th  

Welcome to Florida
ALL NEWCOMERS - JOIN US FOR THIS EVENT   

Date: Thursday, November 10, 2011 
 
Time: 2 - 4 p.m.

Location: Suomi Talo 301 Central Florida Boulevard, Lantana
Cost: 5 $ (Includes Tervetuloa Floridaan pamphlet, Coffee and coffeecake) 

FACC board members will talk about what FACC and other Finnish organizations can offer to the community followed by a short panel discussion around the practicalities when starting a life in Florida, such as how to establish a credit history, get a drivers license and so forth.  
 
Sponsors can set up tables with their products to introduce to the participants.

Call about the sponsorship opportunity to 561-582 2335 or email at [email protected] 

Space is limited, please call asap!

 

If you are not yet a member, now is the time to join and become part of a vibrant Finnish- American business community.

THIS EVENT WILL BE IN FINNISH!!! 

TAPAHTUMA SUOMENKIELL�

 

 

 

FACC-FL upcoming program for 2012

 

JANUARY, 19th 

Finnish Presidential Elections

Real Estate/ Insurance seminar

 

 

FEBRUARY, 16th 

Investors Seminar: focus on investment opportunities in FL, Employment visas, and international tax issues

 

 

MARCH, 11th 

Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vanska concert at Kravis

http://www.kravis.org/

 

 

APRIL, 16-17th 

FACC will participate at Palm Beach Strategic Forum. Currently working on securing high end keynote speakser(s) from Finland.

http://pbstrategicforum.com

 

As a FACC member you have the opportunity to be part of organizing and sponsoring some of these events and get exposure to your business.

Email us at [email protected] for more information.

If you are not a member yet, check out our new website for benefits and join our growing group!! 

 

LINK UP 2011 

linkup

 

This INTRADE delegation is the largest single group of Foreign Trade Commissioners to visit Palm Beach County in over six years. 

 

THIS RECEPTION is organized by Orbis

 

Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 

Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Lake Pavilion on the Waterfront in downtown West Palm Beach (101 S. Flagler Dr.) 

Cost: $20 (includes one complimentary beverage, hors d'oeuvres, and valet parking)

RSVP: by October 5, 2011


 

We hope you find this newsletter useful and we love to get feedback and suggestions how we can make it better. We also have many volunteer opportunities within the chamber so let us know how you want to be involved.

Find us at Facebook , Twitter and

LinkedIn and join the discussion.

 

Sincerely,

 


Lena Hartikainen
Finnish American Chamber of Commerce

MiikaABI