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Newsletter Finnish American Chamber of Commerce, Florida
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Issue 8 Volume3
August 2012
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Greetings!
who said all the hight-tech buzz is at the west coast? High-tech companies catching millions in investments here in Florida and even Apple found and purchased a Florida high-tech company with $356 million!
Florida returned to the top 10 list in the venture-capital ratings of U.S. states during the second quarter, as nearly a dozen companies received a combined $95 million from wealthy investment firms.
The state ranked ninth, up 14 positions from its first quarter ranking, according to the MoneyTree Report, published by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. Three of the companies were high-tech companies receiving combined $21.3 million.
Meanwhile in Finland, Moody's confirms Finland's AAA rating, saying that Finland's outlook is still stable, despite the dark clouds by the eurozone crisis.
We are happy to work with making your Finnish - Florida connections stronger with each new business deal!
With HOT summer greetings from Florida!
At your service,
FACC-FL Board
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News from Florida
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Florida's workforce is one of the best in the nation
Business Facilities ranks Florida among America's top 3 states for workforce training. Read more here.
Workforce Alliance offering nearly $1 million to train employees
Your company maybe eligible for worker training funds. Find out more here.
Apple buys Florida fingerprint technology company
Apple is paying $356 million to buy Authen Tec, a Melborne company that makes sensors that can read fingerprints. The question is, will Apple use its technology to skip passwords in the future? Read more here.
Florida maybe first state to open all-online University
Florida maybe the first state in the nation to open all-online public university, accruing to the Tampa Tribune. Online universities are gaining interest amongst students due to the rising cost of tuitions. Read more here.
Luxury condo towers to rise on First Baptist Church's waterfront site
First Baptist Church at WPB has agreed to sell its Chapel By The Lake property on the east side of Flagler Drive for $23 million. If the proposal wins city approval, the property's new owners will start priciest condo project in county's history. First Baptist Church would see its iconic waterfront venue replaced by two condo towers and medical office. Read more here. Travel sites win court battle with Florida countiesFlorida counties have lost a legal battle in a dispute with online travel companies. The suit brought by Broward County argues that websites including Orbitz and Expedia are not paying sufficient tourist taxes on hotel rooms booked through the sites. Read more here.Digital Risk's new office in Boca Raton will bring 150 jobs to the marketThe nation's largest provider of mortgage risk, compliance and transaction management solutions, has opened its newest office in Boca Raton. The office will employ approximately 150 people within the next 90 days. read more here.Digital Domain challenged by stock price
Special effect compay Digital Domain aims to lure a large investor or perhaps sell part of the entertainment company that's the cornerstone of Florida's investment in the animation industry. Read more here.
The Strand seeks bulk buyer as West Palm Beach apartment market heats up
Owners of The Strand, at the corner of Evernia Street and Narcissus Avenue, have listed 166 units in a bulk sale through Apartment Realty Advisors. Read more here.
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News from Finland |  |
Finland, the most stable eurozone nation with AAA-rating
The rating agency Moody's has confirmed that Finland has retained the highest AAA credit rating. At the same time, Moody's cut the outlook to negative for other strong euro-zone economies, such as Germany and the Netherlands. Read more here.
How To Manage Your Startup's U.S. Expansion
Opening up a U.S. office provides new opportunities but comes with its own set of challenges. Two Finnish CEOs on the best practices to follow when your team is split between continents. Read more here.
Marimekko gets boost from Elton John and Hillary Clinton
According to MTV3, the world famous pop-singer Elton John was recently spotted in France wearing Marimekko converses and in June, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Marimekko House in Helsinki. Read more here.
The 'Goodspeed' device will kill data roaming costs
Oulu-based Uros Oy is working on a mobile phone sized device that would make data roaming costs obsolete. Today one of the biggest obstacles to using services overseas are the ridiculous roaming costs operators charge users. According to the article by YLE, the device will create a wireless network around it, a hotspot, that users are able to connect to. Read more in English here.
World's first internet opera at Savonlinna
The world's first opera produced by an online community iwas performed in Savonlinna Opera Festival on july 2012. Hundreds of people all over the world participated in making the opera Free Will. Read more here.
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FACC seeking board members | |
FACC Board Nominations
Corporate and Business Members are eligible to be nominated as a candidate for a Board position. If you are interested in serving on the Board, and would like to be nominated as a candidate, please send an email of interest to FACC's Board, at info@facc-fl.com. The email should include your name and address, your interests and a short description of how you would contribute to the operation and development of the organization. Current Board of Directors.
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FACC upcoming events | |
Here is a preview of our winter season events, mark your calendars
Meet Finland's New Ambassador November 30th
Luncheon at Phillips Point by the Breakers, WPB with keynote speakers:
Ritva Koukku-Ronde, Ambassador of Finland to the United States
Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President of Royal Caribbean International
Xmas Party December 14th
Christmas season social event at Lake Worth Golf Course
Traditional Finnish style Christmas dinner and program
Welcome to Florida January 16th
Targeted towards new arrivals. Information about investments,
real estate, insurances, banking, car purchasing and more
Social Media Marketing Seminar February
Social media and internet marketing event for members
Golf Tournament March
Networking and golfing
Palm Beach Strategic Forum April
International economic forum
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Renew your Finnish passport in Lake Worth |
Portable passport unit at Honorary Consulate of Finland, Oct. 15th-17th
Please call for an appointment 561-582-2335
 Before applying for a passport, check your personal information at the Finnish Population Information System. Contact the local register office of your most recent municipality of residence. It is important that the applicant's personal data (name, place of birth, citizenship) are up-to-date since the application form for the new biometric passport is printed directly from the register.
If you are not able to renew your passport during these dates, passports can be applied in person at the Embassy in Washington D.C. or at the Consulates General in New York or Los Angeles. New passports can also be applied at a local police office while visiting Finland. 
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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.
Sincerely,
Lena Hartikainen
Finnish American Chamber of Commerce
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