Message From The Chair  

Greetings Fellow Members,

I would like to thank all of the Chamber members who attended the Annual Holiday Party at the Cuban Club and contributed toys and donations for Metropolitan Ministries. In addition, I would like to thank the HCC Ybor - Jazz Band for providing the entertainment at our Holiday Luncheon. We had a wonderful turnout and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to spend time networking with friends and associates at the Chamber.

After a bit of much-deserved R & R, we are starting-off the New Year with a bang. Mayor Bob Buckhorn will be addressing the Membership Luncheon next Tuesday, January 10th at the Columbia. His Honor has been working on a number of items to improve Tampa's business climate and we will hear firsthand some of the things he has in-store for 2012.

Advertising sales for the 2012 Edition of our Business Directory and Community Guide are closed and the publication is going into production. Make sure your renewal is up-to-date, so your business will be included. The Directory is one of our best business to business promotion tools and will be particularly useful this year as preparations are made for the Republican National Convention.

A second "B to B" sales tool is our winter Ybor Expo: Business Showcase coming-up Tuesday, February 14th. This biennial event is a great opportunity to demonstrate your organization's service or product to the Ybor City business community. Always a sell-out, reserve your space today by contacting Anna Ramos at aramos@ybor.org or 248-3712 x22.

Our next big event is the 65th Anniversary Edition of Fiesta Day. This is a free street-event that features food, music and fun for the entire family. Based on the "verbena," observed by cigar factory workers as a day of rest, this is Ybor City's oldest event. Fiesta Day will be held on Saturday, February 25th and presented again this year by BB&T Bank.

Things have been good so far and I'm looking for a strong finish - thanks for your support!

Until next month,  

Andrea White

January 10- Monthly Membership Luncheon, Tues. 11:45AM- 1:15PM- Come out and hear an address from Mayor Bob Buckhorn to start the New Year. The luncheon is sponsored by the Florida State Fair.  813.248.3712 x22      

February 14- Winter Ybor Expo: Business Showcase, Tues.11:30AM- 2PM-The Ybor City Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its Winter Business Expo at the Columbia Restaurant in lieu of its regular luncheon. This is a great way to promote your business to other Ybor businesses and let them know what you do. Reserve your space by contacting Anna Ramos. 813.248.3712 x 22   

February 25- Fiesta Day, Sat. 11AM- 6PM-Celebrate this annual tribute to the Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Jewish and German immigrants that came to Ybor City in the late 1800's. This free event pays homage to Ybor's forefathers through the observance of cultural art and cuisine in a street festival format.  And to add to the day's events, the Ybor Saturday Fresh Market will once again be hosting the Flan Fest in Centennial Park. 813.241.8838