Bay County Chamber of CommerceNovember 17, 2015
Chamber leadership and representatives from our Governmental Affairs Committee traveled to Tallahassee to deliver our Legislative Agenda on November 5th. There are two specific items we need your assistance on. They are the elimination of sales tax on the purchase of manufacturing equipment and the sales tax on commercial leases. Both of these put our county and our state at a competitive disadvantage with other states in recruiting and retaining industry. Click here for these two papers. Please reach out to Senator Don Gaetz (850.487.5001), Representatives Jay Trumbull (850.717.5006) and Brad Drake (850.717.5005) and let them know that you support the elimination of these taxes. Please call today!
We've officially rolled out our new campaign for 2016, which you can see above. The slogan was identified to not only market our organization to prospective members, but it will also be utilized to market our community to individuals looking to move, visit or invest in Bay County. It's especially important to point out that these are not just kids we found in a catalog. These are some of our Chamber members' and employee's children. 
Shop Small Business Saturday is November 28th. We encourage you to visit your fellow Chamber members and shop locally. For free promotional items to place in your store, visit our Chamber office.
Save the date for our Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony on January 22nd at Edgewater Beach Resort. Sponsorship information is below.
Did you know...
  • We want to promote your upcoming holiday events! To post your event for free, click here.
  • We offer affordable advertising options for your business. For more information on all our publications, contact Brittany.
Additional Topics Include:
  • December First Friday
  • Holiday After Hours
  • Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony
  • Tuscany Trip
  • Ribbon Cuttings
  • Ambassador Spotlight
  • Military Affairs Committee
  • Business Referral Network Group Meeting Dates

Much Success,

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff

Sponsored by:

 
 
Friday, December 4th
Networking and Coffee 7:15 a.m.
Program 8 a.m.
FSU Panama City
(4750 Collegiate Dr.)
    
Program:
NORAD Tracks Santa



Capt. Robert Rasmussen, 601st Air Operations Center 
Deputy Commander
 
Entertainment by:
Girls Inc. Choir 

Coffee provided by:
   


Save the Date for the Annual BYP Holiday Luncheon!

Tuesday, December 15th
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club
(218 Bunkers Cove Road)

Sponsored by:

  
 
Please join us for Holiday After Hours!
Come enjoy food, beverages, entertainment, door prizes and great networking opportunities!

Tuesday, December 15th
5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
FSU Panama City Holley Center
(4750 Collegiate Drive) 

Sponsored by:
The Eye Center of North Florida, Superior Residences of Panama City Beach, Digestive Diseases Center, Premium Outdoor Advertising, and Powell Broadcasting.

Save the date for our Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony. For sponsorship information, please click here. For more information, contact Elizabeth at 850.215.3761.

Sponsored by:

   


Join us on March 15-24th to Discover Tuscany!
 
The rolling hills of Tuscany are home to sprawling vineyards, charming medieval hill towns and enchanting cities steeped in history, culture and legend. 

Discover them for yourself on this relaxing sojourn into the Italian countryside. Visit Rome, Assisi and San Gimignano. Savor a six-night stay in Montecatini Terme, the famous resort and spa town. 

Enjoy free time to explore the cultural treasures of Florence, including Michelangelo's "David." Discover the charming town of Lucca, Italy's best-kept secret. Learn about the heroic deeds of WWII at remains of the Gotic Line and visit the Museum of Liberation. Enjoy fabulous local wines and the region's famous cuisine. This is Tuscany as you always imagined it.

Visit the Academy Gallery and Michelangelo's famous statue of David. Sample delectable wines during an included wine tasting in the heart of the Chianti region. Visit the breathtaking and historic city of San Gimignano. Enjoy a guided tour of historic Assisi and visit the Basilica of St. Francis, a World Heritage site containing famous frescos by world-renowned artists. Enjoy regional wines with every included dinner. Experience the benefits of personal audio headsets, designed for better communication between you and your guides throughout your tour. Enjoy a relaxing 6-night stay in Tuscany, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

For more information, click here or contact Elizabeth at 850.215.3761.
Ribbon Cuttings


Piggly Wiggly Food for Less
1380 West 15th Street

Treasure Trunk Mall
3101 Highway 77 


St. Andrew Bay Center Cafeteria
1804 Carolina Avenue


Military Affairs Committee Members Tem Fontaine, Harvey Hollingsworth,  Phillip Nunnery MD enjoying a welcome reception honoring visiting General Mark Kelly at St Andrew's Bay Yacht Club on November 3rd.
 
Photo credit-Brandi DeRuiter

About Mac
The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1946, and is rich in the history of providing good public relations between our military bases and the business community. 
 
The mission of MAC is to develop understanding, support and goodwill between our men and women in uniform and the local business and civic leaders. The committee stages various events and receptions to welcome visiting military officials and guests to the Bay County area.
 
If you are interested in joining MAC and supporting our local Military Installations, contact Brandi DeRuiter at Brandi@baychamberfl.com or 850.215.3759.
Ambassador Spotlight

 
Philomena Martrain was awarded with the Bay County Chamber of Commerce's "Member of the Year" in 2015. She is a member Emerald Coast Business Women, secretary for the Bay Point Women's Club, and she also serves on the Board of Directors for Anchorage Children's Home. She has been an Ambassador since 2012.

For more information on becoming an Ambassador, contact Tamara at 850.215.3791.
CONNECT
 
CHAMBER CALENDAR
Click here to view upcoming Chamber events.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Click here to view more upcoming community events.
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS ON THE CHAMBER WEBSITE
for a great way to get in front of your target market! Email Brittany for rates and more information.
  
Did you know as a Chamber member you can post your job openings and available internships for free online? Also, if you have an upcoming
community event, you can also post that for free. Take advantage of the great items our website has to offer! Call 850.785.5206 for more information or click here.
 



 


  


  


  


  


  


  


  


   


    


    


    
  
 
Welcome
New Members

Dr. Phillip Nunnery, MD

Eagle Car & Truck Sales

Panhandle Real Estate, Inc.

   
Thank you to iHeartMedia for our new member radio spots!
 Thank You Renewing Members  
Member Anniversaries  
1 Year
- First American Title Insurance Company
- Sonny's Real Pit BBQ - Callaway

3 Years
- Verizon Wireless

5 Years
- FL Neuro Pain & Spine Center
- Shark's Tooth Golf Club
 
6 Years
- CareSouth Homecare Professionals
- Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital
- Hampton Inn
 
 7 Years
- Bay County Republican Party
 
9 Years
- Panama City Living Magazine

12 Years
- Emerald Coast Answerphone
- The Bagel Maker

 14 Years
- Disability Resource Center
 
17 Years
- Emerald Shores Health & Rehabilitation 
 
18 Years
- Advanced Sign Solutions Inc.

Thank you to Powell Broadcasting for our renewing member appreciation radio spots!
Member to Member Discounts
The Member to Member Discount is a special discount, pricing structure, service, or product that is extended only to other members of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.

Your discount will be featured on the Chamber website www.panamacity.org, next to your business listing. If your business would like to participate, please visit this link and complete the form. Call the Chamber Office at 850-785-5206 with any questions.
Need Social Capital?
Business Referral Network (BRN) provides an opportunity for groups of business professionals to come together to network, share business leads and referrals with other group members.
 
BRN is available to any member in good standing with the Bay County Chamber of Commerce at no extra charge.
 
They must attend the scheduled bi-monthly meetings and one referral or lead is requested at each meeting. Members are encouraged to bring one guest (guest may be non-member).
 
A member may only join one Business Referral Network group. The Business Referral Group also makes sure no single business will be in direct competition with another member of the group. (For example, only one person in banking can be in each group.) 
 
Interested in joining? Contact Tamara at 215.3791 or Tamara@baychamberfl.com for availability.
Business Referral Network Groups Meeting Dates

Group A
G. Foley's
11:30 a.m.
December 1st
 
Group B
El Jalisco
11:30 a.m.
December 2nd

Group D
Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
11:30 a.m.
November 18th

Include Your Business in our Relocation Packet Program

Each year the Bay County Chamber of Commerce provides relocation guides to individuals and businesses looking for information on relocating to our area. In addition to the relocation guide, we have created a way for our members to market to these individuals who may soon need their products and services. For more information on how you can get involved, contact Brittany at brittany@baychamberfl.com or call 215-3755. 

Support Bay County and 
Your Fellow Members!
Place copies of the "Bay Biz" and "Guide to Discovering Bay County" in your business lobby/office to support and promote our area to your clients and customers.

Call 785-5206 to get your supply of these FREE publications that lets visitors, newcomers and potential businesses know Bay County is a great place to live, work and play.