Bay County Chamber of CommerceJune 28, 2016

Our office will be closed next Monday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. Looking for a full list of community events? Click here to view our community calendar.

The July First Friday event will be on the second Friday, July 8th. This is a joint event with the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to seeing you there! More information is below.
Claire Sherman, Chair Elect of our Board of Directors, spoke at the Bay County Commission last week regarding the Infrastructure Surtax and our support of this item. Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of putting the half cent sales tax on the November ballot. Property owners for far too long have carried the responsibility of paying for infrastructure improvements and its time that everyone, including our visitors, share in that expense. We encourage you to follow this issue as our roads/highways and infrastructure are aging. 
The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) is recommending a 17.1% workers' compensation rate increase. The NCCI rate increase recommendation could take effect as early as August 1, 2016, following approval by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.
On May 18, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the release of a final rule updating regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees from its minimum wage and overtime requirements (often referred to as the white collar exemptions). The rule was published in the May 23, 2016 Federal Register and goes into effect on December 1, 2016. For more information, please click here.

Additional Topics Include:
  • July First Friday
  • BYP Luncheon
  • July Business After Hours
  • Leadership Bay Applications
  • ColorVibe 5k
  • Classic Christmas Markets Trip
  • Ribbon Cuttings
  • Military Affairs Committee
  • Bay Business Connection (BBC) Group Meeting Dates

Much Success,

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff
First Friday With the Beach 

Friday, July 8th
Networking and Coffee 7:15 a.m.
Program 8 a.m.
FSU Panama City
(4750 Collegiate Dr.)

Program:
 
Cissy Proctor,
Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
 
Sponsored by:
  

Remember, you must use the Collegiate Drive entrance off of 23rd Street due to flyover construction.

Mark Your Calendars for the Next
Bay Young Professionals Luncheon! 
 
"Communicating To Lead"
 
Featuring: David Balmer, Dale Carnegie Training
 
Monday, July 18th  
Lunch and Networking: 11:45 a.m. 
Program: Noon 
Holiday Inn Panama City
(2001 Martin Luther King Blvd)
 
RSVP are required by July 14th.  Cancellations after July 14th will be invoiced. There is no cost for BYP Members, $15 for future BYP Members.  For more information on how you can join BYP or to RSVP, contact Bethany at 850.215.3779. 
 
Thanks to our sponsors: 
    



Based on the premise that people are our most important resource, the purpose of the program is to offer potential leaders a curriculum in community leadership training. Sessions are held every other Wednesday, beginning in September and running through April, to familiarize selected participants with issues and resources that directly impact the future of Bay County. Participation is limited; additional cost required. All applications are due on Friday, August 5th, by 4 p.m. at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce (235 West 5th Street). For more information, contact Elizabeth at 850.215.3761.

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce announces it will be partnering with The Color Vibe Race Series to bring the Color Vibe 5k Race to Panama City, FL, on Saturday, November 19th. The race will take place at the formerly known Bay County - Panama City International Airport. A Color Vibe Race Series 5k is a fun 3.1 mile run infused with color. Runners start the race with a clean white shirt to pass through four color stations along the course to end up with a bright and vibrant tie-dye shirt at the finish. The point is not to race, but to literally become a canvas of color, be active, and share a life experience with friends and family. The colored powder thrown at the color stations is simply colored cornstarch that is 100% safe and biodegradable. A portion of the funds raised at the event will go to the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit which provides programs such as Leadership Bay, Junior Leadership Bay, Bay Young Professionals, Education Committee and more. 
For more information, contact Elizabeth at 850.215.3761.
Ribbon Cuttings  


The Shipyard Grill
5505 Sun Harbor Marina Road


Avian Engineering LLC
1813 Thomas Drive


Waterstone Mortgage
7328 Thomas Drive
Suite 1 


Events by Dallas
109 Harrison Avenue


Bay County Courthouse Addition


Tyndall Federal Credit Union
11240 Panama City Beach Parkway 
MAC Members: Join us at tonight's (June 28th) joint farewell reception for Lt Gen Etter and Col France at St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club.

Credit: USAF photo
Civic leaders from Panama City and leaders from 325th Fighter Wing stand together in front of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker before boarding for a flight demonstration at Tyndall Air Force Base.

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.

Meeting Dates
 
Fishale Taphouse and Grill
11:30 a.m.
July 5th

Ferrucci's Ristorante
11:30 a.m.
July 14th

Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
11:30 a.m.
July 6th

Need Social Capital? Bay Business Connection (BBC) provides an opportunity for groups of business professionals to come together to network, share business leads and referrals with other group members.
BBC 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 BBC group. BBC 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.
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 Mike Baskerville for 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

Coin & Bullion Reserves, Inc.

Counter Revolution

Bennigan's

MK Weber Structural Engineering

Anchor Consulting Engineering

Tatiana's Cafe & Catering

Robotics Fabrication, Inc.

Fortiline, Inc.

Waterstone Mortgage 

   
Thank you to iHeartMedia for our new member radio spots!
 Thank You Renewing Members  
1 Year
- Aqua View Motel
- Garment Gear, Inc.
- Home Depot #8446

2 Years
- Bonefish Grill #7091
- Roberts & Roberts Inc.
- Waffle House

3 Years
- Brightway Insurance

6 Years
- Acentria Inc
- FL Neuro Pain & Spine Center

7 Years
- SVN/Southland Commercial
- Waste Pro
 
8 Years
- Chambless Landscaping & Lawn Care
- Palm Bay Prep

 10 Years
- Hilton Garden Inn
 
13 Years
- Innovative Professional Solutions, Inc.
- Panama City Cycles

14 Years
- Stantec 

 16 Years
- BB&T
- TGI Friday's 

20 Years
- PMI Employee Leasing 

21 Years
- David Pete Windham, DMD

22 Years
- Bay District School Board
- CPC Office Technologies

23 Years
- Super 8 Motel

25 Years
- Eye Center of North Florida
 
27 Years
- Applied Research Associates, Inc.

 35 Years
- American Red Cross

37 Years
- Southern Transport Services

57 Years
- GAC Contractors, Inc.
 
58 Years
- Remsco, Inc.
 
 59 Years
- Barron & Redding, P.A.
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.
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 850.785.5206 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.