Bay County Chamber of CommerceNovember 15, 2016
Congratulations to all our elected officials that won their races last week. Also, thank you to those who had the courage to run and for their desire to serve our community further. We look forward to welcoming everyone and continuing to work together.

The Infrastructure Surtax passed which means we will now financially be in a position to correct our growing infrastructure problems and have better roads, bridges, storm water drainage, and more. Thank you to those who helped with the campaign and voted yes to build a better Bay.

We are preparing for 2017 and developing our business plan to meet the needs of our members. We will welcome our new Chair of the Board, Claire Sherman, and honor our outgoing Chairman, Robert Carroll, at our Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony on January 20th. More details are below.

Our ColorVibe 5k run is this weekend and we hope you will come join us. Even if you do not wish to run, you can come enjoy this family friendly event that will benefit the Bay County Chamber Foundation. Read below on how to register.

Additional Topics Include:
  • LASIK for Local Heroes
  • ColorVibe 5k
  • December First Friday
  • December Holiday After Hours 
  • 2017 Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony
  • Ribbon Cuttings
  • Military Affairs Committee
  • Bay Business Connection (BBC) Group Meeting Dates

Much Success,

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce Staff

Do you know of a First Responder who needs and deserves LASIK surgery? You have until this Friday, November 18th, to nominate them. Click here for full instructions. Thank you to the Eye Center of North Florida for sponsoring this great cause.

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 SweetBay development. 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. 

Friday, December 2nd
FSU Panama City
(4750 Collegiate Drive)
Networking 7:15 a.m.
Program 8 a.m. 

Sponsored by:

 
Program:
Committee Chair and Board of Directors Recognition
and NORAD Santa Tracker
 
Coffee provided by:


Hot Cocoa provided by:
Girls Inc. of Bay County

Entertainment provided by:
Early Education & Care Sand Box Kids 

Wreath and Christmas Tree Giveaway provided by:
The Boys and Girls Club of Bay County 
 
  
Ribbon Cuttings


Dayco Realty LLC
731 Airport Road
Unit A


Footglove Performance Footwear
8317 Front Beach Road


Skater's Choice
5413 Hickory Street 


Sims Veteran's Home Christmas Donations

It's that time of the year again that MAC supports the Sims Veterans nursing home to make their holidays a little brighter. Some of these Veterans have no family, and receive no visitors or gifts during the holidays.
 
The home could use the following items for their Veterans:
Electric Razors
Lounge/Pajama pants, assorted sizes
Military T-shirts, caps etc., Vietnam and WWII
Ball caps - like Atlanta Braves, Yankees, Cubs, Ohio, Tennessee, Gators and all branches of the military
Socks, house shoes
Radios with headphone jacks
Assorted music Cd's
Nuts, cashews
Tins of cookies
Chocolate covered cherries
Boxes of candy, assorted, soft, or with nuts
 
(Please note there are 120 residents, 109 are male, 11 are female)
 
We will collect all the items at the Chamber office and deliver to Sims before Christmas. If you would like to make a cash donation so that we can purchase items on the list, please contact Brandi. Items and cash donations will be collected until December 2nd.
 
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.
December 6th

Ferrucci's Ristorante
11:30 a.m.
November 10th

Sonny's Bar B Q (Hwy 77 location)
11:30 a.m.
December 8th

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 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

Senior Helpers of Panama City

My Girlfriends Boutique & Salon

Grifols Biomat USA

   
Thank you to iHeartMedia for our new member radio spots!
 Thank You Renewing Members  
1 Year
- Beach Boys Shuttle Taxi & Limo
- Elite School of Cosmetology
- Foot Glove Performance Footwear
- Johnson Medical Billing
2 Years
- Allstate Brown Insurance Agency

3 Years
- Ripley's Believe It Or Not

4 Years
- French & French

6 Years
- Southern Earth Sciences, Inc.

7 Years
- Comfort Inn & Suites
- Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital 

9 Years
- Accents Home Decor and Gifts, LLC

12 Years
- Innovations Federal Credit Union

15 Years
- Disability Resource Center
- Life Management Center of NW FL
- Panama City Health Club & Spa

16 Years
- Children's Home Society of Florida

20 Years
- Nations Real Estate

21 Years
- Junior Achievement of NW Florida

31 Years
- CareerSource Gulf Coast 

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.