PAINTER - COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL
Goff Painting, Inc.
Mr. Cory Goff
Winter Haven, FL 33880
(863) 877-5252
Join Date: 07/30/2015
 
WEB DESIGN
Torch Designs, LLC
Mr. Kevin Farnsworth
Lakeland, FL 33810
(863) 614-0029
website
Join Date: 07/30/2015

CLEANING - INDUSTRIAL
Orange Industrial Services, Inc.
Mr. Eric Knaak
1420 Chamber Dr.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 519-0831
www.orangeindustrial.com
Join Date: 08/14/2015

HOSPICE
Vitas Healthcare
Ms. Dora Viltre
6850 New Tampa Hwy., Suite 600
Lakeland, FL 33815
(863) 583-7100
www.vitas.com
Join date: 08/13/2015

FINANCIAL PLANNING
The Lem Group, LLC
Mr. Bernardo Rossello
Davenport, FL 33896
(863) 353-7916
www.thelemgroup.com
Join date: 08/21/2015
 
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
Blackmon Roberts Group, Inc.
Ms. Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts
902 S. Florida Ave., Suite 205
Lakeland, FL 33803
www.blackmonroberts.com
Join date: 08/21/2015
 
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER
Chamber Diplomat
Ms. Diane Oesterreicher
Join date: 08/20/2015

FINANCIAL PLANNING,
PERSONAL & CORPORATE
DEVELOPMENT TRAiNING
The Lem Group, LLC
Mr. Bernardo Rossello
Davenport, FL 33896
(561) 308-3460
www.thelemgroup.com
Join date: 08/21/2015

INSURANCE AGENCIES
HealthMarkets
Ms. Janice Basham Wright
2298 Lakeland Hills Blvd.
Lakeland, FL 33805
(863) 853-8000
www.healthmarkets.com/jbasham
 Join date: 08/25/2015

ASSOCIATIONS, CLUBS
& ORGANIZATIONS
Polk Arts Alliance
Ms. Meri Mass
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 804-0494
www.polkarts.org
 Join date: 08/25/2015

FINANCIAL SERVICES
Burks Financial Guide
Ms. Noreen Talbott
5143 S. Lakeland Dr., Suite 4
Lakeland, FL 33813
(863) 940-4755
Join date: 08/28/2015

ATTENTION: SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
POLK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD IS IN NEED OF LOCAL VENDORS!
FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION SESSION AT THE CHAMBER ON
SEPTEMBER 9^TH 7:30a.m.-8:30a.m.
 
Sylvia Blackmon-Roberts, Blackmon Roberts Group, will be at the Chamber to provide free expert advice on how your company can become an approved Polk County School Board  vendor. Don’t pass up this opportunity to “grow your business.” Please take advantage of this free small business resource!
R.S.V.P.  by calling the Chamber (863) 533-7125 or email Barbara,  Barbara@bartowchamber.com.
 

SBDC Is Available At
The Chamber On
October 15th
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at University of South Florida, assists existing and emerging businesses in Polk County, through no-cost confidential business consulting, and low-cost training. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business topics, including: marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization. A consultant will be at the Chamber on October 15, 2015 and available to Chamber Businesses. To schedule an appointment, visit www.bartowchamber.com and follow the links on the home page, or call (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.

Looking for a commercially zoned lot, building for rent or to buy for your business? Please check out this site :

You'll get to create an account for free and check out MLS commercial listings for Bartow.
For a downloadable CRA District map, click here, scroll down and look under IMPORTANT LINKS in the right hand column of the Chamber's website.

$25 per run (up to 35 words), call 533-7125 or email Virginia.

COMMERCIAL RENTAL SPACE perfect for small business client consultation and/or satellite office space in Polk County's county seat. Minutes from the courthouse and county administration buildings. The 40-600 square foot move in ready space is located at 1480 N. Broadway Ave., Suite C in Bartow. Rental rates $450-$650 per month. Interested parties should call (863) 559-3180 or (863) 559-0101.

Click here to read the Summer Business Quarterly Magazine!
















Want to find a retail or service business? Click here.

      A little over a week ago I received a copy of the City of Bartow Parks and Recreation Activity Guide in the mail. Although I have been very involved in the Bartow community since 1980, (when I began my career at Citrus and Chemical Bank), I am a fairly new resident - almost three years now -  and have discovered that there is still a lot to learn about this wonderful place that I now call home.
     For example, I had no idea that our city was home to 14 parks!
     The Activity Guide was a real eye opener of all the programs that happen thanks to the City of Bartow Parks and Recreation Department. From pre-school sports to active older adults, there is definitely something for everyone here.
      The youth sports programs are amazing and are geared toward children of all ages. Both indoor and outdoor sports programs are available, depending upon what your child's interests are. There are basketball clinics, Karate, track, indoor soccer, baseball, football and tennis programs. There are also youth enrichment programs offered as well as summer camps.
      The Carver Recreation Center has many activities geared toward adult fitness and sports. From Zumba to soccer to volleyball, you can find a program there to fit your needs.
      The Active Older Adults programs include the Golden Age Club, Bartow Adult Concert Band, Seniors on the Move and even line dancing!
      The Sam Griner Pool housed at the Bartow Civic Center is a real beauty. There you can have swimming lessons as well as learn other aquatic skills. You can even host a party at the pool - they'll set up a tent, table and chairs; you just provide the food and beverages.
      This is just a small sample of what our wonderful Parks and Recreation Department has to offer. For more information please visit www.cityofbartow.net/programs.
Until next week,
Sharon Casey
Chamber President, 2015

Left to right, Joey Foley, Erica Drop, Barbara Adamson (Chamber) and Kathryn Bevilacqua-Ely.

Business of the Month for September is . . .
The Villages at Laurel Meadows
Here we grow again! 18 more units currently under construction to be available at the end of the year! Stop by today to see our beautiful, newly constructed townhome community and receive a free gift with any showing through September 30th. The Villages at Laurel Meadows is located at 100 Laurel Circle, Bartow, FL 33830. For more information, call 863-533-7414.

We have two very exciting Chamber trips coming up:
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Please join us on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:00 p.m. for the Discover Tuscany travel presentation hosted by the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce. Italian food samples will be provided by Cruise Planners, Ruthelise Anderson. Reservation required.
Call Barbara Adamson, 533-7125, for more information and to secure your seat.

Diversity Luncheon
To Promote Equality
 
To reaffirm its commitment to racial and ethnic equality, the City of Bartow’s Community Relations Committee (CRC) will hold a Diversity Luncheon on September 16, 2015, at noon, at the Bartow Civic Center in conjunction with Bartow’s Multicultural Awareness Month in September.
 
The month is set aside by Bartow’s City Commission to spotlight racial and ethnic equality and justice issues that confront people every day.
 

FORTRESS FITNESS TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER

The Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce presents “FORTRESS Fitness,” a new program to promote family fitness beginning in September at Fort Blount Park.
 
“FORTRESS Fitness is a community-wide outdoor workout program for all fitness levels, all ages, and it’s absolutely free,” said Marie Wilmot, organizer of the new program. Wilmot is a wellness and fitness enthusiast and instructor of Pilates, kickboxing, Zumba and other cardio-fitness programs.
 
“We hope whole families will join us for a variety of unique group workouts led by professional wellness instructors,” Wilmot added. “FORTRESS Fitness is free and open to all ages, instruction is for all levels.”

(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)

SEPTEMBER

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 4:00 p.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES COMMITTEE

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6:00 p.m.
TRAVEL PRESENTATION

Thursday, Sept. 10, 5:15 p.m.
BARTOW FORD FUN THURSDAY
2800 US 98 N., Bartow

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 3:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 4:00 p.m.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 11:45 a.m.
CRC DIVERSITY LUNCHEON
Bartow Civic Center
Tickets, $10, at the Chamber

Thursday, Friday, Sept. 17, 18
LEADERSHIP XVI SECOND YEAR RETREAT
Clearwater

Monday, Sept. 21, 4:00 p.m.
ANNUAL EVENT COMMITTEE

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
WATSON CLINIC HIGHLANDS OPEN HOUSE
& RIBBON-CUTTING
2300 E. County Road 540A, Lakeland Highlands

Thursday, Sept. 24, 4:30 p.m.
HAMILTON ENGINEERING & SURVEYING, INC. RIBBON-CUTTING
& Grand Opening - Barbecue
310 E. Main Street, Suite 4, Bartow

Saturday, Sept. 26, all day, 11:00 a.m. RC
NICKELODEAN DAY OF PLAY AT NYE JORDAN PARK
with Ribbon-cutting for new tennis courts

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 4:00 p.m.
HOMETOWN HEROES COMMITTEE

OCTOBER

Thursday, October 15, all day
FLORIDA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER Representative Available to All Chamber Business Members. Call to schedule an appointment: (863) 678.4182, ext. 227.
 

CRICKETTE CLUB PARADE AND CARNIVAL
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
Sign up today to participate in the Crickette Club Parade. Applications are already online at www.crickettes.org. For more information, contact Jennifer Hall, 533-7193.

 

The Sweet Magnolias Cafe & Gift Shop's official red ribbon ceremony was September 1, and the crowd who attended were treated with sweet treats and/or biscuits and gravy to celebrate. Sweet Magnolia is located at 125 & 139 S. Central Avenue. Call owner, Sandy Mendez for more information. By the way, they DO have ICECREAM!!