PRESIDENT'S CORNER: BEDC PRESIDENT
 Bartow's Point Person for Economic Development is Rob Clancey.
Since Rob came on board, a lot of events have been happening in Bartow, including the Stuart Building sale, and other actions (confidential for now) taking place that will improve the economic well being of our City.
How did we get Rob? It all began in September, 2011, when initial meetings were conducted involving the leaders of the Bartow business community – namely, the members of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 and City of Bartow officials – who created a partnership to evaluate the current economic development status in Bartow, and develop a proactive plan to improve the local business climate. This plan was meant to support the City of Bartow’s recently completed Strategic Plan.
From those initial meetings, five areas were selected as opportunities from which to advance an Economic Development Initiative. Steering committees were selected and directed to meet on each subject area. These meetings took place from September 28 through December 14, 2011.
One of the directives coming out of those meetings was that Bartow needed to appoint a person in charge to steer its economic development effort; and when Rob Clancey retired as Director of Polk State College's Advanced Technology Center, he was the logical choice.
Want to learn more about how the BEDC came to be? Check out the BEDC website here. Until next week, sincerely,
CLINT EDWARDS
MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES
30 YEARS
Main Street Bartow, Inc.
10 YEARS
Sunshine Bank
5 YEARS
Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center
The Rohr Home
NEW SERIES: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY II
MEMBER PERK FOR YOU OR YOUR EMPLOYEES:
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
ALL NEW PROGRAM, NEW CLASSES FOR 2017. More . . .
JOIN ENGAGE & GET A COOL CUP!
SUPPORT OUR NEWSLETTER SPONSORS!
CHAMBER QUARTERLY HAS 40K READERSHIP
 Reserve your space now in the Summer Chamber Quarterly Magazine and hand your business card out to more than 40,000 readers for only $85 per issue. Call Barbara Adamson at 863-533-7125 for more information.
NOMINATE SOMEONE AS EMERGING LEADER
Polk Emerging Leaders Awards
Tuesday, August 15, 2017, 6:00 PM
Bartow Civic Center
2250 Floral Ave, Bartow, FL 33830
NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY!
The annual Polk Emerging Leaders Awards will once again be a collaborative event of the three young professional groups in Polk County. Continuing a new era of collaboration and blurring the east/west dividing line, the awards have been established to annually recognize five young professionals between 21- 42 who have made significant contributions and commitment to the Polk County community.
Nominations are now open for 2017!
To nominate an individual for the Polk Emerging Leader Awards, simply fill out the form at this link.
http://www.winterhavenchamber.com/polk-emerging-leaders-awa…
Applications must be returned to pelaApplication@gmail.com or dropped off at 401 Ave B NW, Winter Haven by close of business June 15, 2017.
|
MAY BUSINESS: PIANO ALLEY
Left to right: Piano Alley owner, Richard Lane and Chamber Membership Services Director Barbara Adamson
May Business of the Month
________________________________________
Piano Alley
2810 S. Florida Ave., Suite A, Lakeland, FL 33803
(863) 583-4320, Fax: (863) 583-4590
email: lakelandpianos@gmail.com
website: www.lakelandpiano.com
EXCLUSIVE AUTHORIZED KAWAI DEALER
You are invited to visit the new showroom featuring a full line of KAWAI products. From Keyboards to Concert Grands, including all the new Digital Pianos. Piano Alley offers other new and pre-owned instruments as well. Trade-ins welcome.
Piano tuning, repair, and moving services available; also, in-house digital piano and organ service. Private and group instructions with a certified teaching staff for all levels of accomplishment are offered for your convenience.
WANT TO FIND OUT HOW TO BECOME
THE BUSINESS OF THE MONTH?
Contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Services,
863-533-7125 or email
barbara@bartowchamber.com
A-C-T FUN THURSDAY KICKS OFF 30TH YEAR!
ROB KINCART welcomes everyone to the MAY Fun Thursday last week at A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure as he kicks off the company's 30th Anniversary year. A large crowd was on hand to help A-C-T celebrate.
 MORE PHOTOS HERE.
DON'T MISS FORTRESS FITNESS FOR JUNE!
 This is a great time of exercise for the whole family! Marie Wilmot, local fitness guru, has designed a program for the Chamber to help the community get fit! Find out what types of exercise suit your needs by coming out to Fort Blount Park on the second Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. You can experience a different kind of exercise in each class. It's a blast!
CHAMBER EVENTS
(All meetings are in the Chamber Boardroom unless otherwise noted.)
Tuesday, May 16, 11:30 a.m.
BARTOW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL MEETING
Polk State College Clear Springs Advanced Technology Center
Tuesday, May 16, 3:45 p.m.
CHAMBER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Tuesday, May 16, 4:00 p.m.
CHAMBER BOARD MEETING
Friday, May 19, 6:00 p.m.
FRIDAY FEST
Downtown Bartow
Tuesday, May 23, 7:00 a.m.
SOARING EAGLE AWARDS BREAKFAST
Honoring Ernest Cooper
Bartow Civic Center
Wednesday, May 24, noon
YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC LUNCHEON
Bartow Civic Center
Thursday, May 25, 2:30 p.m.
The BREADBOARD RIBBON-CUTTING
1037 North Broadway Ave., Bartow
May 24-29, 2017
YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC
featuring Women's Tourney, Men's Classic & Lots of Fun Activities
Bartow Golf Course
JUNE
Wednesday, June 7, noon
AMBASSADORS / DELEGATES LUNCHEON
The BREADBOARD
Monday, June 12, 9:30 a.m.
MARCOS PIZZA RIBBON-CUTTING
1775 N. Broadway Ave.
Thursday, June 15, 5:00 p.m.
HARMONY HAVEN FUN THURSDAY
"Summer Nights!" Where Rustic Meets Elegance
6320 US 98, Bartow 33830
Friday, June 16, noon
ENGAGE LUNCH & LEARN: SOCIAL MEDIA
More info later.
SEE OTHER COMMUNITY EVENTS LISTED ON YOUR CHAMBER WEBSITE HERE.
HELLO BARTOW! MEMBERS PARTICIPATE FOR FREE
ROI ALERT TO ALL MEMBERS!
We've established a new perk to your membership. Now, as a member of the Greater Bartow Chamber of Commerce, you may include a promotional item for your business in the HELLO BARTOW! welcome baskets for new residents. PARTICIPATION IS FREE OF CHARGE! If you are interested, contact Barbara Adamson, Membership Director, (863) 533-7125, or reply to this email.
YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC
54th Annual Youth Villa Classic
May 26-29, 2017
Call Chris Banks at (863) 533-9183 for more information on any
Youth Villa Classic Tournament.
Headquarters: Bartow Golf Course
THE FLORIDA SHERIFFS YOUTH VILLA CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT
is an event to benefit the FLORIDA SHERIFFS YOUTH VILLA IN BARTOW
Preventing Delinquency Since 1957®
Call (800) 765-3797 for
more information on any
Youth Villa Classic activity.
S C H E D U L E O F E V E N T S
May 23-29, 2017
Since 1963
An event to benefit the Florida Sheriffs Youth Villa
Florida Sheriffs Youth Villa Classic Golf Tournament
May 27-29, 2017
Bartow Golf Course
Sponsor, Contributor and Patron Golf Scramble
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Bartow Golf Course
Sponsor, Contributor and Patron Reception
Tuesday, May 23, 2017 – 5:30 p.m.
Bartow Golf Course
Community Civic Luncheon
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Bartow Civic Center
Women’s Team Championship
May 24, 2017
Bartow Golf Course
Sponsor, Contributor, Patron and Golfer Kickoff
Low Country Boil
Friday, May 26, 2017 – 6:30 p.m.
Bartow Golf Course
Call (800) 765-3797 for more information on any Youth Villa Classic activity.
MEMBER MICRONEWS
CALL TO ACTION FROM POLK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
On behalf of our Superintendent Jacqueline Byrd and Government Affairs Director Wendy Dodge,who are seeking the support of Bartow Chamber members to contact Governor Rick Scott and ask him to veto the education bill. An editorial in Friday’s The Ledger outlined the School Board's position and the impact the education bill will have on public education ( http://www.theledger.com/opinion/20170512/editorial-one-of-greatest-education-bills-grates-locally). Should any Chamber members need additional information, please have them contact Ms. Dodge at 534-0658 or wendy.dodge@polk-fl.net. #protectpolkschools
BOY SCOUTS TO HONOR ERNIE COOPER
You are cordially invited to the Annual Soaring Eagle Friends of Scouting Breakfast benefiting the local Boy Scout program
Please join them in honoring community leader 2017 Soaring Eagle Recipient, Mr. Ernie Cooper for his years of service to our community and to the Scouting program
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017
Bartow Civic Center
2250 S Floral Ave., Bartow, FL 33830
6:45AM Doors Open, 7:00 PM Breakfast
Please RSVP by May 19th, 2017 by email hector.centeno@live.com or by phone 863-449-7294 (Hector Centeno)
NEW MEMBERS
Financial Planning
CPS Investment Advisors
Rick Bernard
205 E. Orange Street
Lakeland, FL 33801
(863) 688-1725
Visit Website here.
Retail Stores
Queens Fashions and Gifts
Ms. Jennifer Camp
320 E. Summerlin Street
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 245-7163
Restaurants
Marco’s Pizza
Ms. Kelly Popp
1775 N. Broadway Ave.
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 457-4900
Restaurants
The BREADBOARD
Mr. Paul Diakomihalis
1037 North Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 800-3284
Restaurants
NiNi’s Landings
Ms. Sandy Joyner
5995 Airport Blvd./Bartow Municipal Airport
Bartow, FL 33830
(863) 875-5789
|
