Member News
Florida Chamber of Commerce member press releases/updates.
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Dec- 2023 -6 December
MacDill Air Force Base and TECO Break Ground on a New Power Station
MacDill Air Force Base hosted a groundbreaking ceremony yesterday for a new TECO power station, marking a significant milestone in ensuring energy resilience for both military operations and Tampa Electric customers. Read about it here: MacDill Air Force Base to get new power plant | wtsp.com New power station to be built on MacDill Air Force Base to ensure they keep power in case of emergency (fox13news.com) Key Highlights: Increased Security The new power station…
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5 December
University of Florida ranks among top 25 universities with $1.085 billion in 2022 research expenditures
The University of Florida’s $1.085 billion in research expenditures in fiscal year 2022 placed it 25th among all U.S. universities, up from 27th in 2021, in a new national ranking of R&D spending by the National Science Foundation. UF was 15th among public universities, up from 16th. The rankings are based on NSF’s annual Higher Education Research and Development, or HERD, survey, which compiles research expenditure data from more than 600 higher education institutions in…
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4 December
Fifth Third Bank Named ‘Bank of the Year U.S.’ by The Banker
Fifth Third is proud to announce it has been named “Bank of the Year” for the U.S. 2023 by The Banker. This annual award program recognizes industry-wide excellence within the global banking community. “Congratulations to Fifth Third Bank for outshining the competition to win the Bank of the Year award for the U.S.,” said Joy Macknight, editor of The Banker. “The judges were impressed by Fifth Third’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to serve its customers.…
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4 December
President’s office announces $10.9 million for third round of strategic funding awardees
A program for enhancing access to cancer screenings, a center for advancing cell and gene therapies, an AI-augmented learning platform for mathematics, and a digital humanities lab are among 10 new projects receiving strategic funding at the University of Florida, President Ben Sasse announced today. The funding initiative is designed to advance interdisciplinary scholarship and enhance the student experience. “These exceptional initiatives will not only elevate UF’s standing as a national research leader but also…
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1 December
Leading Voices: Kathy Thomas-Beck, RSM US LLP
We sat down with Florida Chamber Board of Directors Member Kathy Thomas-Beck, Florida Market Leader, Partner, RSM US LLP, to answer three important questions: Q: What is one piece of advice you would share with your peers? A: We must remain committed to securing the future of Florida by uniting resources, collaboration, agility and focusing on important issues that will impact our trajectory. Q: What keeps you up at night? As our clients face an increasingly…
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1 December
Member Spotlight: Busy Bee
Q: What does your business do? A: Convenience stores, travel center and quick serve restaurant operator. Q: What is one thing Floridians may not know about your industry? A: Many operators in our industry are generational family businesses like ours! The fourth generation in our family is coming to work full time this December after graduating from college! Q: What is one opportunity and one challenge your industry is facing? A: Alternative-Fuels and the future…
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1 December
Lastinger Center for Learning: Survey to Help Better Serve Educators and Advocate for Ways to Improve the Education Experience in Florida
The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning was established to “help teachers teach and students learn” and over the last eight weeks has been on a Listening Tour across Florida to collect perspectives from students, parents, teachers, administrators, community partners and policy makers. Collecting information about this broad range of educational experiences will help the Center understand how it can better serve educators, as well as advocate for ways to improve the education experience in…
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Nov- 2023 -30 November
Floridian sentiment increases as perceptions of economic conditions improve
Consumer sentiment among Floridians increased in November to 68.3, up 1.9 points from a revised figure of 66.4 in October. On the contrary, national sentiment decreased over two points. “This marks the second consecutive monthly increase in consumer sentiment, following October’s revised figures. While optimism in November was primarily driven by opinions regarding current economic conditions, expectations about future outlooks, particularly over the next 12 months, also played a significant role. Importantly, these consumer expectations…
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30 November
A 2023 hurricane season success story: Cedar Key’s living shorelines bolster resilient community
Highlights Living shorelines use natural solutions – installed plants and habitat structures – to strengthen beaches against erosion. Three living shorelines projects out of the Cedar Key-based UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station (NCBS) were installed after Hurricane Hermine brought a then-record storm surge to the coastal town in 2016. When that record was topped by Hurricane Idalia in August 2023, the three sites were maturing and largely untested. Measurement tools deployed by the NCBS scientists…
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28 November
Coke Florida Awarded FSMSDC MBE Business Impact Award
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) has been awarded the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) 2023 Doing Well While Doing Good® Humanitarian Award. As part of FSMSDC’s Annual Business Impact Awards, the Doing Well While Doing Good® award recognizes a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) or Corporate Member whose organization is making a difference in the community through civic, philanthropic, and volunteer initiatives. “We are honored to receive this distinguished award for our positive…
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27 November
Coke Florida Receives Coveted Tampa Bay EDC Community Transformer Award
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) is the recipient of the 2023 Community Transformer Award, presented by the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (Tampa Bay EDC). The Tampa Bay EDC partnered with TECO in 2019 to create the Community Transformer Award, which honors an EDC project company that has had an impact on the region above and beyond creating jobs and capital investment. “Receiving this caliber of an award reflects Coke Florida’s commitment to the…
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14 November
Fortune Media and Great Place To Work Name Florida Blue to 2023 Best Workplaces for Women List, Ranking No. 38
Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine have selected Florida Blue, the state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and the leading health insurer in Florida, as one of the 2023 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women™ . This is Florida Blue’s first time being named to this prestigious list, this year coming in at No. 38. Earning a spot means that Florida Blue is one of the best companies to work for in the country. Of…
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14 November
Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign’s Free Digital Library: BookSmart
Have you heard about our Florida Grade-Level Reading Campaign FREE digital library of books called BookSmart? BookSmart is a FREE digital library for children 3-12 years old that houses thousands of books in many languages, including English and Spanish. BookSmart can be viewed as a website or downloaded as an app on any electronic device. It can be used to enhance in and out-of-school home reading, to help parents engage in conversations around books, and…
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13 November
President’s office announces $5.4 million for strategic funding awardees
An AI-enabled digital imaging platform for treating cancer, a software tool for leveraging the capabilities of UF’s HiPerGator supercomputer, an initiative to improve healthcare in Jacksonville and statewide, and a program to enhance funding for the arts are among seven new projects receiving strategic funding at the University of Florida, President Ben Sasse announced today. The funding initiative is designed to advance the student experience and interdisciplinary scholarship. “These proposals will help take UF to…
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10 November
Correct Craft Celebrates “Mr. Ralph Service Day” at Florida United Methodist Children’s Home
Correct Craft, a leader in the marine industry, recently hosted its third annual “Mr. Ralph Service Day” in honor of Ralph Meloon, a member of the Correct Craft founding family. The event is a day for the company to give back to the community, echoing the values and spirit exemplified by Ralph Meloon throughout his life. The event occurred at the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home with nearly 50 volunteers. Ralph Meloon held various roles…
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