A 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce
December 8, 2020
EVENT RECAP
Chamber honors local businesses at 2020 Business Awards

The Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce hosted their 2020 Business Awards on Thursday before a limited crowd of guests at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and numerous others via live stream.
 
The event, hosted by Vicki Guy and Jason Hurst, honored winners from 12 different categories for their excellence in the Greater Gainesville Community.
 
“2020 has been a year like no other and it is beautiful to see how our business community has not only persevered, but in many cases thrived,” Greater Gainesville Chamber President & CEO Eric Godet said. “Today we recognize not just our finalists and award winners, but some of the incredible businesses and people that have shown what it means to be true leaders and community supporters.”
 
Honorees are as follows:
 
Tech Company of the Year: SharpSpring
Human Life Sciences Company of the Year: Ology Bioservices
New Company of the Year: True North
Small Nonprofit of the Year: The Education Foundation
Large Nonprofit of the Year: Bread of the Mighty Food Bank
Diversity & Inclusion Award: Ology Bioservices
Commitment to the Environment Award: Solar Impact
Large Business of the Year: Scorpio
Small Business of the Year: Student Maid
Leading Women’s Business: Celebrate Primary Care
Employer of the Year: Infotech
Community Involvement Award: Florida Credit Union
 
The Greater Gainesville Chamber congratulates all finalists and winners for the strides they’ve made over the last year and their contributions to the Greater Gainesville region as a whole.
 
The Chamber thanks presenting sponsor VyStar Credit Union, as well as all award sponsors and event partners.
The 2020 Business Awards are presented by VyStar Credit Union.
CONTINUING EVENT
Support Local Business with 31 Days of Shop GNV!
Daily and Monthly Deals from Now until December 23

This year has undoubtedly been difficult for a lot of our community’s businesses, and we want to use this opportunity to ensure that we shop locally this holiday season!

On our site, you’ll find a list of deals and companies that are participating! Each will have a month-long deal to take advantage of, as well as a daily deal which will be available for just one day.

We hope you’ll take advantage of the many offerings our local retailers have made!

Check out our Facebook page daily to see what each day has to offer!

Visit our 31 Days of Shop GNV page for a full list of local shops and deals!
31 Days of Shop GNV is sponsored by and Celebrate Primary Care, Comfort Temp, DL Hulse Consulting, and Lifesouth.
UPCOMING EVENT
Drink GNV at Cypress & Grove December 15th
Tuesday, December 15, 5 - 7 p.m.
Cypress & Grove Brewing Company
1220 SE Veitch Street, Gainesville

Next Tuesday, we are visiting Cypress & Grove Brewing Company for our Season of Drink GNV!

The once neglected building which Cypress & Grove now calls home was once "frozen in time" until it was rediscovered by two couples with a dream- to work together to create delicious beers and inspiring space. With the help and support of their families and friends, this dream led them to a former staple of the Gainesville community, a place of import and historical significance, Gainesville's former ice house. The well that served the past to create ice has been revived to yet again serve the community of Gainesville with Cypress & Grove! A new life grows around that well. Cypress & Grove is two families with a passion for brewing delicious beer and building community.

We invite you to join us for a flight of brews, a pint of your choice, information on the brewery and their brews from a Cypress & Grove representative as well as safe mingling outdoors with community members. Each ticket also includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win fabulous items. Water and snacks provided.
Drink GNV is sponsored by Servpro of Alachua County West.
UPCOMING EVENT
Gainesville Chamber Leadership Book Club
Tuesday, December 15, 8 - 8:45 a.m.

Join us for our next Leadership Book Club Virtual Meeting where we will be discussing the book:

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
by Spencer Johnson
 
The leadership book club creates diversity of thought as you’ll read books you might not have picked. It creates accountability as you have a deadline to read or listen to it. The discussion reinforces the takeaways from each book and how members are implementing them in their lives and workplaces. 
UPCOMING EVENT
Join us for Business Before Hours - Virtual Networking Event
Wednesday, December 16, 8:30 a.m.
 
This is a virtual edition of Business Before Hours is a member event structured the same way as our past in-person events. Attendees will have opportunities to share in small groups who they are, what they do and who would make a good customer or referral for them. Come build lasting business and personal relationships at Business Before Hours.
 
Attendance is limited to 50 pre-registered attendees. Space is Limited and available on a first come, first serve basis. Pre-registration is required. 
MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Welcome New Members!

We are excited to welcome the newest members of the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce.
Please remember to do business with your fellow Chamber members!
 
Together we are Stronger.
Together we are GNV.
 
 
 
 
 
UPCOMING EVENT
Understanding the Needs of Black Businesses
Wednesday, December 16, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Virtual event

What are the needs of black-owned businesses? What are the barriers to their growth? What resources exist in the Greater Gainesville region to help them flourish? Join us virtually on Dec. 16 from 6:30-8 p.m. as we host a conversation to explore these and other questions to gain a better understanding of what is needed to foster the growth of black-owned businesses in the Greater Gainesville region. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Let's Discuss Downtown; A Greater Gainesville Chamber Community Discussion
Thursday, December 10, 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Join the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce and local community leaders in discussing the obstacles to overcome in making Downtown Gainsville a safer, cleaner and more vibrant place for Gainesville residents.
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Innovator Gators! The University of Florida’s Innovation Academy is proud to support, and be featured in, the inaugural Innovate Gainesville book 

The Innovation Academy is honored to be among the 94 innovators featured in the release of the new book Innovate Gainesville. The Innovate Publishing series showcases people, companies, products and services that lead a city’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. This is the second time the program has been featured in one of their publications.
 
In the book, the Innovation Academy’s portfolio highlights the department’s resources, curriculum and benefits we provide to our students. With our Catalyst prototyping sprint, courses teaching 21st century skills, and internship or study abroad focused schedule, students gain a major competitive edge by minoring in Innovation.
 
Innovate Gainesville spreads the missions of Gainesville’s innovation ecosystem and the Innovation Academy across Florida and the globe. This allows the IA program to build connections with other innovators and recruit potential students, while also inspiring students to stay local beyond their graduation from UF.
 
“Bringing together academia, industry and the start-up community is a recipe for meaningful economic growth for Gainesville, the State of Florida, and the world.” – Dr. Jeff Citty, Director of Innovation Academy. 
 
To read more about Innovate Gainesville, please check out their website.
UPCOMING EVENT
The Florida Get Down Holiday Basketball Showcase
Friday - Sunday, January 1 - 3, 2021
St. Francis High School, Gainesville

January 1 - 3, 2020 is the 2nd Annual “Florida Get Down” Basketball Holiday Showcase. This event is an under the umbrella of the non profit organization called Athlete Connections Foundation.
 
The mission is to utilize sports to teach youth life skills. The “Florida Get Down” in collaboration with Athlete Connections Foundation (ACF) is a proven program focused on character development and life skills education. This program is designed to empower young student athletes to reach their highest academic and athletic potential, inspiring personal excellence.
 
The goal of The Florida Get Down Holiday Basketball Showcase is to address the future of the 99% of student athletes who do not go on to play professional sports and ensure they receive meaningful opportunity through higher academic and athletic achievements.
 
By donating gift certificates, door prizes, gift baskets or other valuable items to the event raffle, you will enable the organization to bring awareness and exposure to the event and raise the necessary funds to reach more youth in their pursuit of athletics and academics.
MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Humane Society of North Central Florida hosting virtual Home for the Holidays adoption event
Now - Sunday, December 13
Online event

Every pet deserves a home for the holidays! A warm bed and a loving family can make all the difference to a shelter pet. Please consider adding a new pet to your family this holiday season!

The Humane Society of North Central Florida, Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue and Puppy Hill Farm Animal Rescue in partnership with PetSmart Charities and the Wagmore Foundation are proud to present our 2020 VIRTUAL Home for the Holidays adoption event.

Adoption fees for all pets over 6 months of age will be waived. Adoptable pets are sterilized, vaccinated and microchipped prior to adoption.

Applications must be submitted online in advance. Adoptions will be by appointment only. 
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