A 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce
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UPCOMING EVENT
Crossroads 2: Removing Operational Barriers to Diversity & Inclusion
Wednesday, July 29, 1:00–2:30 p.m.
Online
Join the Greater Gainesville Chamber and Gainesville Black Professionals virtually on July 29th at 1 p.m. for the latest episode of Crossroads: Exploring Intersections in Race and Business.
Our next episode will focus on Removing Operational Barriers to Diversity & Inclusion. Attendees can expect to leave the talk with strategies they can implement to increase opportunities to grow the diversity of their teams. In coming days, we'll announce our speakers, so stay tuned!.
Attendance is free, but
registration
is required. Feel free to share as you like - a flier with registration and comment links is available here.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Join us for Business Before Hours - Virtual Networking Event
Wednesday, July 29, 4:00 p.m.
Online
This is a virtual edition of Business Before Hours is 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.
This event is open to Members Only
.
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Digital Advertising Opportunity
When searching for business, services and an overall feel to an area, people look to the Greater Gainesville Chamber. We are excited to now offer our members a limited number of Digital Advertising opportunities available on our website, newsletter and Chamber lobby display.
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POLICY UPDATE
Make Your Voice Heard
Get to know your candidates
As you know, one key step to ensuring the business voice is heard is to become informed on the issues that matter to our community and to vote. Though the pandemic has necessitated a new way of doing many things, we are committed to helping you make your voice heard. We are conducting Get to Know Your Candidate interviews as we speak, and we will be posting those later this week—look for the links in the eJournal next week, as well as on our website and our social media. Our candidates are anxious for you to get to know them better. Hear what they have to say
here
.
Your vote matters
. Note these important dates for the August 18 primary election:
- Early voting takes place: Monday, August 3 through Saturday, August 15
- Deadline to request a mail-in ballot: Saturday, August 8 by 5:00 p.m.
- Election Day: Tuesday, August 18
- Deadline to return mail-in ballots: Tuesday, August 18 by 7:00 p.m.
For more information about this election, a list of candidates on the ballot and voting procedures—including adjustments due to the pandemic—visit the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections website at
www.votealachua.com
or call the office at 352-374-5252.
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WORKFORCE UPDATES
Become a Work Experience Partner for Youth and Adults
Training Tomorrow’s Workforce Today
At CareerSource North Central Florida, we work every day to ensure our business community has access to trained, vetted talent. A key component to that process is building a pipeline of job seekers ready to take their place in the workforce. That’s why CareerSource North Central Florida provides the Work Experience program to employers in Alachua and Bradford counties.
What is the Work Experience Program?
Each year, over 30 local businesses choose to become a Work Experience worksite. Work Experience provides area employers with access to talented individuals at no cost to the employer. Employers work with a dedicated team to create training plans and work experience opportunities that train job seekers in high-demand fields. The program enables businesses to grow their bottom-line without increasing their overhead and participants to grow their resume experience while earning wages and gaining new skills.
CareerSource NCFL provides:
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Paid and unpaid work experience through community partners
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Employability skills training
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Career and educational guidance
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Support services
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Occupational skills training
A Business-Driven Experience
As one of our 30+ worksite employers, you will have access to a dedicated business services team. Together, we’ll carefully curate, train, and refine top talent prospects to place in your business.
From there, you will receive access to our entire suite of no-cost services and a full-time team of professionals available to support you through the duration of your participation.
You Decide Who to Hire
While you work with our business services team, we’ll work with our career developers to identify job seekers who have been prepped, vetted, and are ready to work. We’ll present you with candidates who you can review and even interview. At the end of the process, you decide who you want to train.
100% of Wages Covered
As an approved Work Experience worksite, you’re in charge. You set the wages and work schedule, and we handle payroll and workers compensation eliminating costly overhead for you (approximately 12 weeks of work per participant depending on hours). Not sure what to pay? Our team can even recommend wages based on current local labor market data.
Safe, Secure, Credible
As an employer working with CareerSource North Central Florida, you will receive our commitment to provide you safe, secure and credible individuals. Upon request, we can provide programs to ensure your business is covered for any liability or risk.
How can I get started?
To learn more about the program or get started as a worksite, contact us today and request an appointment. We will identify your goals, make a plan, and see if your business is eligible to work with one of our youth (ages 16-24) or adult (Welfare Transition Program and SNAP) participants.
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Project YouthBuild Parenting Program
YouthBuild is excited to announce that Project YouthBuild is launching a Parenting Program for young parents and expecting parents ages 16 - 24 who live in Alachua County.
Program sessions and services will be delivered in both online and in-person formats. Any session that takes place in-person will include protocols that ensure small group size, appropriate social distancing, mask wearing and other precautions.
Sessions will be offered in communities throughout Alachua County.
The sessions will cover a wide area of topics including, but not limited to Developmental Milestones, First Aid & CPR, Literacy Development (using PhonoGraphix methodology), Interpersonal Communication, Co-Parenting, Social Support Groups, Nutrition, Financial Literacy, Safe Discipline, and more.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Virtual Workshop Series with Collaboratory for Women Innovators
First session August 17, 6 - 8pm
Online
The Collaboratory for Women Innovators is hosting a new virtual workshop series focused on setting up your business's digital strategy.
Topics covered will include establishing your website, graphic design basics, social media, planning your online strategy, and selling online.
This workshop structure is designed to adapt to participant’s specific needs and interests. Each workshop consists of a preparatory survey, custom resource document, 2-hour introductory session, online community discussion platform, and a follow-up session to address questions related to participants goals and experience. Workshops will be hands-on and participatory, so come ready to make real progress on your goals!
Criteria: female-identifying with concrete project goals. Space is limited so register now! Find out more
here
.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Pinspiration Gainesville
Pinspiration Gainesville is a brand new, Pinterest-inspired DIY Art and Craft Studio + Beer and Wine Bar located in the Newberry Square shopping center in Gainesville. Choose from a wide variety of projects, create a masterpiece, or have some messy fun in the Jackson Pollock-inspired Splatter Room(TM). You bring your creativity, we supply everything else!
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Walmart searching for entrepreneurs
Application open through August 10
The application process for
Walmart’s 7th Annual Open Call
is open now through August 10. We invite entrepreneurs dreaming of landing their shelf-ready, U.S.-manufactured products on Walmart shelves to
apply
for the opportunity to meet with Walmart buyers on October 1 via virtual pitch meetings.
The October 1 Open Call virtual event kicks off Walmart’s celebration of U.S. Manufacturing Month and will include similar programming to previous years. In addition to one-on-one pitch meetings with Walmart buyers, participants will have an opportunity to hear directly from Walmart executives and learn from company leaders during smaller breakout sessions designed to inform, empower and encourage supplier-hopefuls. This year’s attendees could secure deals ranging from a handful of stores in local markets to supplying hundreds, even thousands of stores, Sam’s Clubs and on Walmart.com.
During this year of unprecedented challenges for U.S. businesses, Walmart remains focused on the commitment we announced in January 2013 to help boost job creation and U.S. manufacturing through buying an additional $250 billion in products supporting American jobs by 2023. Open Call is one way in which we continue to invest in this commitment.
For more information about Walmart’s 7th Annual Open Call, please click
here
, and to apply or share the application please visit
here
. Join the conversation via your social channels by using #WalmartOpenCall.
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
One Day Came partners with City of Gainesville on Clarence R. Kelly Community Center & Park
One Day Came Inc is partnering with the City of Gainesville as the General Contractor on the transformative $1.7 million project. They are in the process of soliciting bids from local sub-contractors + vendors throughout the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. Those interested in joining The City of Gainesville and One Day Came Inc to help reshape the Duval Community should contact as soon as possible but no later than July 30, 2020. Please feel to contact:
David Delancy
One Day Came Inc
352-222-9823
813-514-7370
OT Delancy
One Day Came Inc
813-784-3731
Patrick Prieto
One Day Came Inc
813-335-1343
For questions about the project, please contact Peter McNiece, Project Manager, Wild Spaces & Public Places at 352-393-8544 or
[email protected]
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MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT
Helping Cancer Patients in a Time of Crisis
The local not-for-profit Climb for Cancer Foundation is teaming up with GNV Chamber member Sweetwater Branch Inn to provide lodging for cancer patients and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even in this terrible crisis, cancer patients must still obtain treatment. Postponing life-saving chemotherapy and radiation is not an option. For many who are suffering the economic fallout of the pandemic, the cost of getting to treatment and finding affordable lodging can be devastating. The Climb for Cancer Foundation’s Harriet's Helping Hand Program provides such assistance to those who need it.
“With the closure of the two free or more affordable options in town to new families, the Ronald McDonald House and the Hope Lodge, lodging became an urgent need for these families,” Ron Farb, Climb for Cancer Foundation co-founder, said. “We knew we had to find a way to help.”
Farb reached out to local business-owner, Cornelia Holbrook, owner of Sweetwater Branch Inn. Sweetwater Branch Inn is a historic boutique inn located in the heart of Downtown Gainesville. While the tourism industry is being heavily impacted by the current pandemic, Sweetwater continues to remain open and serve the community. They are happy to partner with the Climb for Cancer Foundation to house patients and their families in a comfortable environment while still allowing them to remain socially isolated and comply with CDC regulations.
“The Sweetwater Inn and the Holbrook Family are honored to have been asked to help,” owner Cornelia Holbrook said. “Thank you to the Climb for Cancer organization for including us in the continued effort to extend heartfelt hospitality to families in need. We also want to thank all the health care providers that have worked tirelessly during this pandemic. We are a team, we are strong, we will prevail.”
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