A 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce |
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Can you believe this is the last eJournal of April?? That means the year is almost halfway over! And THAT means it is practically Christmas already!! We haven't even STARTED shopping yet!
Okay...okay, deep breaths...backing away from the existential crisis and focusing on the here and now:
Here, now, is the latest from the Chamber!
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Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel yet? If you have- THANK YOU, you are officially 100% cooler! If you haven't- you're still super cool, but you could upgrade your coolness by a factor of, oh, say, 100! Subscribe and report back your findings. In the meantime,
check out this video!
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UPCOMING EVENT
Sweetwater Branch Inn
Ribbon Cutting
Thursday, April 27th
4:00pm - 6:00pm
625 E. University Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32601
Join us as we celebrate Sweetwater Branch Inn's 30th Anniversary!!!
Sweetwater Branch Inn Lodging & Events provides boutique accommodations in historic Gainesville, two event spaces including Gainesville’s most iconic wedding venue, the McKenzie Hall, and delicious catering with stellar service. As a home away from home, Sweetwater Branch Inn allows guests and the community to experience a glimpse of Gainesville’s past, historic buildings with modern amenities, and true Southern hospitality.
There will be tours, drinks, hors d'oeuvres, music, vendors, activities, and more!
The ribbon cutting ceremony will commence at 4:30pm.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Scuola Pizza
Ribbon Cutting
Tuesday, May 2nd
5:00pm - 7:00pm
5240 NW 34th Blvd.
Gainesville, FL 32605
Join us as we celebrate with Scuola Pizza's 2nd Anniversary!!!
Scuola Pizza is a family owned restaurant where their menu of Greek and Italian inspired dishes come from their Greek heritage and several decades in the restaurant business. When the Sinis family, with over 40 years of restaurant experience, moved to Gainesville from Greece, they wanted to open a restaurant where the ambiance was as unique as their signature dishes. The name Scuola ( School in Italian ) and decor of Orthodox Saints and a variety of books come from their Greek Orthodox faith and background as teachers.
There will be (delicious) food and drinks served; the ribbon cutting ceremony will commence at 6:00pm.
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UPCOMING EVENT
Business Before Hours:
HarborChase
Tuesday, May 16th
8:30am - 10:00am
1415 Fort Clarke Blvd
Gainesville, FL 3206
Join us for Business Before Hours, a structured yet relaxed environment for making effective connections within the Chamber business community. Participation in Business Before Hours is included in your Chamber Membership. You may find a strong referral source, a new vendor, the perfect client or simply get a foot in the door for connecting at larger events. Come build lasting business and personal relationships at Business Before Hours.
Participation is limited to 50 attendees.
If you register to attend then find out you will not be able to attend, email us so we may free up your seat for another Chamber member.
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UPCOMING EVENT
GGYP: Coffee & Conversations
Wednesday, April 26th
8:30am - 10:00am
Swamp Boil
2001 NW 13th St
Gainesville, FL, 32609
Join the Greater Gainesville Young Professionals for Coffee & Conversation!
Coffee & Conversation gives you the opportunity to sit with other young professionals and discuss challenges and successes that you are experiencing in your career. Our members are many different ages (but all young professionals, of course), work in many different industries, have different levels of education & experience and some are entrepreneurs and business owners. No matter who you have the pleasure of chatting with, you're sure to learn something new!
This event is only for members of the community that are between the ages of 21-39.
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Join us on June 2nd for the Annual DRINK GNV Brewery Tour Presented by: ServPro of Gainesville Alachua County West
Guests will meet at Swamp Head Brewing Company at 2:45pm (Parking available). We'll visit all four local brewers including Blackadder, Cypress & Grove, First Magnitude, and Swamp Head. Each guest will receive a seat on the coach bus, a commemorative pint glass, a swag bag, food and beverage (BEER!) at each location and a chance to win prizes.
Space is limited and this event sells out every year so take advantage of the Early Bird pricing available now through April 30th.
For more information and to reserve your seat on the bus:
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Now Accepting Diplomat Applications!
Are you interested in becoming more involved with the Greater Gainesville Chamber? The Chamber Diplomat Committee is now accepting applications for new Diplomats. Chamber Diplomats are a group of representatives from member businesses who volunteer as an active extension of the Greater Gainesville Chamber of Commerce staff.
Their mission is to cultivate, promote and maintain a positive relationship between the Chamber, our members and the community. Chamber Diplomats meet monthly to discuss Chamber updates and volunteer to attend Chamber events to connect, refer, and help ensure every member of the Chamber is getting the assistance they need. Participation in the Chamber Diplomat Committee is open to anyone who has been a Chamber Member for at least one year and is a Member in good standing. To get started with your application, click here.
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Showcase Your Business:
Host a Chamber Event in 2023!
Calling all businesses: hosting a Chamber Business Before Hours or a Business After Hours Event is a great way to build exposure for your company!
These popular series of networking events draw attention from the professional community and are an excellent opportunity to showcase your business to entrepreneurs and customers from across our community. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to give your business more exposure and to become a familiar face in our community!
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The 2023 Opportunities Book is now available! Take a look and see where you'd like to get involved this year. Partnership opportunities range from joining the Circle of Champions to hosting a Business Before Hours at your location and everything in between! |
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UF Professional and Workforce Development is hosting an Apprenticeship Accelerator at the UF TREEO Center next Thursday (April 27) from 2PM-4PM. |
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Families Invited To Schools For Annual Kindergarten Roundup
Incoming kindergarten students and their families are invited to the annual Kindergarten Round-Up to become acquainted with the school they’ll be attending in the fall. All elementary schools that serve kindergarten students will be opening their doors Wednesday, April 26 at 2 p.m. Children and their parents/guardians will have a chance to talk to teachers and staff, tour the campus and learn more about their school.
The first day for students in the 2023-24 school year will be Thursday, August 10. Under Florida law, children must be five years old on or before September 1 to enroll in kindergarten.
Parents can begin the online registration process for their incoming kindergarten students and any student who will be new to the district on April 26 by going to www.sbac.edu/enrollment. Before school starts, preferably well in advance, they will also need to provide to their child’s zoned school several required documents,
including a birth certificate, proof of a physical exam performed sometime within the last year, immunization records, and two proofs of residence in the parent’s name. Examples of a proof of residence include a lease agreement, a property tax statement, a utility bill or other documents.
Schools are open during the summer months to help families with enrollment.
Families who aren’t sure what school their child will be attending can visit www.sbac.edu/enrollment or call the district’s Office of Student Assignment at (352) 955-7700.
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Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts for the new attendance initiative, Gainesville Loves The Gators: Stay In The Game. This initiative is designed in collaboration with Alachua County Public Schools and the University Athletic Association to instill a sense of belonging and pride in our elementary school students while targeting the issue of chronic absenteeism. We will be sharing more about the program and partnership opportunities in the very near future.
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Gainesville Brewery First Magnitude Goes Global
First Magnitude's American Pale Ale 72 is going global and is being exported all the way to Sweden!
The Gainesville-based brewery team put their heads together with Crafted Exports out of New York to export its beer for the first time last month. The Swedish government controls the sale of alcoholic beverages through an entity known as Systembolaget. They put out a call for American Pale Ales and First Magnitude sent them a sample of 72. They liked what they tasted, and agreed to purchase 1600 cases!
First Magnitude has been a Chamber member and longtime community partner of startGNV; we are so excited to celebrate their continued success.
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BioFlorida's 2023 Celebration of Biotechnology at Momentum Labs
This past Thursday, members of our Economic Development team at the chamber attended BioFlorida’s 2023 Celebration of Biotechnology at Momentum Labs in Alachua, Florida in the Progress District.
BioFlorida represents the 8,600 organizations that make up Florida’s life science industry, including BioPharma, MedTech, Digital Health and Health Systems.
This event welcomed over 500 industry professionals in our region in recognition of the local presence of startups and companies in the life sciences sector. Our team made connections with the event sponsors and their talented team members, which included Momentum Labs, Concept Companies, Cyclo Therapeutics, Fisher Scientific, Lacerta Therapeutics, Santa Fe College for Emerging Technologies, City of Alachua, and many more!
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The City of Gainesville’s Wild Spaces & Public Places program and the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department are excited to share the fiscal year 2022 annual report with the community.
It's a snapshot of the city's expenditures along with highlights of a few of the transformative projects underway during the past fiscal year. It also includes a breakdown of the distribution of the Wild Spaces & Public Places tax dollars.
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The Amazing Give Raises More Than $1.4M in 12 Hours
North Central Florida residents showed once again why they are one of the most philanthropic communities through their participation in The Amazing Give. The Community Foundation of North Central Florida is pleased to announce the eighth giving day raised more than $1,400,000 bringing the total raised through the Amazing Give in seven years to $8,500,000.
The Amazing Give took place from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 20. The funds raised supported 127 nonprofits throughout North Central Florida with causes ranging from mental wellness, animal welfare, arts and culture and education, to the environment, human services, veterans, and youth.
Fueled by the power of social media, The Amazing Give unites nonprofits in a call to action to raise critical funds they need to make our community a better place to live, work, play and serve. This year, every single participating nonprofit received at least one donation, an official noted. The Einstein School raised the most money and received the most individual donations. The other top organizations in terms of total funds raised include The Education Foundation of Alachua County, Operation Catnip, Hands to Love and Alachua Conservation Trust.
Local businesses Bosshardt Realty and CAMPUS USA Credit Union increased their impact by matching employee gifts throughout the day. The event sponsors, Cade Family Fund, Avera and Smith, CAMPUS USA Credit Union, and The Wagmore Foundation also assisted with advertising and multiple prizes awarded.
“North Central Florida is a community that cares. We were reminded once again of the incredible generosity in our community,” said Barzella Papa, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of North Central Florida. “For the past eight years, North Central Florida residents and local businesses have not only raised millions of dollars to support the critical causes and needs of our community, but have demonstrated how the power of a shared commitment of giving can transform our region."
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Mother's Day Art Market at The Artisans' Guild Gallery
The Artisans" Guild Gallery presents a Mother's Day "Muffins & Mimosas" Art Market. Featuring local artists showing in our shaded backyard along with antiques on our covered porch. Homemade muffins and delicious mimosas will be served to our guests. Live music by: 11am Chapter 3 1pm Eric Diamond and special guest, Dexter Winklemeyer of the Canadian group, Bliss Monkeys. Join us, meet the artists, listen to music and enjoy your Mother's Day with us.
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The Collier Companies will be hosting a career fair at the home office, located at 220 North Main Street in Gainesville, on Wednesday, May 3rd. This is a great opportunity for students to have one-on-one, face-to-face time with hiring managers and contingent offers will be made on-site.
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We Are Here Exhibit at Matheson History Museum
On May 19th, the Matheson History Museum, together with Language Access Florida, Rural Women's Health Project, and GINI will be hosting an exhibit focusing on language access and its necessity for immigrant inclusion.
"Immigrant inclusion requires us to think about languages other than English, and to listen to the stories that people carry through their languages and their cultures. We are Here highlights stories from 60+ people who speak multiple languages in North Central Florida. Through visual collages that centralize cultural images, We Are Here illustrates the immigration journeys of our North Central Florida community through stories that hold power in multiple languages. These stories include examples of successes, struggles, hopes, injustices, and dreams of a more inclusive and just community. The goal is to showcase these stories, make visible the language diversity present in our community, and advocate for all of our neighbors’ right to access information in their preferred languages."
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Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation Hosts Caturday, whoops, Saturday Tours
Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation, located at 8528 E. County Road 225, Gainesville, FL, is a non-profit conservation that specializes in rescuing exotic animals while serving as an education center. Make plans TODAY to book a walking tour, a riding tour, or even a private tour for your organization and know that any and all contributions go directly to the care and wellbeing of more than 100 animals, representing 30 endangered species!
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Did you know that as a member you can post your open job listings on our website?
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