Letter from the Chairman
Thank you for visiting the Manatee Chamber of Commerce website. The site is divided into four parts:
- Community Information - Relocation, Real Estate, Education, Government, Important Phone Numbers, and More
- Chamber Information - Officers and Board of Directors, Staff Contacts, Benefits of Membership, How to Join, and Programs of the Manatee Chamber
- Preferred Business Directory - Valuable Information on Local Businesses and Organizations
- Business Information - Getting Started in Business, Free Local Job Posting Website, Etc.
I strongly encourage you to "buy locally" when fulfilling your business and personal needs for goods and services. Whenever you contact members, let them know you're contacting them because they are a Chamber member. It's good business and it's good for our community.
The Manatee Chamber is a proud winner of the National Chamber of the Year Award and is the only three-time winner of the Florida Chamber of the Year Award. These accolades are a product of working with our members each year to formulate our Leadership Initiatives. In 2009, these include forming a Healthcare Committee to address issues identified in the 2008 Healthcare Study, and helping our members and our community in challenging economic times through the creation of new initiatives designed to support economic development and our quality of life. We will educate members and the public on the impact of the proposed Amendment #4 and on local efforts to advance "smart growth" practices. We will work with local government officials to identify incentives and implement policies that will encourage redevelopment in the County's and Cities' core areas. In addition to a full and broad ongoing program of work, the Chamber will enhance the elements that contribute to a positive quality of life and work with the Tampa Bay Partnership and Tampa Bay Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) to develop a robust and practical multi-modal transportation network.
Sincerely,
Chris Pennewill
Chairman of the Board