CHAMBER CONNECTIONS

April 2017

In this issue: President’s Message

New Members &

Ribbon Cuttings

Ambassador Corner

New Member

Benefit

April Anniversaries

Community Flyers

April Calendar

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce eNewsletter

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce

106 N. Evers Street Plant City, FL 33563 | 813.754.3707 | PlantCity.org

20th Anniversary Cruise-In On April 26, 1997 the first car show was held; 20 years later, it’s still going strong

Looking for events to attract customers and visitors to historic

downtown Plant City, J. Myrle Henry suggested the idea at a

meeting of the Plant City Downtown Business and Merchants

Association. The event was originally known as the Strawberry Car

Show and Cruise and was planned to be held annually.

Through a joint effort by the Plant City Downtown Business and

Merchant Association and the City of Plant City, the car show was

born. The original committee was composed of Henry, City

Commissioner Marsha Passmore, and downtown police officer

Rodger Patton, among others. The Car Show was so successful

that the committee decided to have a monthly show, and after

several months the event was renamed the Strawberry Classic

Cruise-In.

The show was managed by the Plant City Downtown Business and

Merchants Association until January of 2002 when it became an

event of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce. The Cruise-

In is now held on the third Saturday of every month, rain or shine,

and features show cars 25 years and older.

The Plant City Strawberry Classic Cruise-In will celebrate its 20th

Anniversary on April 15th. This great family friendly event features

food vendors, merchants, a live DJ, and of course classic cars. A

typical show attracts anywhere between 400 and 600 show cars,

numbers are expected to swell to well over 800 for the anniversary

show. Be sure to join us for this historic event! More information on

page 9.

THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO THE CHAMBER.

Chair of the Board Yvonne Fry Fryed Egg Productions

Chair Elect Jason Jones Advantage Restoration & Contracting

Immediate Past Chairman Brian West Publix Super Markets, Inc.

Treasurer Edwena Haney Hopewell Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

VC: Membership Division Courtney Paat State Farm Insurance

VC: Community Programs Development Division Clark Smith Suncoast Credit Union

VC: Economic Impact Division Karen Kerr South Florida Baptist Hospital

VC: Community & Governmental Affairs Division Martyn Clay, Ed.D. Hillsborough Community College

Director: Carole Wright Myers & Wright, P.A.

Director: Charles Harris Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Director: Irene Castillo Raulerson Castillo Westlake & Company

Director: Jamey Moody James S. Moody, III

Director: Jim Scott Jarrett-Scott Ford

Director: Ken Gibbs Jack T. Gibbs, Realtors

Director: Matt Buzza Platinum Bank

Director: Paul Hackney Sunshine Bank

Director: Susan Sullivan Plant City High School

Director: Tom Pollock Platinum Bank

Director: William Thomas, Jr. Improvement League of Plant City, Inc.

2017 Trustees THANK YOU TO OUR TRUSTEES FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE CHAMBER AND TO OUR COMMUNITY.

Board of Directors

“BUSINESS BUILDING A BETTER COMMUNITY” IS MORE THAN A SLOGAN— IT’S A PROMISE.

President’s Message

Chamber Members:

Thank you to each of you who volunteered your

time at our Chamber booth for the Florida Strawberry Festival. With over

55 volunteers we were able to really make an impression at the Festival.

We couldn’t have done it without your help - thank you very much! Our

2017 shirts are still available for purchase in the Chamber lobby if you

missed us at the booth, the design incorporates the Chamber logo and all

of things that make Plant City our hometown.

We’re just over a month away from our annual Re-

verse Raffle! Be sure to take a look at the flyer, included in this newsletter

on page 13. This is the one time that you don’t want your ticket called

because the last person standing wins $1,500! Only 100 tickets will be sold (and they’re going

quick!) so be sure to reserve your spot soon, tickets can be purchased directly from the Chamber

and are $50. We’ll be out at 1916 Irish Pub this year and the theme is Kentucky Derby - don’t for-

get to wear your best derby day attire! Your ticket includes entrance into the Pub, access to the

silent auction, two drink tickets, and heavy Hors d’oeuvres.

With the start of April, also comes the start of construction on the new Tour-

ist Information Center which will be located inside of the existing Chamber office. The current Tour-

ist Information Center building will become a fire station to serve the north side of the city. The new

space will be a modern, inviting place where visitors can learn about all that our community has to

offer. We’re hoping to have the renovations done by May so be sure to stop by next month and

check it out!

Make it a great April! Christine

Chamber Staff: Christine Miller, President

Samantha Bryant, Event Coordinator

Lydia Smith-Eugene, Office Coordinator

Laura Leslie, TIC/ Vendor Coordinator

Norm Nelson, Membership Director

Bree Wilson, Communications Coordinator

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS

New Members

U.S. Army Recruiting February 27, 2017

210 W. Alexander Street Suite 209

Plant City, FL 33563 (813) 935-5657 [Communities]

The Law Office of Makar, P.A. February 28, 2017

103 E. Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd Plant City, FL 33563

(813) 756-6600 http://www.themakarlawfirm.com/

[Legal Services]

Global Green Footprint March 9, 2017

110 W. Reynolds Street Plant City, FL 33563

(813) 927-8822 http://www.globalgreenfootprint.com/

Aflac Insurance March 9, 2017

Plant City, FL 33564 (631) 871-8173

Complete Development, Inc. March 10, 2017

14338 N US Highway 301 Thonotosassa, FL 33592

(813) 986-2901 [Excavation / Site Development

Land Clearing & Tractor Services]

Axiom Bank March 10, 2017

258 Southhall Lane Suite 400

Maitland, FL 32751 (888) 425-4882

https://www.axiombanking.com/ [Financial Institutions]

Ribbon Cuttings are an excellent way to showcase your business and generate

publicity; they’re posted on our Facebook page, in the Plant City Observer, and

in our monthly newsletter Chamber Connections. If you haven’t had a ribbon

cutting, or have recently remodeled or moved, call us to schedule a ribbon

cutting for your business today!

Dark Horse Music Store The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce held a

ribbon cutting on Friday, March 31st for Dark Horse Music Store at their new location, 108 NE Drane Street Plant City, FL. Dark Horse Music Store takes an exciting, encouraging, yet challenging, approach to music education because they believe that everyone has the ability to learn and to love an instrument. They offer music lessons for ages 5-99, gear, repairs, studio recording, and rentals.

Ribbon Cuttings

Upcoming Ribbon Cuttings:

Wednesday, April 19th: Axiom Banking

OUR CHAMBER AMBASSADORS ARE SECOND TO NONE

Ambassador Corner

Congratulations to Team Two, Chamber Ambassador Team of the Month!

Alice Bullard, Kayla Drawdy, Kathy Vircik, Charlie Wells, Lea Sacco, & Taylor Clark

Congratulations to Jason Jones,

Chamber Ambassador of the month

NOTARY SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL PLANT CITY CHAMBER MEMBERS

New Member Benefit

APRIL CHAMBER MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

Member Anniversaries

30+ Years

Maryland Fried Chicken

Poppell Insurance, Inc.

Mosaic - Plant City Facility

Case Contracting Company

Florida Strawberry Growers Association

20+ Years

Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union

10+ Years

Comfort Inn Plant City

International Softball Federation

Burris Refrigerated Logistics

Dykstra Construction

WW Pallet, Inc.

Hawthorne Health & Rehabilitation

Westcoast Enterprises

Sedita Kilton Life & Wealth

Management, LLC

Now Care Walk-In Clinic

Toufayan Bakery of Plant City, Inc.

Potomac Land Company

Gaffney Eye Clinic

Panera Bread

5+ Years

Dairy Queen

Stone Ledge Manor

All A Bloom Florist

Dental Associates of Plant City, PLLC

Business Archives Tampa

Hillsborough County Economic

Development - Small Business

Information Center

Turkey Creek Animal Hospital

1-4 Years

Children's Board of Hillsborough County

Cruise Planners

LeAnne's Old Fashioned Cookies

Walton Development & Management /

Southeast USA

Florry Creative Care Corp.

Solaris Healthcare

PTR Baler & Compactor

Cell Phone Supply Warehouse

Serenity Day Spa

APRIL EVENTS, CONTESTS, EXPOS, AND ALL THINGS PLANT CITY

Community Event Flyers

APRIL EVENTS, CONTESTS, EXPOS, AND ALL THINGS PLANT CITY

Community Event Flyers

APRIL EVENTS, CONTESTS, EXPOS, AND ALL THINGS PLANT CITY

Community Event Flyers

APRIL EVENTS, CONTESTS, EXPOS, AND ALL THINGS PLANT CITY

Community Event Flyers

APRIL EVENTS, CONTESTS, EXPOS, AND ALL THINGS PLANT CITY

Community Event Flyers

APRIL EVENTS, CONTESTS, EXPOS, AND ALL THINGS PLANT CITY

Community Event Flyers

INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP, GET INVOLVED

Involvement Opportunities

On April 18, the Plant City High School Business Advisory Board will host its second annual Future Fair at HCC's Trinkle Center. The event brings together 500 graduating seniors and exposes them to the great opportunities available right here in Plant City.

Interested in participating? Click here to find

out more.

INCREASE THE VALUE OF YOUR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP, GET INVOLVED

Involvement Opportunities

APRIL EVENTS, CONTESTS, EXPOS, AND ALL THINGS PLANT CITY

April Calendar

106 North Evers Street Plant City, FL 33563

(813) 754-3707

PlantCity.org

Click to open printable version