The Chamber has been contacted by a member about an e-mail from 'Tom Cruz' offering to do small business websites for free. In a postscript, the sender says he got the e-mail address from the chamber of commerce.

The AIFBY Chamber has no information about the legitimacy of this offer.

The Chamber can assure our members, however, that the sender did not get the e-mail address from the Chamber. The AIFBY Chamber never gives away or sells our e-mail list.

Please contact us at (904) 261-3248 if you have any questions.

The Chamber has received several calls from members saying they have been contacted by PCF Marketing soliciting advertising by saying they are partnering with the AIFBY Chamber. This is not true.

The Chamber has no agreement with this organization, and the Chamber has not endorsed its product. Please contact the chamber at (904) 261-3248 to report if you are contacted

Florida Public Utilities has reviewed and revised its commercial deposit policy. Click here to read FPU'S letter announcing the revised policy.

The Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors thanks the management of Florida Public Utilities for listening to the concerns of its commercial customers in these difficult economic times and revising its commercial deposit policy.

The Chamber Board of Directors also commends everyone in the Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach community -- including our chamber members -- who worked to raise awareness of this issue and who contacted FPU to share their concerns.

Florida Public Utilities on Monday, February 16, 2009 notified its commercial customers it would be reviewing its new deposit policy. Read the letter here.

The Board of Directors of the Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce commends the management of FPU for listening to the concerns of its commercial customers and reviewing this policy.

The Board also thanks the Chamber members and others in the community who contacted FPU asking that the collection of this deposit be halted at this time of economic crisis.

During the 10 days of the review, it is important that FPU management continue to hear our concerns about the deposit policy. The sample letter as well as contact information for FPU remains posted below.

Regina Duncan,

President, AIFBY Chamber of Commerce

Action Alert!

The AIFBY Chamber of Commerce has had a close and valued relationship with Florida Public Utilities since the Chamber's founding.
 
However, FPU recently instituted a new policy that the Chamber's Board of Directors believes is detrimental to the business community. The company has exercised its option under Florida Public Service Commission regulations to require all commercial customers to pay a new deposit equal to two months of their average bill.
 
The Chamber is asking all our members to contact FPU to request the immediate suspension of this policy. Below is a sample letter and contact information.
 
Thank you in advance for coming to the assistance of your fellow Chamber members.
 
Sincerely,
 
Regina Duncan
AIFBY Chamber of Commerce President

 
SAMPLE LETTER

Jack English
President and CEO
Florida Public Utilities
P.O. Box 3395, West Palm Beach, FL 33402-3395
E-mail: jenglish@fpuc.com
 
Dear Mr. English,

Florida Public Utilities has instituted a new policy in Fernandina Beach requiring all its commercial clients -- regardless of their payment history -- to pay a new deposit equal to two months of their average bill.
 
This unexpected expense comes on the heels of two years of rate increases by FPU for electricity and at a time when most of Amelia Island's small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open during the worst economic crisis in decades.
 
Many business owners don't have the money at hand or can't get the credit from the bank to pay this significant charge. That leaves reducing inventory, laying off employees or closing their doors as the only option for many of these business owners.
 
I believe FPU's new policy hurts Amelia Island's economy. I believe it unfairly penalizes those customers who have paid their FPU bills in full and on time. And I believe it may force more businesses to close, putting our friends and neighbors out of work.
 
I ask that FPU immediately suspend collecting these additional deposits in Fernandina Beach.
 
Sincerely,