The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours has traditionally been a very popular and well attended function over the years. Business After Hours provides an outstanding evening of fun, food, and networking between Chamber members. With a chance to make new friends, and meet potential new customers, hosting a Business After Hours is a unique opportunity to showcase your business. This is a great chance to introduce particular products and/or services to fellow Chamber members. The average attendance is 120-150 guests. 

If you are a local business owner and interested in signing up to host a Business After Hours event, click below to download a copy of the Business After Hours Agreement. For more information about Business After Hours, call (904) 261-3248 or email info@nassaucountyflchamber.com. 

Do you have an incredible staff and wish there was a way to show them how much you appreciate their hard work? 

Host a luncheon, holiday party or corporate meeting at the Golf Club of Amelia Island. They are now offering special pricing for local businesses in Nassau County. Make sure to take advantage of this offer while it lasts! 

For more information, contact Katrina Moughton at (904) 277-0021 or email events@golfclubofamelia.com. 

The 2019 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. This sales tax holiday begins Friday, August 2, 2019, and runs through Tuesday, August 6, 2019. 

During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items will be exempt from tax including: certain school supplies selling for $15 or less per item; and clothing, footwear, and certain accessories selling for $60 or less per item; and computers and certain accessories selling for $1,000 or less per item, when purchased for noncommercial or personal use. 

For more information and a list of qualifying items, please review the Department of Revenue's Tax Information Publication (TIP) below. 

The northbound I-95 ramp to State Road (S.R.) 200, exit 373, will be detoured Monday night, June 24 from midnight to 5 a.m., weather and schedule permitting. The detour is necessary for crews to install an overhead sign structure. Once the structure is installed the ramp will reopen. Drivers will be detoured north on I-95 to U.S. 17, exit 380, and travel south to reconnect with State Road 200. A map of the detour is attached for convenience.

The S.R. 200 improvement project in Yulee consists of the reconstruction and widening of 2.2 miles of S.R. 200/A1A from west of I-95 to west of Still Quarters Road, widening of ramps at Interstate 95/A1A exit 373 (to Yulee/Callahan/Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach), and the reconfiguration of the interchange under I-95 into a diverging diamond interchange (DDI).

The widening project will increase the roadway from four lanes to six lanes and includes raised medians, bicycle lanes, curb and gutter, sidewalks and high mast lighting.
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J.B. Coxwell Contracting, Inc. of Jacksonville is constructing the $40 million project. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2020, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting.

A diverging diamond interchange (DDI) is a type of interchange where the two directions of traffic below I-95 briefly drive on the opposite side of the road. The configuration will promote safety, due to the elimination of dedicated left turn traffic signal cycles. Additionally, the DDI configuration promotes efficiency with only two clearance intervals (the time for traffic signals to change from green to yellow to red) instead of the six or more found in other interchange designs.

For more information about the DDI and to watch a video of how it will work for this project, visit www.nflroads.com/DDI. 

There are two things every business should always have on hand: a complete and updated emergency response plan and a stocked emergency supply kit.

A disaster of any size could have a large impact on your business. Natural disasters like hurricanes can mean your business closing for a period of time and impacts to electricity, internet service, damage to your business and inventory, insurance changes and more.
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Taking the steps to build a business disaster continuity plan, as well as encouraging your employees to create a family emergency plan, can reduce the financial and physical impact on your business. It is important to consider how a disaster could affect your employees, customers and workplace.

Step 1: Put together a business plan by answering these questions:

1. How will you and your employees receive emergency alerts and warnings? What happens if you lose cell phone or internet service?
2. What is the shelter plan for employees?
3. What is the evacuation route for employees?
4. What is your business communication plan? Do your employees have this information available (even if they lose cell phone or internet service)?
5. Is your insurance information up-to-date, and do you have recent photographs of your business and its contents?
6. Have you budgeted for emergency supplies, down time, or disaster recovery needs?

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Step 2:  Consider specific needs of your business:

1. Would flooding impact your business? If so, do you have a plan to keep important documents, inventory and technology safe from floodwaters?
2. Do you need employees to remain during an evacuation to secure your business? If so, is there a plan in place for this?
3. If you lose electricity, do you have a plan for generator backup?
4. How would you manage your business if nearby streets are closed?
5. How would you continue to work if you were without cell phone or internet service for days or even weeks?

Step 3: Create an emergency plan and share with your employees

1. Make sure the plan is available even if cell phone or internet service is down.
2. Contact your local SBDC to get additional business preparedness assistance or to help you create an emergency plan.
3. Update your plan quarterly and make sure all new employees understand the plan.

 

• Register Your Business
• Disaster Planning Toolkit
• Business Resources
• Re-entry Procedures

Meridian Waste, an integrated, non-hazardous solid waste services company, was awarded its first Florida residential solid waste services contract by the Town of Callahan at last night’s Town Council meeting.  After a lengthy discussion regarding service options, current service quality and cost-effective options for the citizens, Meridian Waste’s proposal was selected in favor of the incumbent’s proposal. Starting October 1, Meridian Waste will be providing once a week garbage collection utilizing a 95-gallon cart and every other week recycling collection.  Yard waste and bulk waste collection services are still under consideration of staff and Council.  The fee for solid waste services will be paid by the Town to Meridian Waste and remain as a line item on residential units’ water bills.  New carts and detailed educational materials will be delivered in September to each home outlining the garbage and recycling guidelines as well as Meridian Waste contact information and the opportunity to sign up for service alerts.   

Commercial collection will become an open market effective October 1 allowing businesses the opportunity to choose their waste hauler for the first time in over a decade.  The commercial hauler must hold a Nassau County solid waste permit in order to provide service.  Meridian Waste is one of the approved Nassau County solid waste haulers.

“At Meridian Waste, garbage service is more than just a competitive price, which we offered to the Town and was accepted,” said Dave Shepler, district manager of Meridian Waste.  “We believe that the most important aspect is the team of environmental professionals who stand with the Company, who interact with your citizens, who keep the trucks running smoothly and on time, and who listen to customers’ needs that make a world of difference in our vital service industry.  Callahan deserves quality service to keep the Town clean and healthy, and that is exactly what Meridian Waste will deliver.” 
 
Shepler and the Meridian Waste team members are veterans of the Callahan and Nassau County market, as they have led the Nassau County operations of both Advanced Disposal and Partner Disposal for many years prior to joining forces with Meridian Waste.

The Town and Company will finalize a contract to be presented at the next Town Council Meeting in July for ratification.

County Manager, Mike Mullen, and Office of Management & Budget Director, Megan Diehl, will be holding Budget Workshops to discuss department and not-for-profit budget requests for Fiscal Year 2019/2020. These Workshops will be held on:
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• Monday, June 17, 2019 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 9 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

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All meetings will be held in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, Florida 32097. The public is invited to attend, ask questions, and provide input. 

A complete schedule featuring individual times for each department or non-profit budget discussion will follow. 

If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager's Office at (904) 530-6010.

Individuals with disabilities needing a reasonable accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Office of the County Manager's Office at (904) 530-6010, or, if hearing impaired, Florida Relay Service at 1-800-955-8770 (v) or 1-800-955-8771 (TDD). 

Join us at the next Quarterly Luncheon on Tuesday, June 25, 2019 from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at the Fernandina Beach Golf Course Clubhouse, 2800 Bill Melton Road, Fernandina Beach, Florida. 

Guest speaker Senator Aaron Bean was first elected to the Florida Senate in 2012. He was subsequently re-elected without opposition in 2014, 2016, and with opposition in 2018. Aaron also served as chairman of the Duval County Legislative Delegation in 2018. He is currently serving as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. Before being elected to the Florida Senate, Aaron served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives. Aaron was tapped by then-Speaker of the House Marco Rubio to chair the House Health Care Committee, which oversaw all health care policy and the appropriations for approximately one-third of the state budget. Prior to being elected tot he Florida House in 2000, Aaron served as a commissioner and mayor of the City of Fernandina Beach and was named "Best of the Best" by the Fernandina Beach News-Leader. 

Senator Bean will discuss various topics at the luncheon, including legislation that directly affects the citizens of Nassau County. 

The Quarterly Luncheon is $25.00 for Chamber of Commerce members and $40.00 for prospective members. Advanced payment and registration are required in order to attend this event. CLICK HERE for more information or call (904) 261-3248. 

The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce announces the next 'Coffee with Your Commissioner' program for Thursday, June 27, 2019 from 8:30-9:30 A.M. at the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce. 

Meetings with individual Commissioner are scheduled periodically throughout the year. The program gives Chamber of Commerce members the opportunity to discuss topics in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. Business leaders have an opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns, while simultaneously giving the Commissioners a chance to learn more about the businesses within their district. 

This month's guest is City Commissioner Len Kreger, who is currently serving his second term on the Fernandina Beach City Commission. He is a retired U.S. Marine with 24 years of service and has over 20 years of experience working in the public sector. Commissioner Kreger cares about making a valuable contribution to the governing of the City, focusing on financial stability and effective growth management practices. 

'Coffee with Your Commissioner' is free for Chamber members and $25.00 for prospective members. Advanced payment and registration are always preferred. CLICK HERE for more information or call (904) 261-3248.