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City of Fernandina Beach June 22, 2021 We want your input to shape the future of our community. Over the next several months, the City of Fernandina Beach, in partnership with WGI consultants, will conduct outreach efforts and data collection to create the City’s 2045 Vision Plan. This plan will direct long-range action to guide city programs, future planning studies, and establish funding priorities. Join us June 23, at 5:00 pm in Central Park for a workshop. The event is open to ALL. Food trucks on site: Sunshine Grindz, Indulge, and Kona Ice! Can’t make the event? Please check out the City’s website for survey links and more information: http://www.fbfl.us/1032/Vision-2045 
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First Annual Island Hop Craft Beer Fest to be Hosted in Fernandina Beach on September 18, 20216/22/2021 Proceeds from the event will support Fernandina Beach Main Street
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Fernandina Beach, Fla. (June 22, 2021)—On Saturday, September 18, 2021, the first annual Island Hop Craft Beer Fest will be held at Central Park in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. Proceeds from the event will support Fernandina Beach Main Street. Fernandina Beach Main Street Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization charged with promoting economic vitality and historic preservation in the Fernandina Beach business district. The district has expanded to now include three local craft brewers (First Love Brewing, Mocama Beer Company and Amelia Island Brewing Company), inspiring us to make a beer festival our signature annual event. The Island Hop Craft Beer Fest will help Fernandina Beach Main Street fund important programs that preserve the character of Fernandina Beach’s historic district and support the businesses that call it home. Brewers from across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia have been invited to participate, and we expect to feature at least 30 different breweries at the event. Popular local band the Honey Badgers will be performing popular classic rock songs throughout the event, and local businesses will be showcasing some of their favorite items for sale. With food trucks, activities for the kids and a dog park, the Island Hop Craft Beer Fest is an event the whole family can enjoy. Admission: General admission is $39 in advance or $50 at the door. VIP tickets are $59 in advance and allow access to the event one hour prior to the general admission entrance. Designated drivers are $5. When: September 18th, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. (VIP entrance at 12:00 p.m.) Location: Central Park, 1200 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034 For additional information, or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit our website at www.islandhopcraftbeerfest.com. Media Release
Amelia Island Convention & Visitor Bureau June 12, 2021 AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (June 11, 2021) – After a tumultuous 2020, the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is seeing much-needed improvement for Nassau County’s beleaguered tourism industry. Estimated lodging taxable sales in April were a near record $18.4 million, resulting in bed tax collections 70% over budget for the month, and May is expected to show similar increases, due in large part to a successful Amelia Island Concours Week (May 19-23) and Memorial Day weekend. “The increases we’re seeing are from a combination of pent-up demand, strong pricing among our lodging partners, and consistent messaging to travelers,” said Gil Langley, President and CEO of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Clearly more people are ready to return to travel, and Amelia Island is more appealing than ever, which is driving a faster than expected recovery.” At more than $18.4 million, estimated taxable sales on lodging in April were a near record, second only to the $20.5 million in July of 2019, and almost 13% (12.99%) higher than April of 2019. The resulting bed tax collections were approximately $930,000, which was 70% over the CVB’s budget for the April. In the month of May, estimated lodging taxable sales were $17.5 million, a 21% increase compared to $14.5 million in 2019, due largely to the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and Memorial Day holiday. Despite increased room inventory on the island, both events saw traditional hotel occupancies in the lower 80% to lower 90% range. According to a study conducted by Research Data Services, Inc., off-island visitors to this year’s Amelia Concours Week generated an estimated economic impact of $26.4 million, which is just 9.3% shy of last year’s event, despite the lack of international visitors who were unable to attend the award-winning car event due to travel restrictions. Although the total economic impact was slightly smaller, there was a 13.1% increase in the number of visitors staying in commercial lodging on island during Concours Week. “Recognizing the value of Amelia Island as a host site and partner, the organizer’s decision not to cancel last year’s event, and to move this year’s event from March to May proved to be a stroke of genius,” said Langley. “That gave a huge boost to our local tourism industry at two critical times, and made the Amelia Island Concours the only international car show of its kind to manage back-to-back annual events despite the pandemic.” Also bolstering local tourism in May was the Memorial Day weekend, which saw near sellouts among hotels and resorts (occupancy ranging from 85.7% to 91.4%), average daily rates (ADR) hovering near $400, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) of $372.62 on Saturday, May 29. According to Langley, advance bookings for June and July are very strong, with weekend dates nearly sold out. “The trends are looking positive, so barring any major weather events or health emergencies, our local tourism industry should continue to recover and strengthen over the summer, which will benefit everyone,” stated Langley. “A strong calendar of events and plenty of outdoor options will give us an edge over competing warm-weather destinations.” For a complete listing of special events and vacation planning resources, visit AmeliaIsland.com. May 21, 2021 – Fernandina Beach, FL – Team New Beginnings Realtors Rick and Jessica Miller are conducting a fundraising raffle to benefit Foar From Home. Foar From Home is a group of four local Amelia Island veterans rowing across the Atlantic Ocean to raise funds and awareness for other veterans suffering PTSD and suicide. The amazing prize package is valued over $1,000. Ticket options include: 1 ticket for $10, 3 tickets for $25, and 10 tickets for $50. Tickets can be purchased in person at Keller Williams Realty, Atlantic Partners, 4800 1st Coast Highway, Suite 230, Fernandina Beach FL Monday through Friday from 10 am – 3 pm, or Amelia Toffee Company, 822 Sadler Road, Fernandina Beach, FL Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 am – 12 noon. Tickets may also be purchased online: http://teamnewbeginningsrealtors.square.site. The drawing will be held on the Team New Beginnings Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/newbeginningsrealtors) live at 10 am on Wednesday, June 30. For complete prize package details and more information, please visit: https://foarfromhome.com/event/row-the-boat-raffle/. Team New Beginnings Realtors Rick and Jessica Miller have been Amelia Island residents since 1998 and small business owners for 17 years. They are passionate about serving others and this island community. They have been selling real estate full time for Keller Williams Realty, Atlantic Partners since 2015. For more information about their real estate business, please contact them at 904-753-1715 or Amelia8Flags@gmail.com. Foar From Home is composed of four passionate veterans representing four different branches of the United States military rowing across the Atlantic Ocean to fight veteran PTSD and suicide: Billy Cimino, veteran United States Army, Cameron Hansen, veteran United States Air Force, A.M. ‘Hupp” Huppman, retired United States Navy, and Paul Lore, veteran United States Marine Corps. For information or to donate to Foar From Home, please visit https://foarfromhome.com.   Six new decorated model homes by Dream Finders Homes, Lennar and Richmond American Homes Now Open
NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. (May 12, 2021) – North Florida’s best new master-planned community, Tributary, will celebrate the grand opening of its model home village and six new decorated model homes on Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The grand opening celebration will feature fun for the entire family including a Family Fun Zone with rock climbing, a 22’ slide and monkey motion bungee jump. Featured food trucks at the event include Twisting Roots, What’s the Catch, Ice Busters and Rad Ringo’s Donuts. There will be giveaways and more. Everyone is welcome to attend. At Tributary, Dream Finders Homes, Lennar and Richmond American Homes are offering a distinctive collection of award-winning home designs ranging in size and style to meet the needs and lifestyle of today’s homebuyers. The Tributary model home village features six model homes, two from each builder, showcasing innovative features and flexible spaces for family living and entertainment. The Tributary builders are offering more than 30 floor plans that include one- and two-story single-family homes ranging in size from approximately 1,600 square feet to more than 3,200 square feet. Many of the neighborhood’s home sites will feature preserve or lake views. Homes at Tributary are priced from the $200s. Spanning 1,550 acres, Tributary’s prime location amongst the natural waterways and majestic evergreen forests truly complement the community’s mantra of Exploring More. Tributary residents will enjoy on-site amenities including The Lookout, a lakefront resident gathering spot with a resort-inspired pool and plenty of room to kick-back and relax. Workout warriors will appreciate the club quality fitness studio while the younger crowd will delight in the Adventure Zone tot lot. Tributary will also host an array of sports courts including a Pickleball court and the community’s furry friends will adore Pawsome Park designed just for them. Tributary’s neighborhoods will include family friendly pocket parks, while miles of scenic nature trails will provide quick access to the community’s amenities as well as The Landing kayak and canoe park, the neighboring protected sanctuary of Four Creeks State Forest and the new Tributary Regional Park, currently under construction. Tributary Regional Park plans include baseball and multi-purpose fields, a kayak launch, concessions, and multi-purpose trails. Tributary is within the Nassau County Public School District and zoned for A-rated schools that are among the best in Florida. Tributary is 1.6 miles west of Interstate-95 on State Road 200. Tributary is near dining, shopping, recreation, medical centers, services and more. For more information about Tributary, visit www.TributaryLiving.com. About GreenPointe Developers, LLC GreenPointe Developers is the community and urban development division of GreenPointe Holdings with extensive real estate market data and analytical systems to rapidly assess real estate values and challenges. The GreenPointe team has more than 140 years of collective experience in developing some of the most sought-after master-planned and condominium communities in the Southeast. The team creates and transforms residential and mixed-use communities into neighborhoods for today’s homebuyer while providing lasting, sustainable value. Having the utmost respect for the land, the GreenPointe team works diligently to protect and enhance nature’s best assets. This thoughtful practice allows GreenPointe Developers to create and reenergize communities that provide for an enduring lifestyle where people want to live, work and enjoy recreation. More information is available at www.GreenPointeLLC.com or (904) 996-2485. Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival
Press Release Contact: Eric Sakurai e.sakurai@aicmf.com May 11, 2021 On Saturday, May 22nd a Four-Hand Piano and Dance Performance of Peter and the Wolf will be performed at the Amelia Community Theatre. The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and the Amelia Island Dance Festival collaborated on this music and dance production. This family concert is for all ages and the 11 am and 2 pm performances can be attended in-person or via live stream. This concert is developed in association with the Chamber Music Festival’s Young Patrons. This children’s theatre composition is based on the Russian folk tale by composer Sergei Prokofiev. Pianists Julie Coucheron and Elizabeth Pridgen will perform a four-hand version of the iconic composition. Dancers include Brady Massey, Zoe Gilsenan, Marco Tacandong, Skye Palmer, Stella Urbano, Jules Bouchard, and Lacey Mickler, who are all Fernandina Beach residents from the Amelia Island Dance Festival, and they will perform under the direction of Susan Dodge, founder, and president. Christopher Rex, the Chamber Music Festival’s General and Artistic Director and producer of this performance said, “Engaging children and families in music and dance grows their appreciation and love for the performing arts. These are gifts that bring lifelong pleasure and another dimension into all our lives.”Julie Coucheron is an award-winning pianist who tours internationally. She began playing the piano at age four and later earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors from the Royal Academy of Music in London. She is the Artistic Director of the Fjord Cadenza Festival and the Kon Tiki Chamber Music Festival, both in Norway. Pianist Elizabeth Pridgen is a distinguished soloist and chamber musician. As Artistic Director of the Atlanta Chamber Players, Ms. Pridgen performs regularly at the Rome (Italy) Chamber Music Festival, the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival. A graduate of the Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, and a Summa Cum Laude graduate in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University, Susan Dodge has taught at multiple dance universities and dance companies across the U.S. and was a co-founder of the Dance Project of Washington Heights. She currently teaches at the Royal Amelia Dance Academy and is a member of the board of the Florida Ballet of Jacksonville. A familiar figure at Amelia Community Theatre, Frank O’Donnell who is narrating the performanceand portraying the grandfather, is locally best known for his iconic roles including Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird” and as “Scrooge in Scrooge! The Musical”. Amelia Community Theatre, located on Cedar Street in Fernandina Beach, has been staging artistic performances on Amelia Island since 1981. The Theatre opened the Main Stage in its current location in 2010. “I look forward to the Festival’s collaboration with the Amelia Island Dance Festival and the Amelia Community Theatre. Bringing together three partners who whole-heartedly support the arts is very gratifying and will provide a special treat for the audience,” said Chamber Music Festival President Emma Mills Bledsoe. Peter and the Wolf is Sergei Prokofiev’s most frequently performed works. He is considered one of the greats of 20th Century music and his works range from ballets, including Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet, to film music. Peter and the Wolf has been recorded many times including Disney’s animated versions in 1946 and 2020 with narration by David Bowie. Every major orchestra throughout the world has included Peter and Wolf in their repertoire. The Young Patrons of the Chamber Music Festival, who helped develop this concert, are guided by a group of Amelia Island business and professional women who have collaborated with the Festival Board to introduce children to classical music through special concerts. Led by Lauren Templeton, owner of the Amelia Art Studio, members include Carrie Mays, owner of the Amelia Music Studio, Ktimene Axtelle, vice president of Insights and partner at Arrivalist, and Amelia Island Little Blooms partners Jennifer Bauer and Trang Weist. Also on the committee are Emma Mills Bledsoe, Barbara Gant, and Vicki Whittemore. Membership in the Young Patrons is free and like-minded Islanders are welcome to get involved. The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, one of the nation’s most renowned classical music festivals, celebrates its 20th season with a wide array of internationally recognized award-winning superstars. Respecting the safety of both musicians and the audience, the Festival has arranged for both socially distanced live and virtual venues. Information about all concerts and tickets is available at www.AICMF.com or 904-261-1779. The Festival is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival1405 Park Avenue, Suite 101 – Fernandina Beach Florida 32034 – www.AICMF.com  After months of postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the return of Leadership Nassau, a premier Leadership Development program.
Leadership Nassau provides participants with an in-depth understanding of the various socio-economic aspects that directly affect our region. During the 10-month program, students engage in activities that connect them with local leaders, while simultaneously helping them form a life-long bond with fellow classmates. More than 325 members of the Nassau County community have participated in Leadership Nassau, with graduates ranging from Circuit Judges to small business owners and everything in between. The program is open to any resident of Nassau County, but recruitment targets individuals with diverse backgrounds and seeks a racial, gender, and age mix that is reflective of the local population. For more information and to receive a Class 21 application, contact Leadership Nassau Coordinator Alex Wilmer at Alex@NassauCountyFLChamber.com. Interested parties may also click below to download a copy of the application. The deadline to apply is Friday, June 18, 2021 by 5:00 P.M.  Presented in partnership by the Florida SBDC Network and the Office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the Virtual Small Business Resiliency Conference is a no-cost event for Florida's small businesses and entrepreneurs. The purpose of this virtual conference is to assist and provide resources for small businesses to #SustainThePivot most have endured due to the global pandemic, as well as highlight the expertise, knowledge, and available assistance the Florida SBDC Network and the Office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio have to offer.
The network's mission is to assist small businesses throughout the state during blue and dark sky days. This engaging conference will feature useful presentations with impactful tips that businesses can implement quickly and affordably resulting in a high return on investment. There will also be keynote presentations by Emily Ley, CEO of Simplified, and John Gilmore, former NFL tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and President and CEO of Brandthumb, LLC. During these presentations, attendees will learn additional skills and knowledge to help their business succeed despite difficult circumstances. NOTE- When registering multiple people, please make sure to list a separate email for each attendee in order for each participant to access the event platform. Tentative Agenda Tuesday, May 18 : 11:30am - 12:30pm EST: Doors open and virtual booths open for attendees to visit 12:30pm - 5:00pm EST: Program Begins
Wednesday, May 19: 8:00am - 9:00am EST: Doors open and virtual booths open for attendees to visit 9:00am - 1:00pm EST: Program Begins
Should you have any questions, please contact Allison Romer at atyler1@uwf.edu. Limited Parking at Peters Point and Scott Road Beach Front Parks Due to 2021 Concours d'Elegance5/10/2021 Media Release
Office of the Nassau County Manager May 8, 2021 Nassau County, Florida, May 7, 2021 – The 2021 Concours d’Elegance will take place at the Ritz Carlton from May 20-May 23, 2021. Please be advised that the Board has authorized use of the Peters Point and Scott Road Beach Front Parks for parking related to the event. As a result, there will be limited parking spots available for the general public during the following dates:
If you have any questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (904) 530-6120.  Samir Gupte The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend ‘Hot Topics: Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace’ on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 from 8:30-9:00 A.M. This hybrid event will take place in person at the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G in Fernandina Beach, and virtually via Zoom.
The market for people from an employer’s perspective continues to tighten, even in the current COVID environment. Leveraging the growing diversity in Nassau County by creating an inclusive work environment is an untapped opportunity for many organizations, small and large. This brief talk will include the “what, why, and how” of attracting, retaining, and engaging a diverse workforce, through the broadest definition of diversity, as well as introducing the group to the newly formed Nassau Racial Equality Coalition. Guest speaker Samir Gupte, Executive Director of Nassau Racial Equality Coalition, is an agile, balanced, and compassionate thought-leader with over 30 years of successful leadership experience in business (publicly traded, private equity, founder-led), entrepreneurship, non-profits, and consulting. His accomplishments include leading the human capital strategy that doubled the size and profitability of an award-winning airport concessions company, achieving consecutive years of a rising position on Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work list for the largest full-service dining company in the world, the integration of a $1B acquisition, the start-up of a Latin America division for an industrial automation manufacturer which integrated acquisitions in five countries, doubling the size and profitably growing an international hotel chain, the turnarounds of a distressed polished-casual restaurant chain and a specialty materials manufacturing plant, profitably growing a small-chain of Gold’s Gyms and improving a fiber optics manufacturing department from the lowest to top operational performance. Hot Topics workshops are free for Chamber members and $50.00 for prospective members. In-person attendance is limited to 10 people; advanced payment and registration are required. For more information, email info@NassauCountyFLChamber.com or call (904) 261-3248. To register, CLICK HERE. |
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Nassau County Chamber of Commerce
961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G | Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Phone: (904) 261-3248 | info@nassaucountyflchamber.com | site map |
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