Blog - Nassau County Chamber

Nelson & Associates Insurance 2nd Annual Health and Safety Expo Less Than a Month Away!

5/30/2023

T-Minus 25 Days
The Nelson & Associates Insurance 2nd Annual Health and Safety Expo at the YMCA Wildlight is less than a month away, and we are expecting an amazing turnout!

The 2nd Annual Health and Safety Expo is scheduled for June 24th from 10 AM to 4 PM. There will be FREE Sports Physicals, Mobile Mammograms, LIVE music, Vendors, Food Trucks, Nonprofit Resources and MORE.

CLICK HERE to learn more!

Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

5/30/2023

Consumers can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, the sales tax holiday begins Saturday, May 27 and extends through Friday, June 9. A second exemption period will begin Saturday, August 26 and extend through Friday, September 8.

During the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, the following qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax:

The sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

For more information on implementing the sales tax holiday, please see the Department of Revenue's Taxpayer Information Publication on the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday or the 2023 Florida Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday FAQs for Businesses.

Community Health Assessment

5/25/2023

5/25/23 @ 9:30 a.m. - Nassau County Department of Health is conducting a Community Health Assessment (CHA) to identify factors that affect the health of our community, and to determine available resources to addresses those factors. The information gathered is also used to prioritize issues and make decisions on programs and health improvement plans that serve our county.

Please consider taking this community health survey. The survey has about 29 questions (not all questions may pertain to you but you are able to skip them) and only takes a few minutes to complete. All responses are important, fully confidential and anonymous. And if you finish the survey and provide your email address at the end, you will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad.

If you have any questions, please contact Barb Baptista, Community Engagement & Minority Health Liaison for DOH-Nassau at (904) 557-9168 or via email at Barbara.Baptista@flhealth.gov.

-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer

Florida Power & Light Preventative Maintenance Trimming

5/18/2023

5/17/23 @ 10:45 a.m. - Florida Power & Light has sent notification of their intent to conduct tree and vegetation maintenance in the Nassauville area in the coming weeks. The work will be done by FPL's qualified line-clearing contractor, Asplundh Tree Expert.

"Trees and vegetation are a leading cause of outages - especially during hurricanes and severe weather", stated FPL's North Florida Arborist, Steve Burnside. "FPL would like to remind everyone to stay away from power lines at all times and that only a specially trained and qualified line-clearing professional should trim trees or vegetation near power lines and power poles".

Please visit fpl.com/trees to learn more about power line safety and FPL's line-clearing program.

For questions, please contact Mr. Burnside at (386) 254-2358 or via email at steve.burnside@fpl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer

Hurricane Season is Approaching: Time to Prepare for Your Health

5/16/2023

Contact: Jennifer Bothast
Jennifer.Bothast@flhealth.gov
904-832-2644

Nassau, Fla. — The Atlantic Hurricane Season is approaching, and the experiences of last year’s Hurricanes Ian and Nicole are still fresh in the minds of Floridians. The Department of Health - Nassau encourages residents to prepare now to protect their health heading into the hurricane season.

Here are key steps you can take:

Florida Special Needs Registry: If you know or care for an individual with a disability or special need, such as a medical condition that requires assistance but not hospitalization, you should pre-register with the Special Needs Shelter Registry. Your local emergency management office notifies registered residents when there is an evacuation. Again, you must register in advance so emergency planners can contact you during an emergency. For more information, call your county’s emergency management office, or visit the Florida Special Needs Registry at https://snr.flhealthresponse.com/.
Keep Track of Your Medications: After a storm, you may have limited supplies of prescription medications, and your local pharmacy might be closed. You need a list of each prescription medication you take, its dosing instructions, and the name and contact information of the prescribing doctor. Keep this information updated and with you when a storm threatens, and bring your medications with you for an evacuation.
Update Your Contact List: Ensure you bring an updated list of all important contacts, including doctors, friends, relatives, out-of-state friends, or relatives. Designate one person who can relay to others about your evacuation and health status and serve as a point of contact for others trying to reach you.
Know Your Equipment: After a storm, many people are hurt or killed by carbon monoxide poisoning from unsafe generators and the use of potentially dangerous equipment, like chainsaws or other unfamiliar equipment. Learning to use tools before a storm is safer than in a chaotic aftermath. Now is the time to read your owner’s manuals and learn how to use each tool safely.

To learn more about preparing yourself and your family, visit www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/preparing-for-hurricane-season or call your county’s emergency management office. For more tips about how to prepare your health for hurricane season, call DOH--Nassau at 904-875-6100.

About the Florida Department of Health
The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @HealthyFla. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

Leadership Nassau Class 22 Graduation Announced

5/15/2023

Leadership Nassau Class 22

Leadership Nassau, a program coordinated by the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, has announced the graduation of Class 22. This exclusive program assists in the development of community leaders by providing participants from diverse backgrounds with an understanding of the problems, opportunities, and issues facing the community.

Over the last 10 months, participants heard presentations from various elected officials (including Secretary of State Cord Byrd, Congressman John Rutherford, Senator Aaron Bean, and Circuit Judge James Daniel, as well as local constitutional officers), business and community leaders (including Deputy Secretary Laura DiBella, Brian Flick with The Compass Group, Lisa Finkelstein with Fernandina Beach Main Street, Mark and Donna Kaufman of Story & Song Bookstore Bistro, and Shawn DeRome with Rayonier), and had exclusive access to behind-the-scenes tours of local and regional organizations that are usually closed to the public (including WestRock, the Jacksonville International Airport, Jacksonville Port Authority, Nassau County Jail, the City of Fernandina Beach Water Treatment facilities, and TIAA Bank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars).

The Leadership Nassau Class 22 graduates are: Nicola Barnack (Barnabas Center Inc.), Kimberly Burnsed (Nassau County Property Appraiser), Thomas Coleman (RYAM), Kimberly Corbett (Town of Hilliard), Maurie Dugger (Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau), Sean Duncan (Comcast/Effectv), Darron England (WestRock), Charleston Garrett (First Port City Bank), Laurie Holmes (Little Lambs Child Care Center), Doug Hurley (RethinkWork Consulting & Coaching), Jennifer Kirouac (First Horizon Bank), Anthony Lombardi (Nassau County Board of County Commissioners), Elaine Roberts (Omni Amelia Island Resort), Lisa Sanborn (PrimeSouth Bank), Carol Saviak (Florida Power & Light Company), Dionna Sowers (Nassau Humane Society), Jeffrey Tambasco (Fernandina Beach Police Department), Dunia Taylor (REMI Realty), Stephanie Triola (New York Life), and Richard Turner (Florida State College at Jacksonville).
We would like to thank Baptist Medical Center Nassau, City of Fernandina Beach, First Port City Bank, Florida Power & Light, Northwestern Mutual – Dallas Hempstead, Osprey Village, Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island, RYAM, Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare, The Canopy at Duval Station, The Fiorentino Group, Traders Hill Farm, VyStar Credit Union, and WestRock for sponsoring Class 22 program days throughout the year. Leadership Nassau would not be possible without their support, and we are truly grateful.

The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for Leadership Nassau Class 23 through Friday, June 30, 2023. For more information about the program and the application process, CLICK HERE or contact Lynne Starling, Leadership Nassau Coordinator, at Lynne@NassauCountyFLChamber.com.

Nassau County Economic Development Board to Host Weathering the Storm: Hurricane Preparedness 2023

5/12/2023

Thrifting Community to Host a Spring Re-Fabulous Resale Tour This Weekend

5/12/2023

Fernandina Beach, FL – Barnabas Center’s New to You Resale Stores is announcing its participation in the Spring Re-Fabulous Resale Tour, which will take place on Saturday, May 13th, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The event will be held at participating Resale Stores across Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island and Yulee. The customers who purchased $5 Resale Cards and visit each store will be entered into a drawing to win a gift card. Each location will feature a unique shopping experience for customers and refreshments.

The Spring Re-Fabulous Resale Tour is designed to showcase the wide variety of items available at local Resale Stores. Customers will have the opportunity to visit each store and discover new treasures, including clothing, furniture, home decor, and more. Each store will have special deals and discounts available exclusively for Resale Tour participants. Participating stores include Eight Flags Antique Market, Antiques & More, Barnabas New to You Resale Stores (Fernandina Beach and Yulee), Cat Angels, Fifi’s Fine Resale Apparel, Harlows, Ice House Antiques, Island Vintage Market, Nassau Humane Society Second Chance, NHS Second Chance Closet, Purple Dove Resale Center, The Resale Project, Resale Therapy, Trailer Park Collectibles and Wiggle Worms.

"We are thrilled to offer our customers a fun and exciting way to shop at our stores," said Jamie Reynolds, Barnabas Center President/CEO "The Spring Re-Fabulous Resale Tour is a great opportunity for customers to explore all of the local resale stores and find unique items at affordable prices while supporting local nonprofits."

Event proceeds will support; Barnabas Center, Cats Angels, Micah’s Place and Nassau Humane Society.

For more information about The Spring Re-Fabulous Resale Tour, please visit barnabasnassau.org/events/spring-re-fabulous-resale-tour or follow us on social media.

Chamber to Host In-Person Job Fair THIS Thursday

5/8/2023

The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce is hosting an in-person Job Fair on Thursday, May 11th from 5:00-7:00 PM. The event will take place at the Chamber office, located at 961687 Gateway Blvd., Suite 101-G in Fernandina Beach (across from Cantina Louie).

Job seekers will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with top recruiters from local companies, both big and small. Whether you are a recent graduate, an experienced professional looking for a new challenge, or someone just starting your career, the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce Job Fair is the perfect place to start your job search!

Representatives from 23 local businesses and organizations will be in attendance; registration is recommended but not required. This event is FREE and OPEN to the public. For additional information and to register, CLICK HERE or email the Chamber at info@NassauCountyFLChamber.com.

OneBlood at Rayonier in Wildlight on Wendesday, May 17th

5/5/2023

Come by the Rayonier building to donate blood on Wednesday, May 17, 2023; remember you can still help even if you can't donate, share this message with friends and family.

Make your appointment today; click the link: Mobile Blood Drive - Wednesday, May 17, 2023. Appointments get priority and be sure to bring your ID. All donors will receive a OneBlood T-shirt and a $20.00 eGift Card, and A wellness checkup includes blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, and cholesterol screening.

FACT: A single-car accident victim can require 100 pints of blood

Zoe's Story: Video - Zoe Lee was born with a Congenital Heart Defect; the right side of her heart was underdeveloped. She's doing great due to the generosity of all the donors that give blood.
Eddie's Story: Video - Career blood donor at 71 years old; milestone 16 gallons. He's been donating since high school, and wants to help Sickle Cell Patients.
Paula, Fernandina Beah, FL Her 23-year-old son had a motorcycle accident. His pelvis was crushed, and he required surgery right away. He received blood transfusions. In honor of him, She donates regularly!

Tips for a successful donation:

Drink 16 oz before donating.
Eat a meal 2 hours before your donation.
Include red meat in your diet (2-3 meals two weeks prior)
Enjoy your Green vegetables, such as broccoli, green beans, and cabbage, and leafy greens like spinach, kale, and cauliflower leaves, which are rich sources of iron.
Be sure to drink water regularly.
REMEMBER: after donation: no heavy lifting or vigorous exercise the rest of the day; grab a healthy snack and drink plenty of water.

You can still help even if you can't donate, share this message with friends and family. If you have concerns about giving blood, I encourage you to speak with a technician.