Our Story
Mission
The Nassau County Chamber of Commerce is a membership-based association of businesses, professional leaders and individuals working together to sustain a favorable business climate that enables existing and new businesses to prosper. The Chamber will provide leadership that aggressively promotes responsible economic growth, employment opportunities, responsible government, excellence in education and quality of life.
Vision
We will contribute to a higher standard of living and quality of life for the citizens of Nassau County by maintaining and promoting a prosperous and vibrant business community.
Values
We will act with fairness and integrity. We will represent our membership as responsible citizens in the business communities that they serve. We will work as a team in our membership-based association of businesses, professional leaders and individuals. We will value countywide membership. We will take leadership positions to promote responsible economic growth, employment opportunity, responsible government, excellence in education and quality of life. We will hold the business needs of our membership to be our highest priority and will deliver high-quality and timely cost-effective programs, products and services that meet these needs.
History & Milestones
1956
In 1956, our journey started with the establishment of the Fernandina Beach Chamber of Commerce, created to advocate for merchants in our community
1978
The Chamber of Commerce agreed to share the Depot Building, and the first Museum opened in the old train depot
1988
Founded the Amelia Island Tourism Development Council (TDC)
1995
Founded the Nassau County Economic Development Board; Partnered with the Sierra Club for conservation and designation of Egans Creek Greenway
1999
Founded Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc.
2000
Founded the Leadership Nassau program, now in its 23rd year
2002
Purchased the office condo at the Gateway Commons office park and moved the Chamber office from the downtown train depot to its current location
2003
Produced the very first edition of the Discover Nassau Life & Leisure Guide
2005-2007
Advocated and lobbied state officials and Florida Department of Transportation for the three lane expansion of A1A/SR 200
2006
Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 50th anniversary
2007
Awarded Florida Chamber of Commerce of the Year from the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals (FACP)
2008
Purchased Discovery Map of Amelia Island, making the Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce the only Chamber in the country to own its own franchise
2011
Hosted the very first Public Officials Appreciation Reception, an exclusive event created to bring local, state, and federal elected officials and business owners together in an informal and relaxed setting
2015
Submitted application for Fernandina Beach Main Street acceptance into Main Street America; founded Fernandina Beach Main Street
2017
Advocated for and solidified first Public Transportation Study for Nassau County
2018
Merged with the Greater Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, officially changing our name from the Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce to the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce
Opened the Business Resource & Innovation Center, commonly known as the BRIC, as the first co-working space in Nassau County
2020
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chamber responded by using thousands of dollars from the CARES Act to provide sanitizing supplies, paper towels, masks, and other necessary items to every business in the county, regardless of their membership status
2023
With workforce housing becoming one of the most prominent issues facing our community, the Chamber formed the Community Land Trust, a foundation created to provide opportunities for very low, low, and moderate-income individuals to secure quality, affordable housing that is controlled by the residents on a long-term basis