The Greater Palm Bay Chamber has been located on the Space Coast for over two decades. In that time the area has gone from historic highs to historic lows – the big boom of the economy to the big bust, the glory days of the space shuttle program and now the current layoffs. And while some residents of the Space Coast are cautious about the economic future, Palm Bay Chamber members are more than optimistic.
The Chamber’s government affairs arm, the Committee of 100, is a group that assists local and relocating businesses with ad velorum tax abatements, policy advice, and identifying issues that affect business owners. These meetings and subsequent contacts have occasionally resulted in new business ventures for Chamber members.
Such was the case when Palm Bay Chamber members Done Right Contracting, a local contractor, and Globe Wireless, the world’s largest maritime satellite communications company, first began discussions on a renovation project for Globe’s buildings in Palm Bay and Port St. Lucie.
Globe Wireless is the only global vertically integrated network that is 100 percent dedicated to the maritime industry. Management from the company attended a Committee of 100 meeting last year because it was consolidating and relocating their California office to the Palm Bay area and requested an ad velorum tax abatement. The grant was approved because of an economic impact analysis that revealed the company had the potential to add nearly 50 jobs to the area.
Globe Wireless asked committee member Done Right Contracting to bid on renovations to two of Globe’s buildings in the area and another in Port St. Lucie. Done Right Contracting won the bid for the renovations, then hired other local businesses to help with the remodeling including Palm Bay Chamber members 321 Plumbing Inc, Extreme Electric of Brevard and Ken Williams Air Conditioning Inc, among others. The combined impact for the project on the local economy was estimated at over $1 million dollars.
“This type of networking is done everyday between Chamber members,” stated Craig Capion, owner of Done Right Contracting. “As is evident from this contract, networking improves the local economy. When you keep Brevard companies in business, local employees can and will do business here, therefore keeping other companies thriving. It really creates a perfect wheel that keeps the economy moving.”
According to Chamber President and CEO Victoria Northrup the Space Coast will be able to survive the recession and evolving space program if residents continue selling, buying and networking in their local communities.
“One of the chief benefits of the Chamber is to create networking opportunities and contacts for our local businesses. We know it works because we see it all the time,” said Northrup. “Not only do members network with each other to acquire business, they know that when they need a particular product or service, the Chamber will recommend a reputable member. It’s one-stop shopping and convenient marketing at the same time. And it is what will keep the Space Coast thriving. ”
The Chamber has over 900 active, courtesy and prospective members that network with each other at monthly luncheons, networking breakfast meetings, ribbon cuttings, major signature events and more. The Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1989 and is accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with a four-star ranking, a distinguished honor bestowed to only select qualified Chambers.
The 2011 Palm Bay Chamber Trustees include: Globe Wireless, Health First, Waste Management, City of Palm Bay, TD Bank, Done Right Contracting, Florida Power and Light Company, Intersil, Comfort Suites, WMS Construction and Yellowbook.
For more information about the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce or any of the members mentioned above, call (321) 951-9998 or visit www.greaterpalmbaychamber.com .
