(941) 474-5511
601 South Indiana Avenue
Englewood, FL 34223
www.EnglewoodChamber.com
President’s Message
Englewood businesses can welcome the new year with confidence and optimism.
Florida is poised to surpass New York as the third most populous state in the nation,
by a margin of fewer than 100,000 residents. Demographers say this milestone could
be reached as early as 2014.
While the actual ranking could be considered nebulous, the underlying trends are
noteworthy. According to Stanley Smith of the Bureau of Economic and Business
Research of the University of Florida, Florida has been growing substantially
throughout the past decade, despite the economically challenging “recession” of the
last several years. While the retiree percentage has remained consistent at around 17
percent, today’s population growth is driven by adults in the prime of their careers
in higher paying jobs such as medical services, biotechnology and financial services.
While the largest number of newcomers settle in the most populous counties, smaller
rural counties are experiencing the highest growth rates.
The Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce membership is representative of
local organizations and individuals who recognize the positive attributes of collective
commerce. While we value our uniqueness and independence to formulate our own
mission for our employees and families, we recognize that as a unified economic
collaborative, we foster a balanced and healthy sustainability for our community.
We are indebted to the many who have preceded us who forged a business
environment in which we can thrive. We appreciate the committee chairs and their
members, the volunteers who selflessly serve, and the staff who are dedicated to
sound administration and support. On behalf of the Englewood Florida Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors, I thank the existing membership for their confidence
to represent them, and invite new members to join. We are blessed with coastal
surroundings of abundant sunshine, calm gulf waters and natural ecosystems
unparalleled in the country. Coupling these assets with a thriving local economy, we
can continue to capture the growth projections that provide the financial requisites
to prosper, and enhance the Englewood area today and for our children’s future.
Elaine A. Miller
President
Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce
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www.EnglewoodChamber.com