Authenticity Reimagined
ur yoChamber of Commerce
. . .Building to 2050
2
1990
Preserving Leedy's
Legacy
Founded in 1910 as a Board of Trade, during its first 75 years the Chamber had been a nomad occupying various buildings throughout the community. In the late 1980's the Chamber's Board of Directors made it their mission to find a permanent home for the Winter Haven Area Chamber of Commerce. Collaborating with the City of Winter Haven, the newly acquired rails-to-trails land was made available, and the Chamber of Commerce secured its premier downtown location. The late Gene Leedy created the Chamber as an iconic building using his Central Florida Modern architectural style. Gene designed his piece of art to allow the bike trail to continue underneath the building, through the breezeway. While this was a compromise to those who felt the building would break up the chain of downtown parks, it was also quite ingenious. The railroad that existed on this same site years before brought commerce and entrepreneurship to Winter Haven during the city's infancy. Today, the land remains the pathway of commerce and opportunity for the Winter Haven community as the home of the Chamber of Commerce and its tenants, Main Street Winter Haven and the Winter Haven Economic Development Council.
With your help,
our Chamber of Commerce will continue to leave a legacy for
our
community. 3
1940's
Reimagining
Today's Winter Haven looks and feels very different from the Winter Haven of 30 years ago. While our authentic, small-town charm and sense of community remain strong, the community's needs and expectations have evolved. Winter Haven proudly leverages its authentic roots to build its future, one of great opportunity for entrepreneurs, small businesses and large industry. The Chamber of Commerce and its members have been at the center of this renaissance. Since its grand opening in 1990, the Chamber building has welcomed thousands of tourists and new residents to Winter Haven. We have cultivated economic prosperity through development and support of new and existing businesses, hosted pivotal meetings defining the community's direction and provided a gathering place for celebration, collaboration and coordination. Our successes are the legacy of the strong foundation laid 30 years ago by those leaders who had the foresight to plan for the community's future needs.
With your help,
we can lay the groundwork for the next 30 years.
4
2019
5
Our Vision
Advancing Commerce and Community The Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce is a community movement organization made up of 750 businesses representing thousands of employees across the region. We are a 5-star accredited Chamber – highest designation given by the US Chamber of Commerce to recognize Chambers for their activeness in community change, excellence in strategic planning and advocacy for a healthy business environment. The Board of Directors has established five organizational pillars that drive our strategic decisions: organizational excellence, powerful advocacy, community engagement, effective community communication and investor engagement. We advocate for what our members, the business community, and residents feel are the most important issues impacting our future and we provide opportunities for businesses to thrive and grow in the ever evolving business climate.
6
Our Mission Serving, Representing, and Enhancing Business Growth
7
Campaign Objectives The Board of Directors is launching this crucial capital campaign to ensure the Chamber's continued success over the next 30 years. There is much work to be done, and with the Chamber of Commerce as the hub for community communication and collaboration, we have an obligation to Winter Haven to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. We can't do it alone. The Chamber building is a valuable community asset and we need your help to make this vision a reality.
Together we can
Together we can
Preserve
Together we can
Preserve the Gene Leedy architecture that
Transform the Chamber of Commerce
Update the building's functionality to
makes the Chamber of Commerce
building to reflect the vibrancy of the Winter
better serve both residents and tourists,
building an icon of the downtown core
Haven of today, building upon the Central
and modernize the conference and
and a piece of artwork in our community's
Florida Modern architecture of the exterior
office space to meet the needs and
portfolio of sculpture and design.
for a more modern and vibrant interior.
expectations of the business community.
8
Transform
Modernize
r e h t e Tog
9
COMMUNITY & BUSINESS WELCOME & RESOURCE CENTER
The Hub
computer kiosk available 24/7
From April through October, the
Chamber's lobby welcomes over 400 visitors per month. Throughout the year, the Chamber building is being used more than anytime in its existence for functions hosted by the Chamber as well as private business events. Our lobby is one of the first impressions of our community made on potential new residents and businesses. This increased exposure makes our lobby the perfect location for a community welcome center and business information hub that reflects the Winter Haven of today and of our future.
floor-to-ceiling glass expansion (4 ft into breezeway) 10
Residents
Tourists
Businesses
The Chamber team answers numerous resident inquiries each day. In partnership with the City of Winter Haven, the welcome center will include a section dedicated to city services and information for the most frequently asked municipal residential and business questions. As a part of this unique partnership, Chamber staff will be cross-trained by City staff on the most frequently asked questions.
The Chamber remains an important information source for area visitors. Our lobby has been the de facto community welcome center for 30 years and the transformation possible through this capital campaign will make it official. The Chamber staff will partner with the Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing to enhance the visitors experience and a 24/7 electronic kiosk in the breezeway will provide information when the lobby is closed.
Advancing commerce is a core component of the Chamber's vision. The hub provides marketing opportunities for our members, serves as the information resource for B2B relationships and provides the first impression of our community to prospective businesses meeting with economic development organizations. The lobby also serves as the welcome mat for guests attending rental functions in the Chamber.
11
MEMBERS LOUNGE & AUDITORIUM
reorient the room lengthwise to allow for greater capacity
install electronic sunshades for optimal viewing all day
The
Gathering Place
The 2nd Floor of the Chamber is the primary gathering space for the community. The capital campaign will allow for the transformation of the 2nd floor into a more functional multipurpose room including; a new members lounge, catering kitchen, ADA compliant restrooms, and
updated
and
technological capabilities.
built-in
TVs throughout the space for ease of viewing presentations
built-in A/V capability with computer, audio and electronic screen for easier plug-and-play setup
MEMBERS LOUNGE Need a quiet, more private place for a client meeting than a coffee shop or restaurant? Are you in between meetings and need a place to work, charge your electronics, decompress, or save the time of driving all the way back to the office? The Members Lounge will be a space meant to provide a convenient place for our investors to stop in, get some work done, and network.
AUDITORIUM The Chamber's Coleman Auditorium is being used by the Chamber, our members, and the community more than anytime in the building's history. User's needs have changed and it is time to improve and expand the auditorium's functionality. Reconfiguration of the space will allow more people to attend functions and improve ADA accessibility, all while creating a more professional space for meetings and seminars.
13
One-Stop Shop The Chamber building is home to the "secret sauce" of our economic development strategy – the
collaboration with Main
Street Winter Haven and the Winter Haven Economic
Development Council, all housed on the 3rd floor. In addition
office space is reconfigured slightly to allow for more occupants including wraparound business consulting services
to the valuable relationships and economies of scale created by this location-sharing, businesses have a one-stop shop for business services in our community, and only one block from City Hall. With add
your investment from the capital campaign, we hope to additional desk space that allows for our business
consulting partners, such as the Small Business Development Administration at USF and Central Florida Score, to have coworking space at our location. We also hope for the future expansion of co-working space made available to potential start-up businesses that could use the support our economic development organizations can provide.
14
create waiting area for guests of 3 floor occupants
relocate 2nd floor boardroom to 3rd floor by closing in balcony facing 5th St. This allows for more effective use of the entire space
15
Lovate first
Site
The brand story of Winter Haven and the Chamber of Commerce begins when visitors and clients arrive in the downtown core. From the parking lot, to the entrance, to the landscaping, we need to make certain that Winter Haven's story is being accurately reflected. When visitors enter our welcome center, attend a function, or meet with the organizations housed within the Chamber, we have an opportunity to create an emotional connection and build a deeper relationship. Exterior improvements to the building will include; re-landscaping, new signage, upgraded lighting to LED energy-efficient lighting that will create greater illumination of the building at night, color-controlled LED upand down-lighting, roof improvements, and a more prominent entrance through the lobby.
16
Naming Rights Leave a legacy for everyone to see. A limited number of naming rights opportunities will be available during this transformation process. Location
Sponsorship
Term (Years)
Auditorium
$100,000
30
Welcome Center
$75,000
15
Breezeway
$50,000
15
Members Lounge
$50,000
15
Boardroom
$50,000
15
Breezeway Electronic Kiosk
$30,000
15
Technology Sponsor
$20,000
10
18
Pledge Card
GREATER WINTER HAVEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2019 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
I (we) hereby pledge $________________ in support of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Capital Campaign to preserve and upgrade the historic Gene Leedy designed building that is the Chamber’s headquarters. I (we) agree that these funds may also be used for the future repair and maintenance of this iconic building and the property it sits on in beautiful downtown Winter Haven. I (we) direct this pledge be fulfilled over ____ year(s) in total (maximum of 3) and that this amount be given to the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce or the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Foundation (choose one below). Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce Inc. 501(c)6
Winter Haven Chamber Foundation Inc. 501(c)3
Donor Name(s): ___________________________________________________
Date: _____________
Email: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: ___________________________________________________________________________ Donor Signature:___________________________________________________________________________ Company Name: ___________________________________________________________________________ How to be recognized for your pledge (i.e. name or company): __________________________________ Acknowledged by: ________________________________________ Date: ___________________________ on behalf of the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce or Foundation (as applicable). Consult with your tax advisor regarding deductibility of your donation.
19
Phone
(863) 293-2138
info@winterhavenchamber.com
Web
winterhavenchamber.com
A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Affairs by calling tollfree 1-800-HELP-FLA or online at www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. Registration # CH26319