STCOC Military Affairs Update - June 2022
Happy Summer! Thank you to everyone who joined us for our May Transitioning Military and Veterans Networking Event, sponsored by PBX-Change and hosted at Dwell Home Market. For those who were not able to join us, we hope to see you at our next event on July 28! | RSVP HERE
Upcoming Committee Meetings – Always Second Tuesday @ 3:00pm
June 14 – Virtual Committee Meeting with guest speaker Onward to Opportunity (O2O) Program | RSVP HERE
July 12 – No Committee Meetings in July
August 9 – In-Person Committee Meeting, speaker TBA
July 28 – Transitioning Military & Veterans Networking Event
The South Tampa Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council invites transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses to participate in a unique networking and educational opportunity. | RSVP & Info HERE
Share your news at https://www.facebook.com/groups/STCOCMilitaryAffairs
Chamber News
June 15 – June Membership Luncheon
June 30 – Women's Connection Luncheon
June 30 – Chamber Cheers
July 20 – Speed Relationship Networking
July 28 – Good Morning South Tampa
August 1-5, 2022: New Teacher Welcome Week | Click HERE for more info.
Join the South Tampa Chamber as we welcome the new hire teachers to our 17 area schools. Each teacher will receive a goody bag filled with school supplies and personal gifts from local businesses. Sponsors have the opportunity to hand-deliver gift bags and personally welcome teachers.
SAVE THE DATE: The 2022 Tampa Air Force Ball is scheduled for Saturday, September 17th. Follow on Facebook for updates. Contact Kelly Flannery for sponsorships information. – See attached.
News:
Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Launch of Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the June 1 launch of the Florida Hometown Heroes Housing Program to help Floridians in over 50 critical professions purchase their first home. The Hometown Heroes Housing Program will be available to Floridians including law enforcement officers, firefighters, educators, healthcare professionals, childcare employees, and active military or veterans. For more information, please visit www.floridahousing.org/hometownheroes
Governor Ron DeSantis Announces More Than $3 Million in Awards to Support Florida’s Military Communities
Governor Ron DeSantis announced more than $3 million in awards to military communities through the Defense Infrastructure Grant Program, the Defense Reinvestment Grant Program, and the Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Program. Through collaborative efforts by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and Enterprise Florida Inc. (EFI), these programs provide grant funding to defense-dependent communities to support economic diversification efforts, local infrastructure projects, and military community relations. For more information on military community programs, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org/Military-Community-Programs. For more information on the Florida Defense Support Task Force Grant Program, visit www.eflorida.com/floridadefense.
City of Tampa ($117,000) – to complete road improvements that will reduce traffic congestion for vehicles entering MacDill Air Force Base and improve traffic flow, reduce commute times, improve delivery schedules, and reduce emissions.
Tampa Parks & Recreation has announced that as of May 1, they have officially extended a Military discount for all annual Rec Cards, both individual and family passes. Similar to the department’s Senior discount, the Military discount will reduce the pass fees by 50 percent, regardless of residency. For more information about Tampa Parks & Recreation programs and memberships, please visit: https://www.tampa.gov/parks-and-recreation.
ZooTampa is saluting the women and men in the U.S. armed forces with free admission this summer. Starting Wednesday and running through Sept. 1, all U.S. active-duty military, activated or drilling reservists and National Guard members are eligible to receive one-time complimentary admission to the zoo for themselves and up to three family members. The offer is only valid by going online and getting a unique promo code at zootampa.org/special-offers/military-salute. (Tampa Bay Times)
The Blue Star Museums program, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, has a lineup of museums across the country offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and up to five members of their family, including National Guard and Reserve. The 2022 Blue Star Museums program began on Armed Forces Day on May 21 and continues through Labor Day, on Sept. 5. Blue Star museums in the Tampa Bay area include the Florida Air Museum in Lakeland, the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, St. Petersburg’s Imagine Museum, Great Explorations Children’s Museum and the Dalí Museum, as well as Tampa’s Museum of Art and the Henry Plant Museum. You can find a list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Visitors must show a military ID for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum. (Tampa Bay Times)