CONTACT:
Bridget Lake, President/CEO
407-278-4870
bridget@oviedowintersprings.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce to Advocate
for Small Businesses at Capitol Connection in Tallahassee on April 16-17
Orlando, FL (April 11, 2019) – Local business leaders will travel to Tallahassee on April 16-17 to advocate for small business as part of the Capitol Connection. Presented annually by the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce (OWSRCC) and underwritten by co-presenting sponsors Jason Brodeur for State Senate and Killgore, Pearlman, Semanie, Denius & Squires, P.A., this unique program includes opportunities for its members to hear from Florida leaders, including Attorney General Ashley Moody, Director of Visit Florida Dana Young, Secretary Halsey Bashears of the Department of Business & Professional Regulations, Florida Senate President Pro Tempore David Simmons, state representatives, and other state officials.
Bridget Lake, OWSRCC President/CEO explains: “Advocacy by the chamber is of significant benefit to our members and the community at large. As the only chamber in Seminole County to make the trip to Tallahassee, our member representatives are filling a critical need in supporting our region’s business community. There is no more important resource for the legislators and cabinet members than hearing directly from those who are affected the most by their decisions and those that need to be made.”
The Capitol Connection trip includes members from the Oviedo-Winter Springs area, as well as members from the Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Newberry-Jonesville chambers. Scheduled and invited speakers include Florida Senate President Pro Tempore David Simmons, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried, and Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations Secretary Halsey Bashears, as well as State Representatives David Smith, Scott Plakon, Joy Goff-Marcil, Anna Eskamani, Randy Fine, and Carlos Guillermo Smith. Governor DeSantis and Lt. Governor Nunez are special invited guests. Attendees will have the opportunity to have dialogues with their elected officials and staffs regarding the specific needs of their small business communities.
OWSRCC recognizes the importance of advocating on behalf of the business community that it serves, and in preparation for Capitol Connection, its Government Relations committee has prepared a list of key topics that directly relate to its membership. Business Rent Tax is an area of particular interest as it affects numerous chamber members. Since Florida is the only state that charges rent tax to a tenant on a commercial lease, the region’s competitive advantage to draw business is challenged by the existence of this tax. The chamber views it as an unreasonable burden on businesses and supports the continued reduction of the rate from 5.7 to 5.5 percent and ultimately the elimination of the tax.
About the Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce
The Oviedo-Winter Springs Regional Chamber of Commerce is a private, not-for-profit business membership association. With corporate offices located at 376 N. Central Ave., near downtown Oviedo, the purpose of the chamber is to serve as an advocate for business and civic interests within our communities. OWSRCC was recently named Best Chamber in the business services category of the Orlando Business Journal’s 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards. For more information about the chamber, please visit www.oviedowintersprings.org.