Business & Industry
The chamber itself is investing in the community’s future. After 85 years in the downtown area, the chamber this fall moved to a new office on C o n g r e s s Avenue. “This central location will help us stay connected with area businesses, as we expand our services and our membership in coming years,” said Jergensen. In addition, the chamber opened a new Visitor Center to serve the growing numbers of business and leisure travelers coming to Boynton Beach. Certainly, there are many reasons why Greater Boynton Beach is so attractive to developers, investors and new businesses: • A high quality of life, with a wide range of housing, highly regarded schools and countless recreational activities. • A growing population base that includes 65,000 residents within
the city limits and another 85,000 in the western Boynton area. The average household income in the area exceeds $62,000 and the median age is just under 42 years. • A central location in the heart of Palm Beach County. More than 40 percent of the county’s total population lives within 10 miles of Boynton Beach. • Easy access to regional and state markets. Area businesses can serve the 5.5 million South Florida metropolitan area, while Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike put the entire state within easy driving distance. • Global accessibility, with three international airports and three major seaports less than 50 miles away. Other business advantages include the region’s large pool of skilled workers, low tax rates and financial incentive programs. The chamber works closely with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) to assist expanding and relocating businesses. Throughout the year, the chamber provides networking opportunities and special events such as the Taste of Boynton, golf tournaments, business expos and educational forums. A new division for Young Professionals offers mixers and networking programs for residents age 21 to 43 (see related article). “Our chamber is dedicated to supporting Boynton Beach area businesses,” says Jergensen, “and we will continue to expand our programs in our new location.”
Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce Timeline The Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1921. (According to the 1990 directory) The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce is a private not-for-profit membership organization founded in 1925 to serve the area’s businesses (according to 2007 directory) The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce was incorporated on August 24, 1970 (according to 1994 directory)
1947 - Ann Barrett, a Boynton Beach realtor and owner of Coast Line Realty, helped organize the Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce in 1947. “The year 1947 - a civic-minded group organized a Chamber of Commerce. Yours truly served as voluntary secretary and membership chairman, until sufficient money was raised to employ a part time secretary. During this time, I attended short term summer courses on Chamber of Commerce executive work at Chapel Hill, N.C. University. For three consecutive terms and received diploma. The Chamber of Commerce was reorganized several times due to inexperienced leadership and lack of cooperation with some city officials. Finally a business group promoted our present Chamber of Commerce, in gratitude; yours truly donated the 25 ft. lot where a building now stands”. 1949 – There were only four new members to the Chamber in 1949 including Fiord’s Motor Court, John Bowyer, Bowyer’s Motel, R. L. Brandewie,
Sidney Court, and Virgil Rath, Rath’s Apt. It was decided to place a table and chairs on the City Hall lawn and setup a C of C information booth for the convenience of guests traveling U.S. No. 1 1954 - In 1954 the C of C is active and could only boast one paid member. Those present decided to elect a board of directors by permitting all present to vote even though no dues were paid. The nine selected were Paul Mercer, Charles Senior, Paul Harrington, Ronald Fruda, Vince Ray, Claude
Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce
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