Welcome!

I am humbled and honored to serve as the 2017 Chairman of the Board of the Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Having been active in the Chamber for several years, I have witnessed this organization to truly be focused on the success of the local businesses and industry.

The Boynton Beach community exhibits a tremendous sense of community pride that is obvious from the unbelievable hardworking network of volunteers found here. The Chamber has earned its position in the community as the conduit between business and government. There is an active Government Affairs committee that meets monthly with prominent members of the city government. This interaction keeps the Chamber informed of what is going on in the community and how the Chamber members can promote their businesses through learning what is happening in the community.

In addition to the Government Affairs committee, the Chamber provides opportunities for its members. For new members, it’s “Bagels with the Boss.” Monthly “Meet Me at the Mixer” events give business owners and members an opportunity to network after hours. At monthly “Networking Over Easy” events, members have another opportunity to network early in the morning. These are just a few of the activities the Chamber supports for its members and the community. There are special events from “Taste of Boynton,” which is the premier annual event to sample the food from area restaurants along with a wine tasting, to the Annual Porges Golf Cup and the new Harvest Fest, which is a free event for the community. The Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce offers opportunities and access for your business and partnership in building a stronger community.

As an employee of IberiaBank for three years, I am fortunate to work for a company that allows me time to give back to the community, which I greatly enjoy. We are committed to the communities we serve and strive to support the betterment of the community and economic development of the area. Please let me remind you that you will get out of the Chamber what you put into the Chamber. Other opportunities to participate are ribbon cuttings, the Ambassador committee and leads groups. If you are interested in growing your business, there are many ways to do it.

The growth and success of your Chamber is made possible by the dedicated and committed support of staff, the existing members and the creation of new members. I hope you would like to find out more about the membership benefits we have to offer and are encouraged to become a member.

If you should have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact the Chamber at (561) 732-9501.

Our mission statement: CONNECTING BUSINESS TO EVERYTHING THAT CREATES SUCCESS.

Sincerely,

Nancy Ernst
Chairman of the Board

Connecting business to everything that creates success

For more than 85 years, The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce has been focused on building and growing a sustainable business climate that benefits our membership and community. By attracting new businesses, supporting job creation and promoting economic development, the chamber is helping make The Greater Boynton Beach area the place to live, work and play.

The mission of The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce is to connect business to everything that creates success. As a nonprofit organization, the chamber works closely with the city commission, county commission, community redevelopment agency, business development board and tourist development council to foster a climate for business retention and job creation.

Members of The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce make a sound business decision when taking an active role in our multiple networking opportunities. Our chamber offers 36 pre-organized networking events throughout the year. We provide five leads groups in which to share and obtain new business with other members. The Chamber also hosts four signature special events yearly.

In addition, our Government Affairs Council and Health Care Council help educate and advocate on issues related to those fields. Our Ambassadors Committee and President’s Advisory Council are dynamic and meet monthly to discuss current topics, and discuss Chamber dynamics.

We encourage you to visit us on our website at www.boyntonbeach.org, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

As you will soon discover, we are much more than South Florida’s best business advocate. Boynton Beach is open for business!

Sincerely,

Jonathan T. Porges
President & CEO

Executive Board

Iberia Bank
Nancy Ernst
Chairman of the Board

Senior Helpers
Chair-Elect
Michael Mohl

AW Architects
Vice Chair, Government Affairs
Jim Williams

Practical Billing Services
Vice Chair, Membership Services
Judy Saxton

Palm Beach Community Bank
Director-at-Large
James Nugent

The Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce
President & CEO
Jonathan T. Porges

Board of Directors

Florida Power & Light
Board Member
Sophia Eccleston

Porges & Eisenberg, CPA, LLC
Board Member
Donald K. Porges, CPA

Saint John’s Missionary Baptist Church
Board Member
Woodrow Hay

Roses Realty Services
Board Member
Ed Kosiec

YMCA of South Palm Beach County
Board Member
Barry Davis

Honorary Board Members

Devon Coughlan
Tony Newbold
Robert Taylor

President’s Circle

AW Architects
Bethesda Health, Inc.
Florida Power & Light
Palm Beach Community Bank
Porges & Eisenberg, CPA, LLC

Executive Circle

IberiaBank
Practical Billing Services, Inc.
Senior Helpers
Delray Magazine

Chairman’s Trustee Circle

AmTrust Bank
Benvenuto Caterestaurant
Delray Medical Center
Habitat for Humanity of So. PBC
Hampton Inn & Suites Boynton Beach
The Hope Center for Rehabilitation
JFK Medical Center
Plastridge Insurance Agency, Inc.
PNC Bank
Rivarad Insurance Agency, Inc.
Roses Realty Services, Inc.
TD Bank
Walgreens

Boynton Beach
Population (2012) 70,101
Male population 32,725, 46.7%
Female population 37,376, 53.3%
Median age 43.5
Area: Square miles16
Latitude 26.53N
Longitude 80.08W
Elevation 30 feet
ZIP codes:33426, 33435, 33436, 33483

Palm Beach County Population
Palm Beach Florida
1980576,7689,746,961
1990863,50312,938,071
20111,309,40118,938,048
2015 1,300,16220,612,439
2030 (p)1,648,00023,821,300
(p) Denotes projected population
Male 634,124
Female 675,277
Under 5 years old 70,759
5-14 148,594
15-19 79,584
20-34 216,935
35-44 198,910
45-59 267,577
60-74 202,008

Palm Beach County Housing (2010)
Own 72.6%
Rent 27.4%
Total households 661,865
Average household size 2.42
Average family size 3.08
Median household income $52,951
Mean household income $81,578

Palm Beach County Labor Force (2010)
Labor Force 647,885
Labor Force (percentage of population) 60.3

Palm Beach County School District
• 5th largest in Florida
• 11th largest in United States
• 185 schools
• 174,866 students K-12
• 34 charter schools
• 4,950 home school students
• 227 choice programs
• 38,256 community volunteers
• 85 new schools built in past 11 years
• 78,326 Computers in classrooms; 5,543 iPads
• 26 adult community education sites
• 737 Nationally Certified teachers
• Six district schools earned Newsweek and U.S. News Magazine’s Best High Schools in America 2012.

State & Local Taxation Palm Beach County
Countywide Ad Valorem millage rates
Government 4.9925
Schools 8.1800
Special 2.3433
Total 15.5158
State
Corporate Income Tax 5.5%
Personal Income Tax 0.0%
Retail Sales Tax 6.0%

Palm Beach County Education Attainment
K-8 5.8%
9-12 7.1%
High School 26.6%
Some College 20.6%
Associate degree 7.7%
Bachelor’s 20.3%
Graduate 11.9%

Law Enforcement & Public Safety Police, Fire and Rescue Emergencies 911
Boynton Beach Police & Fire Emergencies 911

Non-Emergency Police
(561) 742-6100

Non-Emergency Fire
(561) 742-6325

Crime Stoppers
(800) 458-TIPS

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
(561) 625-5122
www.myfwc.com

Florida Highway Patrol
(561) 357-4101 or *FHP (347)

Palm Beach County Sheriff
(561) 688-3000

Poison Control Center
(800) 222-1222

In Case of Storms or Disasters American Red Cross
(561) 994-2060

Florida Division of Emergency Management
(850) 413-9900
www.floridadisaster.org

Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management
(561) 712-6400
www.co.palm-beach.fl.us/pubsafety/eoc

South Florida Water Management District
(561) 686-8800
www.sfwmd.gov

State of Florida Emergency
Information 24-hour hotline
(800) 320-0519

Government Offices & Agencies

Animal Control (City)
(561) 742-6210

Animal Control (County)
(561) 233-1200

City Manager’s Office
(561) 742-6010

City of Boynton Beach
(561) 742-6000

Community Redevelopment Agency
(561) 737-3256
www.catchboynton.com

County Commission
(561) 355-2001

Greater Boynton Beach Chamber of Commerce
(561) 732-9501

Internal Revenue Service
(800) 829-1040

Internal Revenue Service Forms
(800) 829-3676

Job Hotline City of Boynton Beach
(561) 742-6466

Palm Beach County Governmental Center
Main
(561) 355-2040

South County
(561) 274-1400

Property Appraiser

County
(561) 355-3230

South County
(561) 276-1250

Social Security Administration
(800) 772-1213

Supervisor of Elections South County Office
(561) 276-1226

S. County Courthouse
(561) 274-1400

Tax Collector
(561) 355-2264

Citizen Services

2-1-1 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast
211

Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA)
(561) 265-3797

AIDS Hotline, Confidential Testing
(800) 352-2437

Alcoholics Anonymous
(561) 276-4581

American Red Cross PBC Chapter
(561) 833-7711

Area Agency on Aging
(561) 684-5885

Better Business Bureau
(561) 842-1918

Business Development Board of Palm Beach County
(561) 835-1008

Children & Families
(561) 837-5078

Consumer Affairs
(561) 712-6600

Convention and Visitors Bureau
(561) 233-3000

Cultural Council of Palm Beach County
(561) 471-2901

Disabled Court Services
(561) 355-4380

Florida Abuse Hotline
(800) 962-2873

Gulfstream Goodwill Industries
(561) 278-3205

Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League/Humane Society
(561) 686-3663

Lawyer Referral Services
(561) 451-3256

League of Women Voters
(561) 276-4898

Legal Aid Society
(561) 655-8944

Mental Health Association
(561) 832-3755

Salvation Army
(561) 391-1344

United Way of Palm Beach County
(561) 375-6600

Palm Beach County Sports Commission
(561) 233-3180

Veteran’s Services
(561) 355-4761

Victim Services
(561) 274-1500

Workforce Alliance (Career Center South)
(561) 853-0181

Library

City of Boynton Beach
(561) 742-6390

West Boynton Beach Branch (County)
(561) 734-5556

Palm Beach County Library Department
(561) 233-2600

Post Office

United States Postal Service Customer Service
(800) 275-8777

United States Postal Service Boynton Beach Branch
(561) 740-7329

Art Center
125 SE 2nd Ave.
Art, craft, clay & kiln rooms, covered patio, Certified Wildlife Habitat

Barton Memorial Park
1110 NW 5th St.
Benches, restroom

Betty Thomas Park
2882 SE 2nd St.
Playground, basketball, picnic shelter

Boynton Beach Memorial Park
1611 S. Seacrest Blvd.
Cemetery, benches

Boynton Lakes Park
300 Boynton Lakes Blvd.
Playground, exercise path

Civic Center
128 E. Ocean Ave.
Auditorium, classroom, dance studio, playground

Congress Avenue Barrier Free Park
3111 S. Congress Ave.
Playgrounds, splash pad, open play field, accessible restrooms, walking path, picnic shelter

Dewey Park
100 NE 4th St.
Benches

Edward F. Harmening Arbor Park
124 E. Woolbright Rd.
Benches, native trees

Ezell Hester, Jr. Center & Park
1901 N. Seacrest Blvd.
Gym, weight, game & meeting rooms, nature preserve, picnic shelters, basketball, tennis, racquetball, playground, baseball field, multipurpose field

Forest Hills Park
2500 SW 8th St.
Basketball, picnic shelter, Playground, softball

Galaxy Park
301 Galaxy Wy.
Baseball/ softball field, playground, restrooms

Harvey E. Oyer, Jr. Park
2010 N. Federal Hwy.
Boardwalk, boat ramps, picnic shelters, pier, recreation building, restrooms

Heritage Park
N. Seacrest Boulevard & NW 10th Ave.
Passive park

Hibiscus Park
660 SW 1st Ave.
Basketball, benches, playground

Intracoastal Park & Clubhouse
2240 N. Federal Hwy.
Playground, picnic shelters, restrooms, event & class rooms, registration office

Jaycee Park
2600 S. Federal Hwy.
Benches, boardwalk, Bocce, picnic shelters, playground, open play area, interpretive art markers

Kids Kingdom Playground
129 E. Ocean Ave.
20,000-square-foot, multi-level playground

Knollwood Park
8121 Lawrence Rd.
Benches, gazebo

Laurel Hills Park
515 NW 7th St.
Basketball, playground

Little League Park
300 Woolbright Rd.
Baseball, Concessions, restrooms

Mangrove Nature Park
700 NE 4th Ave.
Boardwalk, observation deck, information kiosks, restroom

Meadows Park
4305 N. Congress Ave.
Tennis, sand volleyball, Bocce, picnic shelters, playgrounds, exercise path

Oceanfront Park
6415 N. Ocean Blvd.
Benches, boardwalk, concessions, grills, picnic shelters, playground, restrooms

Palmetto Greens Linear Park
421 NE 13th Ave.
Two fishing piers, paved walkway

Pence Park
600 SE 4th St.
Basketball, Playground, Restrooms, Multipurpose field

Pioneer Canal Park
848 NW 13th Ave.
Basketball, boat ramps, picnic shelter, pier, playground, tennis

Rosemary Scrub Natural Area
2901 N. Seacrest Blvd.
Passive park, nature trail, info kiosk

Sara Sims Park
209 NW 9th Ct.
Basketball, picnic shelters, playground, racquetball, tennis, restrooms

Seacrest Scrub Natural Area
3400 S. Seacrest Blvd.
Passive park, nature trail, info kiosk

Senior Center
1021 S. Federal Hwy.
Activity, meeting, game & computer rooms, coffee shop, fitness room

Tennis Center
3111 S. Congress Ave.
Tennis courts, pro shop, restrooms

Veterans Memorial Park
411 N. Federal Hwy.
Benches, monuments

Wilson Park (Carolyn Sims Center and John Denson Pool)
225 NW 12th Ave.
Game, class & multipurpose rooms, playground, multipurpose field, basketball, youth empowerment center, pool

Schools in Boynton Beach Florida

Public K-12
The School District of Palm Beach County is the fifth largest school system in Florida and the 11th largest in the country, with 185 schools serving 176,724 (total K-12) students who speak 150 languages/dialects. It is ranked among the best school districts in both the state and the nation, and was rated “A” by the Florida Department of Education for eight consecutive years – the only urban district in the state with this distinction.

Charter K-12
There are 41 charter schools sponsored and administered through the School District of Palm Beach County. They are public schools, and the county school district’s Charter Department provides academic, financial, operational and technical assistance to them. Charter schools’ guiding principles include meeting high standards of student achievement while providing parents flexibility to choose among diverse educational opportunities within the state’s public school system, while promoting enhanced academic success and financial efficiency by aligning responsibility with accountability.

Colleges & universities
The exceptional quality of training and education at the colleges and universities in Palm Beach County and South Florida results in high-quality, employment-focused workforce training; progressive professional education; and opportunities for enrichment designed to meet the changing needs of a diverse community. There are 16 institutions of higher learning offering everything from technical certifications to doctorate degrees, as well as dozens of vocational and technical institutions.

Students with special needs
Current research shows the population of students with special needs is growing significantly. Autism spectrum studies alone indicated that an estimated one in 68 children, and one in 42 boys are on the Autism spectrum in the United States.

Palm Beach County offers a number of education opportunities for children with special needs from birth to age 22. The School District of Palm Beach County has an innovative Exceptional Student Education program through their public schools, and there are a number of charter and private schools which offer an array of specialized education programs.

As part of the Business Development Board’s initiative to provide a comprehensive overview of K-20 education in Palm Beach County, this section has been dedicated to identifying programs available for children with special needs.

Resources
211 Special Needs HelpLine
www.211palmbeach.org/special-needs

Whether a resident or visitor, if medical attention is necessary, the Greater Boynton Beach area is home to three state-of-the-art health care facilities. Each one is committed to patient dignity along with an established reputation for professionalism in assisting with patient health progress and family concerns.

Bethesda Health is a 401-bed, nonprofit, fully accredited community hospital that has been serving the health care needs of southern Palm Beach County since 1959. Bethesda offers a full range of services including a nationally accredited vascular institute, general and specialized surgery, maternity services, a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care unit, pediatric and pediatric intensive care services and much more. There are several other services located on the hospital’s campus, allowing for better patient care in a short amount of time.

The Bethesda Heart Hospital is the area’s most comprehensive, state-of-the-art cardiovascular facility in the county. This 39-bed, all-private-room heart hospital is a nationally ranked member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the world’s foremost authority for its commitment to achieving quality outcomes and excellence in cardiovascular care.

The Bethesda Orthopedic Institute is a 24-bed facility and staffed by a highly experienced team of orthopedic surgeons, nurses, physical therapists and support staff who care for fractures and rehabilitation, hands/upper extremity, joint replacements, spine surgery and sports medicine. This comprehensive, musculoskeletal facility that provides a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care is dedicated to helping patients achieve their fullest potential.

The Cornell Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine features 26 private rooms, one semi-private room, a spacious activity room, dining room, family-oriented activities designed to involve family members and a transitional apartment to help patients regain their independence after treatment. This hospital-based, comprehensive rehabilitation program offers acute inpatient services with specialty programs for patients who require neurologic and orthopedic rehabilitation.

Other specialty, on campus centers, include the Comprehensive Cancer Center; where services begin with cancer prevention and early detection followed by diagnosis, multi-disciplinary planning and treatment, inpatient oncology and infusion, as well as rehabilitation, home care and support services; the Stroke Center; Palm Beach County’s first Advanced Primary Stroke Center, dedicated to helping patients and their families better understand strokes, advancements in treatment and preventive steps; and the Center for Surgical Weight reduction, offers gastric bypass and Lap-Band surgery to support the unique needs of the clinically obese.

Delray Medical Center has been recognized as one of America’s 100 Best Hospital’s for orthopedic surgery, stroke care and general surgery by Healthgrades, the leading provider of information to help consumers make informed decisions about a physician or hospital; as well as being recognized by independent health care ratings organization as No. 1 in Florida for neurosciences and treatment of stroke in 2013. This 42-acre campus is equipped with 493 licensed beds, 1,600 employees and over 600 physicians.

Delray Medical Center offers 24-hour emergency care, InQuick ER, cardiovascular care, Center for Advanced Orthopedics, Wound Treatment Center, neurosciences, diagnostic imaging, outpatient services, Comprehensive Stroke Center, Sleep Disorder Center and more. Recently Delray Medical Center became a Provisional Level I Trauma Center, accepting critical accident and trauma victims from throughout the region.

This medical center is equipped with a high level of care for a wide variety of medical and surgical specialties from a team of experienced, trained health care professionals. Delray Medical Center is also actively involved in community outreach, sponsoring many educational lectures and fundraisers.

JFK Medical Center is conveniently located in the heart of Palm Beach County. This 460-bed facility is known for comprehensive services including general and orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, stroke care, minimally invasive surgery, robotics, cancer care, sleep disorders, emergency services and cardiovascular care. With a medical staff of more than 500 physicians, more than 2,000 allied health care professionals and over 300 adult and teen volunteers, the JFK Medical Center is well staffed for any situation.

At the forefront of stroke diagnosis, treatment and prevention, JFK’s stroke program has been certified by the Joint Commission and given its “Gold Seal of Approval” for providing the greatest breadth and depth of specialist and advanced services for patients. JFK Medical Center is also a leading treatment and resource center for people affected by complex neurological conditions, using the latest technology and treatments to diagnosis and treat diverse, chronic and challenging problems involving the brain, spine cerebrovascular system and nervous system.

JFK Emergency Care Services, a freestanding emergency room delivers expert emergency care in the Mainstreet at Midtown Shopping Center. Here, patients can receive the same emergency care as they would at the hospital. This facility offers minimal wait times, 24/7 access, board certified physicians and an expert emergency trained staff.