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Leaders discuss effects of algal bloom
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Legislators don’t want to hear the emotional stories about how harmful algal bloom (HAB) affected the lives of Southwest Floridians, said Matt DePaolis, SCCF environmental policy director and moderator of the SanCap Chamber panel discussion at the July 10 business luncheon held at Pink Shell Beach Resort. “They do listen to numbers in Tallahassee,” he said as he introduced a partnership study released this year about the economic impact of poor water quality. Representatives from the four partner organizations that commissioned the study made up the meeting’s “Economics of our Ecology: How Blue = Green” panel: James Evans, CEO for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation; Daniel Andrews, co-founder and executive director of Captains For Clean Water; Bill Robinson, chief executive director for Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of REALTORS; and Michele Arquette-Palermo, chief programs officer for Conservancy of Southwest Florida. “We partnered to put together a study to give us those numbers, to give us some of that data that would be impressive to our legislators, our decision-makers, so that they know truly the ramifications of the decisions they’re making,” said DePaolis. He presented some of the figures gleaned from research in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, beginning with the number $5.2 billion – the amount lost in the coastal economy from a future HAB of the severity of those experienced in
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Brady Photos by Christine trade to the Southof international offices. about the importance Buqueras talks Lee County Economic Development Director Carlos the first-ever stop at Port Manatee Executive during the Port’s west Florida market
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Florida to communities in second one of four host as part of the Lee County was from seven countries welcome companiesTrade Summit. Manatee, annual International International Trade Hub at Port Fort Lauseries visited Organized by The Business opportunityta and Tampa for one day the 2019 Global Bradenton/Saraso derdale, Fort Myers,to 29. 26 Office, Southwest each from Aug. ReEconomic Development and the Southwest The Lee County Chamber of Commerce the event, which Florida Hispanic Association co-hosted gional Manufacturers Gulf Railway. Chile, Colombia, was sponsored Seminole from Argentina, Peru and other locales International companies Mexico, Spain, goods, apparel, artisanal El Salvador, Guatemala, fruits, coffee, food, cooking systems featured wine, snack and state-of-the-art to County industry merchandise companies showcases Lee founded as part of Port Manatee, during the summit. An expo-style summit from seven nations Trade Hub at in Florida and leaders visiting markets Summit. The International between International Trade advice and business as a vital link provides expert See page 6 the second annual in 2014, serves world. The hub TRADE throughout the
to
Dave Gammon elevated Charlotte EDO director
Fort businesses visit
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tate market overview.
in the wake of Charlotte County, joinLucienne Pears former director Partners at Babcock ing Kitson and former Business Ranch, elevated and interim Recruitment Supervisor to executive director Dave Gammon Economic Developdirector of the ment Office. face in reGammon is a familiar he development as gional economic three years with his has proven in EDO. Charlotte County continue leading to excited is He like developments several existing page 19
ENEURS
SALUTE TO ENTREPR for growthand Intermediary ss Advisors poised Proa Certified Business Mergers & Acquisitions transaction experiEdison Busine the IBBA ap- Certified designations from ence totaling partner and
GAMMON See
Privacy & Cyber Security Forum announced
& Cyber SeA special Privacy held on Friwill be at curity Forum 9 a.m. to noon day, Nov. 8, fromNews Community the Naples Daily room. Companies will William C. Huff and insponsor the informational for the community. teractive forum forum is for atThe goal of the clearer undera tendees to gain keep their famito standing of how businesses private. lies, wealth and FORUM See page
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in fi$170 fessional a Eric Gall, managing with a concentration proximately for Edison Avenue, won and an MBAthe University of Michigan. broker of record brokerage and lower million. Gall transactions and nance from leading business Gall in business the 2018, 2016 and acquisitions Niehaus, Bro- Assisting middle market mergers Pfeffer, Steven 2014 Business significant changes No. 1 are Michael and Phillip Reda. Adfirm, is announcing kers of Florida Edward Valaitis Business to operations. Top Dollar Producer to rebrand itself Pfeffer joins Edison of business The firm has decided over 20 years Award for Southwest Advisors” to better out visors with experience, including 12 as “Edison Business service offerings, Florida, beating busi- transactionbusiness brokerage franchise communicate addedbusiness appraisals, Gall a over 90 other He is years as Southwest Florida. Pfeffer is a including certified appraisals and certiness brokers. in Certified Brokers owner certified equipment Certified Intermediary, International Business 6 Circle and Board fied exit strategies. mergers and acquisi- also an EDISON See page Association Chairman’s Brokerage and winner. Eric holds to be led by Award continue Maker will Deal tions efforts 20 years of business Gall. He has over OPENING
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Hoffmann Family buys Hertz Arena, Everblades
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The Hoffmann Family of Companies has entered into an agreement to purchase the Florida Everblades and the Hertz Arena. Plans are underway for a complete renovation of the 8,284-seat, multipurpose arena. The improvements will include enhanced skyboxes, food services and installation of a state-ofthe-art scoreboard. Hertz Arena, which opened in 1998 as Everblades Arena, hosts a variety of events including concerts, Cirque du Soleil, Disney on Ice, boxing and trade shows. The venue offers
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25 suites, two additional ice rinks, a private club and a pub, Breakaway Sports Pub. The arena is also home to the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles club hockey team of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. “We are optimistic that all of the 330 employees will remain with the Hoffmann Family of Companies,” said Craig Brush, Florida Everblades President and General Manager, who signed a five-year contract and has a commitment from all his senior staff to remain in place. “We are thrilled to be acquired by
A specially focused monthly section exploring the SWFL commercial real estate marketplace.
IN THE NEWS
Fort Myers sixth Business Summit slated for Sept. 20
Holly Bell addresses citrus growers about the 25,000-plus uses for industrial hemp, which can now be grown legally in Florida
Cannabis chief promises rich stash for hemp growers Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Jacob Ogles, Editor
SUMMIT See page 7
When other states started authorizing farmers to grow hemp, it didn’t take long to realize there was no place to sell it. Because no structures had been put in place for processing and manufacturing plants, state officials found themselves rushing a regulatory structure through so farmers could offload their first harvests. Holly Bell, Florida’s first Director of Cannabis, plans to learn from that mistake. She said the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will make sure all parts of the burgeoning hemp industry can move forward as soon as new rules unroll later this fall. “When our farmers are ready for a cash flow, we want to encourage them to get going,” she said.
Applications being accepted for the 25th Blue Chip Award The 25th Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award application deadline is fast approaching. The Blue Chip Community Business Award recognizes successful, small businesses in Lee, Collier or Charlotte County that have overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 4. The independent judges select the honoree after all the applications AWARD See page 19
Bell spoke in August at the Citrus Expo and Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo, where growers from around the region gathered to hear her discuss this new and just recently legal product to diversify their inventory. Just a few years ago, there were no legal reasons to grow cannabis in Florida. Now, medical marijuana dispensaries pop up in more shopping centers each week. Soon, farmers will grow non-narcotic hemp crops. With the 2018 federal farm bill allowing hemp to grow, a budding industry will soon emerge in Florida. The Legislature this year authorized a pilot program for growing hemp in the Sunshine State, and state officials are nearly done weeding through a stack of public suggestions.
GrowFL announced this year’s 50 Florida Companies to Watch honorees, including three from Southwest Florida. Companies to Watch is a statewide competition that identifies companies expected to see significant growth over the next several years. The GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch awards program—now in its ninth year—honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout Florida for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. Chosen from 500 growing second-stage nominations from throughout, Florida, the 50 companies named as the 2019 Florida Companies to Watch honorees generated nearly $1 billion in revenue and added over 900 jobs between 2015 and 2018. Together, the honorees project a 35 percent increase in revenue and 37 percent increase in job growth in 2019 compared to 2018. “These stand-out companies are all led by entrepreneurs, and have demonstrated their capacity and intent to grow,” said Dr. Tom O’Neal, GrowFL executive director. “They also all have critical intellectual property or a niche position that gives them a competitive edge in their markets,” he said. Local honorees include: Cottrell Title & Escrow, Collier County; Mettauer Environmental, Lee County; and VeraData, Lee County . “This list recognizes second-stage Florida companies with passionate leaders who are making a difference in growing and diversifying our economy,” said Jennifer Barrows, GrowFL Chairman of the GrowFL Advisory Board and Business Development Executive with WithumSmith+Brown, PC. Second-stage companies are those
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The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce has announced an exciting line-up for its 2019 Business Summit, set for Sept. 20. The summit, now in its sixth year, will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers. This year’s keynote address is “Communicate Your Way to Success,” by entrepreneur, business coach and international speaker Jason Evers. Evers has traveled to more than 20 countries on five continents
such a prestigious company. Our partnership with the Hertz Corporation and now this new ownership ensures that Hertz Arena will maintain our strong community presence and continue to be the number one choice for entertainment in Southwest Florida.” The team and the arena were previously owned by Peter Karmanos, founder of Compuware Corporation and prior majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League. “Simply put, without the support of
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Estate A specially section exploringfocused monthly mercial real estate the SWFL commarketplace. IN THE NEWS Collier names Pelican as ‘Business of the Wire Month’
During the July ty Commission 9 Collier CounWire was named meeting, Pelican ty ‘Business of the Collier Counthe Month’ and recognized by was the a manufacturing Board for being County for over leader in Collier 40 years. Pelican Wire President Ted Bill, who received the are truly honored award, said “We Collier County to be named the Month’ for July.‘Business of the Since moving AWARD See page
Gov. DeSantis announces job growth grants
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Gov. Ron DeSantis the Florida Departmentannounced of Economic Opportunity Florida are acceptingand Enterprise economic development project proposals for the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund. $40 million is available to fund training and public job projects that support infrastructure growth and employment in Florida. “We know the frastructure projects importance inand workforce training has on economic development,” said DeSantis. “The Florida Job Growth Grant Fund will help Florida communities ensure they GRANTS See page
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Dr. Sandra Kauanui (left) and Noemi Ailynee Ramirez, Y. Perez (right) Jessica Sales, with - TIF Shark Daisy Montanez, Tank winners
Alondra Estrada Swap & Shop teamNeika Exulus, Young entrep reneurs share ideas, earn award Y. Perez s
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Noemi
Southwest Florida tion’s business-themedstudents in The Immokalee Foundasummer camp entrepreneurial recently shared ideas their Tank event modeled and garnered awards during a Shark The four-week after the popular TV show. was a partnership Business Management Pathway Coast University’sbetween the foundation and Floridacamp Gulf developed businessInstitute for Entrepreneurshi p. among them: finding plans that solved problems Students common clothes on a budget; centric finances; handling ñera; and findinggetting better sleep; planning studenta quincearestaurants suitable stricted diets. for people with reStudent teams gave presentations about ences, startup costs, their target audiprojected profits, other aspects of marketing plans entrepreneurial and Dr. Sandra Kauanui, FGCU enterprises at iTECH mokalee. Judges Director of Entrepreneursh for in Im- spoke during the event. Smart Companies the presentations were: Brian ip, Rist, The Smart Companies executive chairman; Sofia Blanno, gram allows shoppers to arrange tor of corporate intern; and Matthew Turner, Hertz The through social an app, then physically to buy, sell or swap items direcFirst place awards responsibility. central location exchange those in Immokalee. items at a Shop team of Neika of $500 each went to the MentorUs, an Swap & Exulus, Jessica app that Daisy Montanez Sales, Alondra and Ailynee Ramirez. Estrada, smart financial decisions, encourages students to make interested in dressing earned second place Aimed at students for team members of $250 each fashionably on Alex Soriano, a budget, the pro- ie Etienne, Azael Simon-Quirino Je’an Espinoza, Myrlandand Simson Devesaint.
Fort Myers Mayor
Special to SWFBT Submitted By: Karen P. Moore,
launches Divers ity Committee
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more inclusive city. Publisher Student Hailey Countryman asked her employer, Sanibel Captiva “It is never too the Mayor if he munity Bank, Comlate to give up had to FGCU’s College on diversity whom a team of advisors Education. your prejudices.” of Henry David Thoreau for guidance. Since he could rely on said, “We In a recent interview she can’t really say question was no, the answer to that ing to be representative we are tryat that moment Fort Myers Mayor derson felt Henof our city’s derson has known Randy Hen- a team. inspired to create just such residents and community if we have diversity Ndiang’ui wanted Florida Gulf Coast University on the council don’t to make She sure the Mayor itself.” explained was prepared for ter Ndiang’ui for professor Dr. Pe- road ahead the its 18 membersthe committee drew about 10 years and asked him, was a guest speaker and from the commu“Are in his class, “In- really able to handle the truth?” you nity, representing troduction to Diversity,” diversity project moved The ethnicity, forward. in Novemgender and sexualin race, ber. Henderson Beth Countryman, asked students Hailey’s moth- tity. “We can’t be a committee idenhe could do to what er, became make Fort Myers up of old white made involved with men and think the project, going a which led to we are a $25,000 donation to be in charge of diversity.” from DIVERSITY See page 11 Payment Plans Available • Discounted Merchandise Parking Options Discount • Presale • Private Parties & Exclusive Gifts on Hertz Arena Concerts & Family Shows Buy Any 19/20 & Get A $20 Membership Pack FORD’S GIFT & ‘BLADES TOTE CARD BAG Valid on any NEW full, voucher
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A look at commercial real estate & construction updates in Southwe Photo by Heather Nash Captains for Clean Water’s Daniel Andrews on the “Economics of our Ecology” panel with James Evans (l) of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Bill Robinson (r) of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of REALTORS, addresses the audience. 2005 and 2018. Lee County alone would Okeechobee is a high priority for all. We lose $3 billion. He also talked about im- have learned the region can survive an pact on jobs, fishing-related revenue, individual event like 2018, they said, but property values and tax revenue before it’s uncertain the outcome back-to-back posing questions to the panel. Results of events might have. “That knocks down the resiliency,” the study are available at sccf.org/ecoArquette-Palermo said. “Every time the nomic-impact-water-quality. system takes a knock… we don’t know The panel discussed recovery from when we’re going to hit that tipping point past events, the effectiveness of what is where we actually crash the system.” being done and what needs to be done The government needs to attack nutriboth at a personal and governmental ents at their source, the panelists agreed. level. Stopping discharges from Lake ALGAL See page 6
Comcast invests in improving Sanibel’s internet resiliency As the community enters what’s predicted to be a hyperactive hurricane season, there’s news to share. Sanibel’s internet access is now more resilient, robust, and secure thanks to a major investment from a national telecommunications company. Comcast completed over $72 million worth of essential work to restore connectivity and fortify the Xfinity network in Southwest Florida after Hurricane Ian’s impact. The project comprises more than 70 miles of new lines
rebuilt across Sanibel, including the strategic installation of a 10-mile underground fiber line from the mainland in Lee County to the island community. Keeping an entire island community connected to the internet is no easy task. It requires millions of dollars in investment, ongoing maintenance, painstaking network design, security safeguards and a long-term commitment to be there. Hurricane Ian’s landfall in September 2022 demonstrated that when the
Town of Fort Myers Beach awaiting decision from FEMA
The Town of Fort Myers Beach on July 10 received notice concerning a delay in the review process of our Community Rating System classification from the FEMA Region 4 Administrator. The notice stated, “I know we had previously indicated that we would EDISON See page 4 have a determination on or around the
Nominations for the 2025 season will open in late summer 2024 and will close in November. Details about the upcoming season will be released closer to the opening date. Nominees provide information through an online form about their new product or service, including a
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storm destroyed Xfinity’s network. Within 48 hours of Ian’s passing, Comcast initiated the lengthy rebuild to restore service – a herculean effort that allowed Comcast Business customers like Tower Gallery to get back online as quickly as possible. Marianne Ravenna is president of Tower Gallery, an artists’ cooperative and credits the internet with keeping the gallery in business after Ian hit the island.
10th of July. Since it is the 10th today, I wanted to update you that we are still working through the final decision, and we will have an answer to you no later than this time next week.” The Town of Fort Myers Beach submitted all required documentation identified by FEMA on May 21. Town staff continues to wait for a decision regarding our CRS classification and will update our residents as soon as officials are notified of a decision.
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SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan Accommodation Option While a SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is not forgivable, business owners can quickly and easily find out if they are eligible for a Hardship Accommodation by calling (800) 659-2955 or by signing into their account and going to the Hardship Accommodation link for more information.