INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Commercial Real Estate Market
We’re All Business
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 9 No. 9 / JULY 2016 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
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A look at commercial real estate trends and topics in SWFL FOLLOW SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS TODAY ON:
IN THE NEWS
Technology partnership hosts third Hackathon
HACKATHON See page 13
Blue Chip accepting applications for award
Small businesses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties that have achieved success despite adversity are eligible for the 22nd annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award. The award is coordinated and sponsored by BB&T- Oswald Trippe and Company and BB&T Bank. To qualify, the for-profit business must have been in operation for at least three years under the same ownership and employ five to 400 people. AWARD See page 14
Lectures help businesses combat identity fraud
The Identity Fraud Task Force is offering four free lectures this summer on various aspects of identity fraud for the nonprofit and business communities. The business community requested the topics during a discussion that Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk chaired for the Task Force this spring. On July 6, Carrie Kerskie, director of the Identity Fraud Institute at Hodges University, will offer expert information on Identity Theft prevention for you and your business. On July 20, Greg Scansy, CEO of Cybersecurity Defense Solutions, will discuss how to protect your organization from a breach. On Aug. 3, Rep. Kathleen Passidomo, Sheriff’s Lt. Chad Parker FRAUD See page 2
The Culver’s location on Pine Island Road in Cape Coral was completed earlier this year. It is the second location for the chain in the city.
More butterburgers, cheese curds Culver’s built five locations, has plans to open four more
Creighton Construction has completed construction of five Culver’s restaurants throughout Florida, and four additional locations are under construction. Recently completed Culver’s are located at: • 1607 Cape Coral Pkwy. in Cape Coral • 309 W. Pine Island Rd. in Cape Coral • 9340 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy. in Fort Myers • 12651 S. Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers
• 385 Kings Hwy. in Port Charlotte. The four Culver’s locations under construction are in North Port, Venice, Port St. Lucie and Lehigh Acres. The Midwest-based Culver’s restaurant chain added 31 restaurants in 2015. Known for its cooked-to-order food with farm-fresh ingredients, Culver’s has been operating for more than 30 years, and has more than 550 familyowned and operated restaurants in 22 states. Creighton Construction’s team of professionals have an extensive background and experience in all aspects of project development to provide complete turnkey service from Acquisi-
The Culver’s location on S. Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. tion, Engineering, Design, Permitting through Construction for commercial as well as residential development. For information, call 239-210-0455 or visit creightondev.com.
Learn how to contract with government A free symposium will help business owners learn to contract with federal, state and local governments on July 19. Governments comprise one of the largest U.S. customer segments. Agencies and organizations at all three levels of government buy nearly everything imaginable: food, flowers, fighter jet components, janitorial services, construction and heavy equipment. The symposium is from 9 a.m. to at Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., in downtown Fort Myers. “We are really proud to be part of an event that showcases a part of the economy that is so important to the success of so many local businesses,” said Lee County Economic Development Executive Director John Boland.
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We are really proud to be part of an event that showcases a part of the economy that is so important to the success of so many local businesses.
– John Boland, Lee County Economic Development Executive Director
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The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership held its third annual Hackathon June 3-5 in conjunction with Code For America’s National Day of Civic Hacking. The event took place at the Lee County Economic Development. The economic theme focused on developing ways to track and report references and results for the Lee Entrepreneurs’ Assistance Resource Network, a new organization recently formed by Lee County. “Computer programmers, software developers, graphic designers, project managers, community organizers and others are invited to join together for a weekend of intense collaboration, leveraging their skills to help their community,.” Said Partnership President Marc Farron.
The expo provides insight into the purchasing processes of the government market, identifying resources that can aid business owners when marketing to the various government
entities. Additionally, the event offers opportunities to network with prime contractors and to learn about government subcontracting possibilities. Sponsored by the Lee County Economic Development Office, America’s Small Business Development Center of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University the event gives participants insight, helping identify resources and market their businesses to government agencies. Symposium speakers include the General Service Administration, Veterans Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, MacDill Air Force Base, Army Corps of Engineers, Small Business Administration, FSBDC and Florida Department of EXPO See page 13
FOCUS ON: TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORKPLACE