We’re All Business
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS VOICE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 9 No. 8 / JUNE 2016 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
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IN THE NEWS
Learn redevelopment benefits of brownfields
Four agencies are fostering brownfield redevelopment, which can revitalize communities and boost economic development in a two-day seminar this month. “By providing financial and regulatory incentives, the opportunities to clean and redevelop blighted property to achieve the community vision are greatly enhanced,” said Jon Iglehart, director of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s South District. The DEP is partnering with the city of Sarasota, the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and Visit Sarasota County for the June 8 and 9 symposium. They will share information about Florida’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program, which empowers communities, local governments and other stakeholders to work together to assess, clean up and re-use sites previously impacted by pollutants. REDEVELOP See page 8
Naples airport begins improvement projects
Naples Municipal Airport has started several improvement projects at the south end of the airport along North Road between Tower Drive and the observation deck. The airport will remove the berm along the sidewalk, relandscape the area and build public restrooms at the observation deck. To improve water drainage and prepare the area for potential development, the berm is being replaced with attractive and substantial landscaping that will serve as a visual barrier. In addition to the berm removal, the adjacent sidewalk will be raised to increase drainage and usability. AIRPORT See page 7
Bonita Professional Park enjoys reopening
After months of planning, renovations and marketing, the Bonita Professional Park made its debut within the Bonita Springs community. Over 100 guests were invited to tour the property. Part of the ceremonies included a brief commentary by Bonita Springs Mayor Peter Simmons; Randy Krise, the property listing broker; Jennifer Castriotta, resident listing agent and Robert Johnston, responsible for all operations as the property’s general manager. Robert presented his vision for the property and tenants to help them thrive through exceptional customer service and access to a common market of upscale customers. Guests also were invited to view an informative video about PARK See page 9
Photography by Jim Jett Temperatures at the CBI Distribution Center range from 5 degrees in some areas to 55 degrees in others, requiring an elaborate temperature control system.
Cheney Brothers opens for business By Karen P. Moore SWFBT Publisher
It’s been a long road since the Charlotte County Commissioners approved the deal that brought the Cheney Brothers Distribution Center project to fruition—in fact, it’s been almost five years. Lifelong Charlotte County resident, Bruce Laishley, was instrumental in bringing Cheney Brothers, Inc. (CBI), a food service distribution company, headquartered in Riviera Beach, Florida to Charlotte County. This “model of recruitment success” came from Laishley’s initial attempts to get a Cheney Brothers expansion to SW Florida to better serve his restaurants. The company didn’t have enough business in SW Florida to justify an expansion, so Laishley took it upon himself to garner more business for Cheney. Within a year, this effort generated millions of dollars of new business for CBI, thus justifying their need to establish
Five years after the move was approved, CBI unveils its Southwest Florida distribution center. a facility to distribute in the SW region of Florida. The County Commissioners approved a 35 acre land deal, valued at $2.5 million, that is located in the Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park (ECAP). CBI has now completed construction of its 450,000 square foot distribution center in Charlotte County. CHENEY See page 9
Summit showcases employment opportunities Recent press coverage highlighted a local shortage of qualified workers in industries like construction. Other important economic driver sectors also continue to recover following the economic crisis that began a decade ago. Still more are increasingly setting up shop in Southwest Florida, leading to competition for skilled, reliable help. In Southwest Florida’s growing economy, employers need to get creative to attract top talent and may even consider looking further afield to find the employees they need. At the Southwest Florida Workforce Summit, recently presented by Above Board Chamber of Florida and the Southwest Florida International Airport, potential employers learned the strategies of major local employers, discovered a ready workforce in the Caribbean and learned the status of the employment market here at home. The event featured a panel discus-
Photography by Jim Jett The Med Tourism Expo Table at the Southwest Florida Workforce Summit. sion that included top recruiters from a variety of industries and public officials, all representing the concerns of business here and in Puerto Rico. During the same hours, employers and jobseekers explored mutually ben-
eficial opportunities at the Southwest Florida Workforce Summit Job Fair. For more information about the Above Board Chamber, contact Jeanne Sweeney at (239) 910-7426 or Jeanne@aboveboardchamber.com.