Celebrating 10 Years
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S B2B MARKETPLACE • 239-573-9732 Vol. 10 No. 11 / SEPTEMBER 2017 www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com
Distributed in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs and Naples
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Commercial Real Estate
A monthly section exploring the Southwest Florida commercial real estate marketplace. Pages 5-7
Focus on Manufacturing
Area companies are building a better future — one made right here in Southwest Florida.
IN THE NEWS
Blue Chip application deadline approaching
23rd Annual Southwest Florida Blue Chip Community Business Award application deadline is fast approaching. Coordinated and sponsored by BB&T- Oswald Trippe and Company and BB&T Bank, the Blue Chip Community Business Award recognizes successful small businesses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties that have overcome adversity to achieve success. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 6. BLUE CHIP See page 9
ABWA hosting Annual Women’s Business event
The ABWA Neapolitan Chapter will host its third Annual Women’s Business event, on Sept. 26 at the Hilton Naples, to showcase local women owned or managed businesses and not-for-profit organizations that provide support to the women and children in our area. • Looking for Women owned business sponsors. • ABWA invited 10 Not-forProfit organizations. Each Non-forProfit will be given a free exhibitor table. ABWA’s way to support women in the community. ABWA will post the Not-for-Profits groups who will be participating in the coming weeks. ABWA See page 8
Photo by Bob Szanto For the Bistro, charcuterie options include a selection of French, Italian and Spanish dry ham, and a selection of cheeses, homemade foie gras and pate. All sandwiches will be made with Rustic Sourdough bread.
French bistro opens in Naples
By E. Sue Huff Guest Correspondent
The Naples area can now learn the meaning behind the old saying “the best thing since sliced bread,” since master baker Yannick Brendel and his wife Ana have opened their dream bakery and bistro. This creative concept and bakery is being brought to Naples by co-owners The bakery and bistro seats up to Yannick and Ana Brendel and Ed and 92 people and may be used for priSue Mullen. The establishment takes vate events and parties. its name from the French village where baked goods, watching bakers in acYannick was raised and where his fa- tion, hearing the crunch of the crust ther and grandfather are well known from French baguettes to the explobakers. sion of taste on the palette, guests will The décor of the bakery resembles certainly have a “sense-ational” expethe village of Colmar, which transports rience. guests there by awakening all their All of the products at La Colmar senses. From experiencing a small are made from scratch with no frozen quaint French village, smelling fresh ingredients. Yannick incorporates fam-
ily recipes and techniques passed to him from his grandfather and father to make the bakery even more authentic while also making it unique to Naples. Ana and Yannick Brendel worked on the concept of the authentic French bakery for two years to answer the question of why the bread eaten in the USA is not as memorable as the bread found in any French village. By answering the question, the Brendels realized that baking is an art and every ingredient plays a very important part when it comes to the quality and taste. They visited different French bakeries in the US that are owned and operated by French-trained bakers and the bread was still not the same as the bread eaten in France. That’s when the couple found out that the flour in the USA is completely different than French flour. RESTAURANT See page 11
EDO hosts government contracting symposium
Panelists (l-r) David Jones, Gordon Glover, BJ Brundage and Bob Koenig take questions from the audience.
In July, the Lee County Economic Development Office hosted the second annual SWFL Government Contracting Symposium and Expo at Florida SouthWestern State College. With 20 local, state and federal procurement agencies exhibiting, more than 175 attendees learned about the available contracting opportunities with the various agencies. Throughout the morning, a number of exhibitors and panelists shared insights on how to successfully become a government contractor. SYMPOSIUM See page 3
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