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Florida lawmakers failed to take action on important condo building safety legislation before they completed work on substantive bills related to the 2022 Legislative Session.

Periodic structural inspections or post-occupancy whole building safety inspections of multifamily buildings was legislation that Floridians overwhelmingly supported by a margin of greater than 4-to-1, according to a Mason-Dixon Florida poll. The legislation was developed in light of the Champlain Towers South collapse at Surfside in 2021.

“This was important life safety legislation to help ensure Florida never experiences another Surfside tragedy,” said Allen Douglas, executive director of the Florida Engineering Society and American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida. “It’s a missed opportunity to pass muchneeded statewide building safety guidelines.”

In Florida, about 2 million people live in more than 912,000 condominium units that are 30 years or older, and, of the 1.5 million condo units in the Sunshine State, another 131,773 are 20-30 years old. Further, more than 105,000 condo units are more than 50 years old.

However, the majority of communities in Florida do not require periodic structural inspections or post-occupancy whole building safety inspections of multi-family buildings to ensure they are safe to live in and not in danger of collapsing.

HB 7069 died in the Florida House, after it was amended and fully passed out of the Senate. The legislation would have provided periodic structural inspections, including: • Inspections for condos that are three stories or taller and within three miles of the coast would be required when they reach 25 years of age, and every 10 years thereafter. • Inspections for condo buildings that are three stories or taller and beyond three miles of the coast would be required when it reaches 30 years of age, and every 10 years thereafter.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida hosts its annual Breakthrough Award ceremony at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center on Thursday, April 7.

The event recognizes individuals and businesses who have advanced the Goodwill Mission throughout the prior year.

The event includes a plated breakfast and videos of each honoree. \

Tickets are $65 each, or $500 for a table of 8 and are available online..

The 2021 Breakthrough Award recipients are: • Wilson Waldrop, Goodwill employee, Chet Perry Achiever of the Year • Walter Barb, Goodwill employee, Employee of the Year • Barbara Zirilli-Lonergan, owner of Zirilli’s Chilly Treats in Cape Coral, William J. Barrett Graduate of the Year • Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity, Employer of the Year • Soy Williams, Volunteer of the Year • Pelican Marsh Golf Club, Philanthropist of the Year

The Pelican Marsh Golf Club raised over $42,000 for Goodwill’s Pathways to Opportunity program enabling them to renovate their teaching kitchen making it accessible and user-friendly. Pathways to Opportunity serves 96 individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Goodwill SWFL is a nonprofit organization that is committed to serving people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence. It has been providing services to people with disabilities and disadvantages since 1966 in five counties of Southwest Florida: Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties.

Pelican Marsh Golf Club will receive Philanthropist of the Year at the Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s annual Breakthrough Award ceremony.

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addition to serving refreshments and presenting science shows, STEMLab provided hands-on activities for all to enjoy including its Science on a Sphere Explorer, Google Earth Wall, Augmented-Reality Sandbox, DrawAlive Studio, and Virtual Reality Experience. In addition, artist Matthew Halstead presented a Bob Ross Painting demonstration while attendees also got to explore and play with a wide range of science, technology, engineering and math games and activities.

STEMLab is open daily to the public, free of charge. In addition, STEMLab also offers special programs for children and adults including classes, camps, scouting programs and homeschool classes. If you want to take your STEM experiences home with you, STEMLab features a store with STEMTo-Go projects, activities and gifts.

For more information and to register for upcoming programs, contact STEMLab at stem-lab.org or call (239) 319-5820. STEMLab is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more business news, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com

SouthwestFlorida’s LargestCity

SEEKS FLEX/LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPERS

City-owned Properties Available Financial Incentives Largest Workforce in SW Florida 5th Fastest Growing mid-sized City in the U.S. 25 Miles from Two Airports Vacancy Rates for Industrial Less than 5%