April 2024 Southwest Florida Business Today

Passidomo marks housing, health wins

Special to Jacob Ogles, Editor

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo tackled big initiatives on affordable housing and health care during her time leading the Florida Senate. On the final day of her last regular Legislative Session, she listed some of those wins on the Senate floor.

“I am so proud to lead the Florida Senate, and amazed by what we have accomplished together over the last two years,” the Naples Republican said. “Our great Governor, Speaker

REDEVELOPMENT

Renner, and every single member of the Florida House and Senate have worked together on key initiatives that will keep Florida the free, beautiful and prosperous state we all cherish.”

Last year, Passidomo prioritized passage of a Live Local initiative that was expanded this year. The passage of SB 328 in Febru-

ary established that local governments can’t regulate floor area ratio on affordable housing and that existing density, height, and floor area ratios don’t include any bonuses, variances or other special exceptions provided in their regulations. The new legislation also allows developments authorized under the act to be treated as a conforming use even after expiration of the development’s affordability period and after the expiration of the applicable statutes.

PASSIDOMO See page 13

Rendering from Mast Capital

Redevelopment for Hancock Bridge Square in North Fort Myers will finally move forward with a grant approval.

Hancock Bridge Square incentives approved in Lee

The Lee County Commission voted to approve a performance incentive grant of up to $200,000 for the redevelopment of Hancock Bridge Square in North Fort Myers. The performance-based grant is intended to incentivize Mast Capital to undertake the project.

The incentive grant will be paid as a reimbursement when work has been completed and inspected.

Mast Capital has applied for grant funding in support of a $61 million redevelopment of the former Hancock Bridge Square. The funding will be used to update infrastructure at the

IN THE NEWS

Gov. Ron DeSantis announces $25 million for workforce initiatives

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an investment of nearly $25 million from the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program to create or expand 19 programs dedicated to strengthening workforce development across Florida. The initiative underscores Florida’s dedication to equipping students statewide with the essential skills

required for success in high-demand occupations.

Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant funding provides Florida students with opportunities for hands-on educational experiences in a broad range of career and technical education programs such as automotive maintenance and light repair, digital video and technology, allied health assisting, criminal justice operations,

site in support of the redevelopment project. The grant recipient has two years to complete the project.

“In the past, this site has been a blight on the community and has affected the surrounding area,” said County Commissioner Brian Hamman, whose district includes the area. “I’m excited by what the current property owner has planned, and the Board’s revitalization program has been a critical step to economic recovery in this area and the North Fort Myers community. This shows the process works.”

HANCOCK See page 4

 SWFBT News Update

To get current business news throughout the business day, visit www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com.

 Moore About Business

Kick off your business week with “Moore About Business”! Tune in to SWFL PBS and National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate, WGCU radio at 90.1 FM, during Morning Edition and All Things Considered to hear SWFBT founder, owner and publisher Karen P. Moore share information and insights

for and about our local business community. Listen to past segments at https://news. wgcu.org/tags/moore-about-business

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Seeking part-time 1099 drivers for SWFBT’s Naples and Estero routes. Work only 2-3 business days/month from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access to a computer and computer printer, and knowledge of Excel preferred. Call Karen at (239) 770-7527 or email publisher@ swfloridabusinesstoday.com

Passidomo

The mother of all breaches: What you need to know

As some of you that follow cybersecurity headlines may have heard, recent reports have unveiled what authorities are deeming the “Mother of all Breaches.” While we’ve seen massive data breaches like the 2017 Equifax Breach (147 million) and the 2014 Yahoo Breach (500 million), this incident has already posed itself be the most significant data leak in history. A staggering 26 billion records exposed from popular applications such as LinkedIn, Dropbox, Canva, and many more have left many people in a panic.

What happened?

Researchers from Security Discovery and CyberNews have uncovered a database of exposed data totaling a colossal 12 terabytes. This massive compilation includes records from thousands of meticulously assembled and reindexed leaks, past data breaches and privately sold databases. This breach has sent shockwaves through the cybersecurity community.

According to news that’s been released so far, it’s estimated that a large majority of the records contained in this leak were previously exposed already. While this isn’t necessarily a good thing, it’s far better to have formerly leaked information circulating around than newly leaked data. However, it is frightening to think numerous criminal organizations have had 12 terabytes worth of compromised information in their databases.

Companies Involved

There doesn’t appear to be a common theme in the targets involved in this breach. Everything from social media platforms, messenger apps and content creation tools had their information exposed. Some of the major companies and their applications affected by this breach include Tencent QQ, a Chinese instant messaging service, with around 1.4 billion records

BY CARRIE KERSKIE Guest Columnist

leaked, followed by Weibo with 504 million records. Other notable applications include MySpace, Twitter, Deezer, LinkedIn and AdultFriendFinder, with millions of records of their own compromised. Even platforms like Adobe and Canva were affected.

Potential for Cybercrime Wave

This “MOAB” breach is not just a historical event but also poses a severe risk to millions of individuals and businesses alike. It’s safe to assume that numerous criminal organizations are in possession of this dataset, which would suggest we’ll see an increase in digital threats such as phishing, hacking attempts, account takeovers.

Who’s at risk?

The specifics to what kind of data was leaked in this breach have yet to be released, but it goes without saying that names, addresses, phone numbers, credentials and emails will make up a large portion of the exposed data.

When it comes to breaches like this, regardless of the scale, we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to update your username and password if you believe you were affected.

The longer someone goes without updating their username and password on a site or application, the greater the odds are of it already being exposed in a breach. Even worse, if users use the same passwords for their other accounts (i.e. same credentials for Netflix account as they do for their Gmail account) attackers can use this to pivot towards other, more sensitive accounts.

What can you do?

To safeguard yourself from potential damage as a result of this breach, we strongly advise you to take the following precautions:

• Change your passwords: If you have accounts on any of the mentioned platforms or suspect your information might be compromised, change your passwords immediately.

• Update your username if possible. Some websites/apps allow you to update your username while others do not.

• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Adding an extra layer of security through 2FA can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts.

• Monitor your accounts: Regularly check your bank statements, credit reports and online accounts for any suspicious activity.

• Use strong, unique passwords: Avoid using easily guessable passwords and consider using a reputable password manager to create and store complex passwords.

• Be on the lookout for suspicious messages: As we’ve covered before, criminals love taking advantage of headlines a news stories. Bottom line, never click on any links, call any numbers or download any attachments from a message you aren’t sure about.

• Stay informed: Keep yourself updated on the latest developments related to the MOAB breach and any subsequent security measures taken by the affected platforms.

Carrie and Kyle Kerskie operate the Kerskie Group. Carrie Kerskie is a highly sought-after speaker on the human-side of cyber security and identity theft.

Contact (239) 435-9111 or ck@kerskie.com.

City of Cape Coral seeks input from local manufacturers

Special to Karen P. Moore, Publisher

“I’ve been here 14 years. We export about $7,000,000 a year in products to the Midwest from Cape Coral. No one’s talked to me about retention. We’ve got 13 months left and we’re going to move out. I’m looking for a better location for me to expand and I don’t see that here.”

That was Mike Fischer, owner of Energy Harness Corporation, a lighting manufacturer, with its main Florida location in Cape Coral.

These comments were part of the sixth Business & Industry Roundtable held by the City of Cape Coral since last May. This one focused on both the opportunities and obstacles for the development of manufacturing in the city.

The City of Cape Coral has been hosting business-focused feedback sessions as it develops its master plan. Economic & Business Development Officer Sharon Woodberry explained the purpose of the roundtable discussions.

“We want to make sure we have a good pulse on what’s happening, what your challenges are, how the city can help you,” she said. “The city offers some incentive programs that you might be interested in. The idea is that we want to be able to partner with our businesses and help them grow.”

One of the biggest challenges pointed out by the manufacturers was infrastructure. Woodberry talked about how the city can help in that regard.

“We do have what’s called a business infrastructure grant. Those funds are specifically for site de-

velopment costs, it’s for foundations, it’s for grading, it’s for your impact fees and permitting costs that come your way. It’s for extending utilities— so it’s for all of those things to get your site ready.”

Southwest Regional Manufacturing Association Executive Director Rob Harris noted additional concerns of manufacturers considering a move to Cape Coral.

“There are some things that are roadblocks for them to want to move here,” Harris said. “I don’t think it gets into at a city level but it does at a county level. Around the state there is the tangible property tax. So when you own equipment, it doesn’t matter how old your equipment is, you’re paying tax on that as long as you own it, every year.”

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn shared an idea on how the City might be able to assist with the tax burden. “We have some grants that will cover capi-

CRA approves agreement with Edison Universe Solutions

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency approved a service provider agreement between the CRA and Edison Universe Solutions to develop the Fort Myers Walk of Innovation.

In the same spirit of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford sparking the genesis of innovation in Fort Myers, the Innovation Walk will reignite their legacy of human genius, melding the past with future-forward thinkers.

This placemaking initiative will create an activated sidewalk along the historic River District with the path beginning northwest of “Common Friends” bringing a new era of global ‘illumineers’.

“The Edison Awards are honored to support the vision of the CRA and continue the legacy of innovation in Fort Myers. The Innovation Walk will celebrate innovation and innovators

creatively by developing a special experience along the riverfront that will attract and inspire the community and future generations of innovators,” said Frank Bonafilia, executive director for the Edison Awards.

“This project aligns with the CRA’s core mission of fostering innovation and revitalization in the downtown redevelopment district,” said Michele Hylton Terry, executive director of the Fort Myers CRA. “This strategic endeavor will enhance the downtown district’s vibrancy and appeal.”

The CRA Board of Commissioners has approved and allocated specific funding for this project, highlighting its significance and the boards commitment to transformative urban development.

Plans call for Phase 1, which will include three to five panels to be completed by April 2025.

tal—perhaps some tax recapture, with these grants that we can run out 5, 10, 15 years. I was just thinking about making that tax an eligible reimbursement to help incentivize businesses to move here.”

Harris noted this could be a real plus for the city for bringing in new business. “That definitely could be a pro for Cape Coral: ‘If you’re going to move to Lee County, this is why you should move to Cape Coral— because we’re going to help offset that tax.’”

The discussion turned to other factors impacting both companies considering a move to Cape Coral, as well as existing businesses, which ranged from creating affordable housing options, to building a manufacturing employee pipeline through the school system at all levels, to better leveraging existing resources, such as CareerSource and the SRMA.

How to get more business in Cape Coral is a multi-level challenge that is not unique to Cape Coral. But it sounds like Cape Coral’s city management is looking for creative ways to make it easier to do just that.

Harris shared why manufacturing is good for Cape Coral.

“You can employ 100 people in distribution or you can employ 1,000 people in manufacturing and most people don’t have a clue what’s happening behind those walls because manufacturing down here is clean manufacturing and there’s no pollutants going in the water and smoke going in the air. So, I think that’s a part of a message that I think it’s great for a city to embrace.”

RSW executive director predicts airport’s future at SanCap Chamber

On the heels of milestone achievements for Southwest Florida International Airport, Benjamin Siegel, Lee County Port Authority’s outgoing executive director and CEO, revealed airport improvements through 2028 and beyond.

Having passed the 10 million-passenger milestone and after scoring the busiest December in airport history in 2023, despite Hurricane Ian’s impact, the Port Authority carries on with its three-phrase, multimillion-dollar projects to continue to meet growth and high-season demands, Siegel said.

Currently underway, the phase one, $331-million terminal expansion project will consolidate the airport’s three checkpoints into one, giving all passengers ac-

cess to all airport restaurant and retail facilities, which will greatly expand.

“By the end of the day, you’re going to have a whole new experience,” said Siegel, emphasizing no property taxes will be used to fund the airport projects.

Phase two will add 14 gates to Concourse E. Targeted to complete in 2027, it is estimated to cost $800 million. Project three will improve and expand rental car facilities and parking by 2028 for about $320 million.

Siegel spoke at the Feb. 21 SanCap Chamber monthly business luncheon at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort in Fort Myers in partnership with Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, sponsored by Stevens Construction.

AIRPORT See page 11

Cape Coral City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn participates in a Business & Industry Roundtable.

A illustrated aerial photograph shows the plans for Edison Universe Solutions’ Walk of Innovation in Fort Myers. The proposed walk is shown in yellow.

TECHNOLOGY

Security firms witness surge in phishing attacks

The emergence of Generative AI has brought about significant changes in various aspects of our daily lives in a relatively short period. However, as this technology becomes more prevalent, email security firms have reported a staggering surge in phishing attacks.

According to an analysis by Stocklytics.com, email phishing attacks have increased dramatically by more than 10 times since the introduction of ChatGPT. Some firms reported a rise of as high as 1,265% in these attacks.

Apart from creating AI tools like WormGPT, Dark Bart, and FraudGPT that produce malware and are spreading on the dark web, cybercriminals are exploring ways to exploit OpenAI’s flagship AI chatbot.

Stocklytics financial analyst Edith Reads shared insights on the data;

“Threat actors are using tools like ChatGPT to orchestrate schemes involving targeted email fraud and phishing attempts,” she said. “These attacks often entice victims to click on deceitful links and disclose information, like usernames and passwords.”

AI-powered phishing attacks

During the last quarter of 2022, phishing attacks surged, with cybercriminals sending out approximately 31,000 fraudulent emails daily. This surge represented a 967% increase in credential phishing attempts.

Interestingly, 70% of these phishing attacks were carried out through text-based business email compromises, while 39% of mobile-targeted attacks were SMS phishing. The perpetrators leveraged tools like ChatGPT to create phishing messages to deceive individuals into

revealing sensitive information.

Cybercriminals typically send deceptive emails, texts, or social media messages that appear legitimate in phishing attacks.

These tactics lead victims to websites where they authorize transactions from their accounts, resulting in financial losses.

Addressing the Threats

Since cybercriminals leverage generative AI to perpetrate their schemes, Reads suggests that cybersecurity experts should proactively utilize AI technologies to combat these evolving threats.

She stated: “It is vital for companies to integrate AI directly into their security frameworks to monitor all communication channels and neutralize risks consistently.”

Despite efforts by AI developers such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Midjourney to implement measures against the misuse of their platforms for malicious purposes, skilled individuals continue to find ways around these protective barriers.

Recent reports, including one from the RAND Corporation, have raised concerns about the potential misuse of generative AI chatbots by terrorists to learn about carrying out biological attacks. Additionally, researchers have demonstrated how exploiting less commonly tested languages can allow hackers to manipulate ChatGPT into providing instructions for criminal activities.

To tackle these issues, OpenAI requested cybersecurity experts, also called Red Teams, to pinpoint security weaknesses in its AI systems.

HURRICANE IAN PROGRESS UPDATE

Scour fill project complete on Carlos Pointe Beach

The Town of Fort Myers Beach

Sand Truck Haul Project has completed the first phase, filling in large swaths of Carlos Point Beach scoured out by the surge waters of Hurricane Ian. Home and condo owners have voiced their praise of the restored beach to town staff in recent days.

“The beach behind the condos looks amazing! It looks just like it did before Ian. It’s beautiful,” said Eddie Rood, a homeowner in the Grande Old Man neighborhood. Approximately 23,000 tons of beach sand has been placed on Carlos Point beach to restore Carlos Point Beach.

“We hope this beach restoration helps lift everyone’s spirits,” said Chadd Chustz, Fort Myers Beach environmental project manager.

The project started in earnest midFebruary, hauling in thousands of tons of sand daily to meet the March 1 deadline set by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Joint Coastal Permit to protect shorebirds flocking to the area in the coming weeks to mate, lay eggs, nest and rear their fledglings. The southern tip of Estero Island is home to one of the most productive least tern, black skimmer rookeries in the State of Florida, which are listed as threatened species by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission. The area also hosts threatened solitary nesting snowy plovers and oyster catchers, making it one of the only areas to have all 4 state listed shorebirds nesting.

Trucks will continue to haul beach sand over the coming weeks to construct a sand berm to connect the berms on the 8000 and 7000 blocks of Estero Boulevard for additional resiliency against future storms. Shorebird monitors are monitoring the project areas daily for any signs of shorebird nesting, in compliance with FWC shorebird biologist conditions for the project. A buffer for any potential nests located within work area will be delineated and roped off in cooperation with FWC Regional Shorebird Biologists to avoid disturbing the nesting shorebirds.

HANCOCK PAGE 1

Hamman wrote in a constituent newsletter he has worked on the redevelopment as a top priority.

“I’ve worked very hard the last several years on getting the private sector to invest and redevelop this area, and now this multi-family project is currently under construction,” Hamman said.

“This is part of our North Fort Myers Revitalization grant program the Commissioners spearheaded several years ago that created incentive programs for things like fee assistance, demolition, infrastructure, façade improvements, and keystone projects.

“Funds are only disbursed as a reimbursement once the improvements have been constructed, inspected and approved.”

In 2018, the board approved the North Fort Myers Revitalization Incentives program and appropriated $2 million to work in conjunction with the expanded Mixed Use Overlay District to encourage development in qualified areas of North Fort Myers.

Workers for Harbor Springs Mattress Company employ a centuries-old technique to hand-tuft and craft every product.

Mattress company to open Naples showroom

Michigan-based Harbor Springs Mattress Company, one of the country’s few handcrafted and all-natural mattress creators, will open a downtown Naples showroom in spring 2024, announced company president Dar Charlebois. The Naples location will be the company’s first showroom outside Michigan, where it has showrooms in Harbor Springs, Rochester and Traverse City.

The opening coincides with the 20th anniversary of Harbor Springs Mattress Company, which creates handcrafted mattresses with the centuries-old technique of hand-tufting. The two-sided mattresses are created with 100% natural fibers and are meant to last a lifetime.

The Naples showroom will be located on 9th Street at the corner of 1st Avenue South. Designed as an art gallery for handcrafted mattresses, it will exhibit the company’s five curated mattress selections, including the best-selling Bed of Roses and Trillium mattresses, both made with hand-tufted layers of pure cotton, natural latex and wool made in Michigan.

According to Charlebois, the mattresses will be the “star attraction” of the showroom. “Customers often comment on the beauty of our mattress ticking, notably the vintage-inspired quilted texture of our signature Bed of Roses and the organic cotton on our Trillium mattress with its hand-euro-stitched micromattress topper.”

Customers will also be able to see and touch all the materials that go into the beds, from the freshspun woolen batting washed in natural soap to the unbleached cotton that retains tiny specks of the cotton’s boll.

The company’s passion for natural fibers will be reflected in the showroom’s furnishings and relaxing vibe. The showroom’s interior design is assisted by Harbor Springs’ Chatham House and will feature hand-crafted murals and oversized photos of artisans at work in the Harbor Springs workshop, elegant lighting and comfortable seating. A coffee and spirits bar will inspire customers to linger, learn and experience the different mattresses.

A Harbor Springs Mattress bed is made to order and quickly shipped. “We start making your mattress after you place your order. It will not come from a warehouse. It will be made fresh just for you and you alone,” Charlebois said.

All mattresses are created in the company’s Harbor Springs showroom in a windowed workshop that allows customers direct views of the bed-making process.

The case for small

In an election year, everyone wants to talk about small businesses—to laud their support for “the backbone of the American economy.” But once the votes are tallied, actual flesh-and-blood small business owners and their policy needs fade into the background. As we have repeatedly seen, small business political power is far too easily lost on lip service. But when we are organized, we can make real demands that drive elections and our economies.

Today, we are witnessing a resurgence of labor organizers fighting to hold large corporations accountable for the excess of wealth that has been extracted from our communities and must be demanded back. Now is the time for true small business owners to stand with workers and harness our collective power to demand change.

Too often, the narrative becomes “employer versus employee,” and we’ve got to stop that. When we organize, we can see benefits that lift up our whole communities—employers and employees. We can create a bigger pot of public goods that employers and employees can pull from to sustain our small businesses and communities.

What seems abstract or academic inside the Beltway becomes concrete—and consequential—on Main Street. Failure to invest in public goods like child care or paid leave means small business owners can’t take care of their own families and health and can’t hire and retain the staff they need to run and grow their businesses. Rising Federal Reserve interest rates mean small business owners can’t get the loans to keep the doors open and the lights on. For Black and Brown small business owners, up against lasting racial wealth gaps, barriers to capital access and daily discrimination, these challenges are only compounded.

No matter where we go and talk to small business owners, monopolies arise. Giant companies like Amazon have advantages upon advantages, from access to unprecedented amounts of realtime consumer data to dominance over the supply chain to the ability to massively undercut all competitors on price. They wield those edges aggressively and ambitiously, making it excruciat-

BY CHANDA CAUSER Guest Columnist

organizing

ingly hard for small businesses just to get by.

We have to change the conscience of the American consumer, to build willingness to pay more to invest in communities by understanding just how much cut-rate deals really cost us all. Small business organizing is the only way to foster that change, first rebuilding and then flexing the muscle of shared support for shared reward.

Moreover, big businesses have used federal and state-level policies to amass even greater wealth and lock in their power, from sweetheart public investment deals to indulgent tax treatment that depletes the public coffers for the investments we need. It is painfully ironic that the mantle of “protecting small businesses” is constantly claimed by corporate behemoths to justify policy decisions, making it increasingly impossible for small businesses to survive and thrive.

America’s small businesses face challenges, just as they always have. But we can’t solve any of them unless we build shared power. Organizing is grinding, costly, often thankless work. Organizing is also essential to address the urgent and existential threats to our small businesses and communities. When small business owners organize and leverage our political and economic power, we can change elections and demand accountability for tangible results from the city council to Congress.

But without organizing, that power disappears—and our true small businesses may disappear. In this election year, what do you want to change, who do you need to hold accountable, and are you talking about the problems with others who care? If you haven’t - get started with Main Street Alliance.

Chanda Causer is the outgoing executive director of Main Street Alliance. Learn more at mainstreetalliance.org.

Don’t forget to post your in-person and virtual events on our B2B events calendar at www.swfloridabusinesstoday.com/calendar

Avoid tax misclassification of your workers

If you use or are considering using 1099 independent contractors, the Department of Labor’s final rule regarding the classification of employees may have a substantial impact on your current operations.

On Jan. 10, the Labor Department published a final rule on the analysis classifying employees or independent contractors. This is an update to the previous rule from 2021 and went into effect March 11.

The rule modifies “Wage and Hour Division regulations to replace its analysis for determining employee or independent contractor classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act with an analysis that is more consistent with judicial precedent and the Act’s text and purpose.”

What has changed?

Under the previous IC rule from 2021, the following applied:

Test used: Five-factor economic reality test.

Analysis of classification: Core factors of relative weight of factors is measured; nature and degree of control over the work and the worker’s opportunity for profit or loss. If the two core factors pointed toward the same classification, there was a “substantial likelihood” it was the worker’s accurate classification.

Business impact: Business friendly, with an ability to classify as independent contractors based on less factors that implied classification.

Under the new IC rule for 2024, this situation applies: Test used: Six-factor economic reality test.

Analysis of classification: Totality-of-the-circumstances, meaning factors do not have a predetermined weight and no one factor is dispositive. Considering the factors as a whole, the worker is not likely to be an independent contractor if the worker is economically dependent on an employer for work.

Business impact: Employee friendly. When test is applied, consideration of all factors helps to protect employees from misclassification.

What does this mean?

The rule provides detailed guidance on employee or independent contractor status and how to determine the appropriate classification. The rule is not only consistent with the FLSA and the decades of case law interpreting it, but also more substantial than the DOL’s

BY PAIGE TAYLOR Guest Columnist

earlier guidance on the same topic. This rule emphasizes the totality-ofthe-circumstances in consideration of the six-factor test.

Misclassifying workers should be harder to do under this test.

The final rule’s analysis applies to workers in any industry and is accessible in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Actions you can take now

Before hiring an individual to do work, evaluate in light of the new rule using totality-of-the-circumstances analysis of the economic reality test to identify the appropriate classification.

Evaluate current independent contractors against the new rule to determine classification.

After evaluation(s), reclassify workers who are misclassified or alter position to meet the desired classification under the new rule.

Review existing contracts with independent contractors to evaluate that they accurately reflect the nature of the relationship. These contracts should not have any provisions that could be misinterpreted or used to argue the independent contractor is an employee.

Implement or update policies and procedures that discuss or impact employee and independent contractor classification.

How we can help

Staying ahead of employment classification is critical to successful FLSA compliance and protection against costly errors. CLA’s HR consulting professionals can advise you on a wide range of workforce issues and help keep your organization HR compliant.

CLA cannot and does not provide legal advice. It’s important to consult with qualified counsel before adopting any new policies. It’s also your responsibility to determine whether legal review of work product is necessary prior to implementation.

Paige Taylor is CLA’s director of compliance, talent solutions. Contact (301) 902-8515

Digital marketing conference to be held in Fort Myers

In the ever-evolving world of online marketing, it’s crucial to keep up with the trends, especially for small businesses. Local entrepreneur Amberly Bucci, college instructor and a digital marketer with 16 years of experience, recognized a gap in knowledge for small businesses and created The Digital Marketing Conference – a live, inperson event designed to boost marketing skills and ignite inspiration.

Crafted for small business owners, the event will uncover the latest and most effective trends in digital marketing. This twoday training promises an interactive learning environment with 10 mini-marketing sessions and a live panel of local speakers. Participants will learn practical tips they can immediately put into action.

Key topics include:

• Social Media Marketing & Video Storytelling: Learn cutting edge tips for TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Discover the art and science of crafting compelling video content, fostering community online and transforming followers into leads and loyal customers.

• Search Engine Optimization: Learn tips to boost your business visibility on Google, connect with ideal customers, and climb the search ranks.

• AI: Explore the hot topic of AI and chatbots like Chat GPT as well as other tools to streamline marketing efforts that will elevate your marketing game.

This event is open to anyone looking to boost their business.

The Digital Marketing Conference takes place April 3-4 at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Learn more at thedigitalmarketingconference.com.

Fort Myers CRA bustles with activity with current projects

Special to Karen P. Moore, Publisher

We hear about new development in Southwest Florida all the time. But the aspect of re-development, especially in our local municipalities’ older, and perhaps run-down, downtown districts, is just as important to address. The executive director of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, Michele Hylton-Terry, recently brought me up to speed on current projects.

“The mission of the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency is to revitalize the blighted underserved older parts of the city,” Hylton-Terry said. “We enhance the business climate through various initiatives. The CRA seeks to improve the overall environment with designated redevelopment areas making them more attractive for investment and growth. We increase property values by revitalizing neighborhoods and improving infrastructure. The CRA aims to increase property values for residents and businesses.

“And of course, we encourage community participation. The CRA Identifies the areas that need improvement and we go in with the resources and tools that we have that are exclusive to a CRA and oh boy, do they make a difference.”

Hyton-Terry then discussed one of the ways the CRA wants to revitalize the downtown area of Fort Myers.

“We are creating a gateway feature that will welcome you into the river district and, oh my goodness, it is so beautiful,” she said. “It’s going to be located right at Fowler and MLK and right behind the new Swamp Cat Brewery is going in. That’s a new business that we are supporting with a $100,000 façade grant.”

She then talked about how the CRA is currently updating its plans and how the public can participate.

“Because we are always looking for that public participation, I want to let people know that we’re in the pro-

cess of updating most of our redevelopment plans right now— the downtown redevelopment plan, the Cleveland Avenue redevelopment plan and in the summer we will be kicking off the MLK redevelopment plan.

“The purpose of updating the plan is to refresh the ideas that we had five years ago. Things change all the time. We want to hear what the public sees and desires now, five years later. Some of the plans are actually a little older than five years. So, we want the plans to be current and fresh because as a redevelopment area we can only do things that are identified in that plan. And so please look for opportunities to participate in our listening sessions where your voice can be heard and you can influence how your redevelopment in your city will look.”

Hylton-Terry explained the different components of what she called the Fort Myers CRA toolbox and how their use will continue to shape the city’s future development.

“I think if we take advantage of all the tools in the toolbox here in Fort Myers--we provide façade grants for businesses, we also have residential home preserva-

Premier Mobile Health adds Fort Myers site

A nonprofit mobile health clinic that brings essential medical care to those in need across Lee County is adding a new Fort Myers site — one of six locations it visits each month.

On March 11, Premier Mobile Health Services parked its medical clinic on wheels at Kimmie’s Recovery Zone on Center Road in Fort Myers.

Kimmie’s Recovery Zone is a nonprofit community organization for those recovering from substance use disorders. It hosted a community food distribution at the same time as the mobile clinic hours, a combination that will allow both organizations to more effectively connect with clients.

“With a mission of providing quality health care to the medically vul-

nerable, we’re delighted to welcome Kimmie’s Recovery Zone as our newest community partner,” said Dr. Nadine “Deanie” Singh, CEO of Premier Mobile Health Services.

Founded by Singh in 2018, Premier Mobile Health Services offers an array of services to low-income children, families, individuals and the uninsured, including preventive screenings, vaccinations, nutrition counseling, school physicals and more.

Patients without insurance and those who provide proof of income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines account for two-thirds of its population and are provided care at no cost; others in need pay on a sliding scale based on income.

tion grants and paint programs; signage for businesses who want to improve their signs,” she said.

“We just have all these tools and we’re able to implement all these programs because we have an incredible staff here.”

It sounds like the Fort Myers CRA is definitely on a roll, so we can continue to look forward to, and appreciate, each of its projects as they unfold in the City of Fort Myers.

“These are some of the tools that I mentioned that the CRA has available to it. We provide grants, we provide incentives to attract and to maintain the businesses that are already in our redevelopment areas,” she said.

She talked about the landscape improvement project along Cleveland Avenue.

“Most of you know the roadway has been under construction for three to four years and now that FDOT has completed that work, we are going to follow behind them and install beautiful landscape that’s irrigated so it can be maintained and make Cleveland Avenue more attractive,” she said. “As we currently work on the redevelopment plan for Cleveland Ave, this is one of the things that we know will lift up that redevelopment area as we’re building businesses on Cleveland.”

She talked about the major turning point in the revitalization of the Fort Myers downtown area, that took place about a decade ago.

“I’m grateful that we can say, many years ago, our downtown was a ghost town. Well, through our incremental funding that we get from the city and the county, we were able to support a $10 million infrastructure project that beautified downtown with brick streets, beautiful new street furniture and light fixtures. That’s a significant contribution that made a huge impact. After that investment we saw a lot of change in the people interested in coming into Fort Myers.”

An overhead rendering of landscaping on U.S. 41 in the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Area.

Great Wolf Lodge leaps into Collier County in 2024

Special to Karen P. Moore, Publisher

A big-name indoor water park is finally looking to open its doors in Collier County later this year. General Manager Jason Bays recently shared some enticing details about Great Wolf Lodge that includes attractions with enchanting names ranging from Ten Paw Alley to MagiQuest.

He provided some background on the project. “We were looking for land in Florida for a very long time, about a decade, looking for areas that we could develop. This will be our 21st lodge in our portfolio. We’re owned by Blackstone, a private equity firm that bought us in 2019 for about $2.6 billion.”

He then described the all-indoors Collier County tourist attraction. “In addition to our 500 hotel rooms, we’re the largest operator of water parks in the country. So this indoor water park, 84 degrees year round, it’s about the size of two football fields. There’s 93,000 square feet in there. And--it’s weather-proof!”

four seasons in that restaurant. So it’s going to feel like an outdoor immersive experience while inside.”

He went on to share what Great Wolf Lodge’s $275 million investment means to Collier County’s economy. “Collier County did a study on the economic impact of the Great Wolf Lodge over a 30-year period. And it showed Great Wolf will have a $5 billion impact over the next 30 years on the county with the spending and economic impact.”

Then, he talked about the on-site restaurants.

Bays continued, “In addition to the water park, we’ll also have a 61,000 square foot Game Board Adventure Center. That’s going to provide a lot of different fun attractions for our guests to enjoy too and have a really fun interactive experience.”

Bays then explained how Great Wolf Lodge intends to help develop the workforce for its 600 to 700 job openings. “I’ve met with every single high school principal in Collier County. We’re going to set up workforce development, on-the-job training. So, we will build relationships so that we can provide not just jobs, not just full-time jobs, but career paths and career growth.”

industrial park developed by Glenstar and Columnar Holdings in Fort Myers. Spanning 816,866 square feet across four buildings, the new industrial campus on Tri-County Commerce Way completed construction in October 2023 and is now 64% leased.

The three leases include a Fortune 500 beverage company; Orlandobased Mechanical One, a home repair and maintenance company offering electrical, gas, HVAC and plumbing services to new home builders; and NB Handy, a Virginia-based distributor of metals, HVAC, commercial roofing and machinery products.

“This tremendous level of lease activity reflects not only the increase in companies seeking to establish or solidify their presence in Southwest Florida but also the constrained supply of modern industrial space in this market,” said Brian Netzky, principal of Glenstar.

The Fortune 500 beverage company leased 56,705 square feet in Building 2 at Tri-County 75 for regional distribu-

“We will have five restaurants that are also open to the public and that are going to be highly immersive themed attractions,” he said. He used the Fireside Restaurant as an example. “You’ll be able to experience

tion purposes. This is the third Fortune 500 tenant at the industrial campus.

“Three Fortune 500 companies choosing to locate at Tri-County 75 is a great testimony to the park’s ideal configuration for e-commerce, logistics, distribution and light to heavy industrial production as well as its location for quick deliveries of products to the entire Southwest Florida region,” said Netzky.

The 67,620-square-foot lease in Building 3 signed by Mechanical One represents an expansion to Fort Myers for the company, which opened its doors in July 2021. As one of Florida’s largest privately held companies, Mechanical One will use its Tri-County 75 space to house supplies for its new operations in Fort Myers.

NB Handy leased 68,665 square feet in Building 2 of Tri-County 75 to support its expansion in Florida, where it also has a location in Davenport. In addition to warehousing steel, roofing and HVAC products for distribution, the space will also include a 1,500-square-foot showroom.

Another 215,000 square feet of space is expected to execute shortly at

He added, “One of the most critical things that we’re going to be able to do is to have some really great ‘pack members’ who are ready to bring joy to families.”

On all fronts, it sounds like Southwest Florida is in for a magical experience come opening day for the Great Wolf Lodge, planned for Sept. 25.

Tri-County 75 to two undisclosed tenants, according to Netzky.

Bob Johnston of the Naples-Fort Myers office of Lee & Associates brokered three leases on behalf of ownership. Tri-County 75’s general contractor, The Conlan Company, will build out spaces for all three tenants.

In the lease transactions, Ben Kuykendall at First Capital Property Group was the tenant broker for Mechanical One, and Danny Holly and Shawn Stoneburner at Cushman & Wakefield represented NB Handy.

Additional tenants at Tri-County 75 include Coldest, a Florida-based manufacturer of water bottles and other related products, which leased 52,866 square feet of warehouse and office space in Building 4 in October 2023; a Fortune 500 company that is a provider of large third-party logistics, which signed a 22,784-square-foot industrial lease at Building 4 in October 2023: and Ferguson Enterprises, a national distributor of plumbing and HVAC supplies, which signed a 252,860-square-foot lease in November 2022, and relocated its regional distribution center to Building 3.

The 296,167 square feet of remaining space available at Tri-County 75 includes the 76,210-square-foot Building 1; 90,930 square feet within Building 2; 83,720 square feet in Building 3; and 45,307 square feet in Building 4. The space within Buildings 1 and 2 is divisible. Buildings 2 and 3 offer abundant trailer parking and/or outdoor storage, while Building 3 allows for a user to fence in the outdoor space.

“We understood the critical need for outdoor space when developing the site,” Netzky said. “Tri-County 75 offers a rare opportunity for those seeking tenancy in the Fort Myers market.”

Located at the southeast corner of Interstate-75 and Luckett Road, TriCounty 75 boasts excellent highway visibility and traffic counts that exceed 95,000 cars per day. The park’s rear load and cross-dock facilities feature clear heights up to 36 feet, large truck courts, abundant trailer stalls and easy highway access. The industrial park is a 12-minute drive from Southwest Florida International Airport, 33 miles north of Naples and 73 miles south of Sarasota. The Tri-County area has a workforce of more than 500,000.

Naples Great Wolf Lodge General Manager Jason Bays shared plans for the indoor water park at a local commercial real estate meeting.

Port Charlotte-based FloodFix Water Damage Restoration’s techniques at work.

Port Charlotte

water damage restoration company expands

FloodFix Water Damage Restoration, a leading provider of water damage restoration services, announced its expansion into Port Charlotte. The company is now available to serve homeowners and businesses in the Greater Port Charlotte area with its comprehensive suite of water damage restoration services.

FloodFix Water Damage Restoration in Port Charlotte understands that water damage can be a devastating event, and that’s why the company offers 24/7 emergency response services. A team of experienced professionals is available to respond to calls immediately, regardless of the time of day or night.

FloodFix Water Damage Restoration offers a full range of water damage restoration services, including:

• Water extraction and drying

• Mold remediation

• Structural repairs

• Contents cleaning and restoration

• Dehumidification

Committed to delivering exceptional service and customer satisfaction, FloodFix Water Damage Restoration recognizes the stress and overwhelm water damage can cause. Their aim is to ensure a smooth and hassle-free restoration experience for their clientele.

Standing firmly behind a commitment to the Port Charlotte community, FloodFix Water Damage Restoration prioritizes assisting homeowners and businesses in swift recovery from water damage, enabling them to return to normalcy as soon as possible.

If you are experiencing water damage in Port Charlotte, call FloodFix Water Damage Restoration at (941) 336-7896.

Fun Time Early Childhood Academy acquire Child’s Path

With a legacy spanning over 62 years, Fun Time Early Childhood Academy has been steadfastly serving economically disadvantaged children. We are pleased to announce that we have reached an asset transfer agreement involving the former Child’s Path early learning center on Santa Barbara Boulevard in Naples.

This marks a significant expansion for Fun Time Early Childhood Academy, which will now operate across four locations, including downtown Naples, Golden Gate, Poinciana and this new facility. The process was finalized on Feb. 23, with operations commencing at the facility on Feb. 26.

Kris Pfaehler, Chairman of the Fun Time Academy Board of Directors, emphasizes how this acquisition seamlessly aligns with Fun Time’s mission to meet the needs of low-income families to access affordable, highquality early education.

“With this acquisition, we reaffirm our commitment to serving the community by ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to exceptional early

childhood education. We are thrilled to expand our reach and impact in Collier County,” said Pfaehler.

Jessica Campbell, executive director of Fun Time Early Childhood Academy and a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in various roles within the Collier County public school system, sees this as an opportunity to further enhance the successful early learning approach of Fun Time Academy’s educational programs for children in Collier County, thereby better preparing them for their future endeavors. In Collier County alone, there are 17,000 children under the age of five, with fewer than 1,000 accessing preschool programs. Due to the lack of access to quality childcare, there is a crisis in Collier County and much more work that needs to be done.

“We are excited to welcome the families and staff of Child’s Path into the Fun Time family. This acquisition allows us to extend our reach and impact, providing more children with the foundation they need to thrive mentally, emotionally, physically and academically,” said Campbell.

Berke Law announces lawsuit against United Airlines, Boeing

Berke Law Firm, a Cape Coral-based law firm with a history of championing consumer rights, is officially filing a class action lawsuit in the State of Florida against United Airlines and The Boeing Company. The lawsuit is filed on behalf of Alexander Eaton and other affected passengers seeking damages for a flight cancellation that resulted from a significant safety oversight.

On Jan. 5, during a flight operated by Alaska Airlines on a Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft, passengers experienced a terrifying incident when the door plug of the aircraft blew out, leading to an emergency landing. This event has raised serious concerns about passenger safety and corporate accountability.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed a startling neglect of safety protocols by The Boeing Company. The investigation found that four bolts essential for securing the door plug were missing, indicating that the aircraft was allowed to fly for nearly three months without these critical components.

On Jan. 9, The Boeing Company issued a statement ac-

AIRPORT PAGE 3

“I’m very excited to talk about our ultimate build-out,” Siegel said, taking chamber members to 2042 and beyond with future outlooks. “One thing I get a lot of questions about is when is a parallel runway coming, we only have one runway?

“But it’s not really justified until after 2040… based on its impact on the entire air national system.”

Siegel also showed maps of the forthcoming 1,100-acre Skyplex that will develop across from JetBlue Park with aeronautical services, office space, and retail and hospitality outlets.

“It is really in the heart of the whole area,” he said. “It’s really a gem in terms of the economic development of Lee County.” Siegel, who retires April 1, ended by introducing his forthcoming replacement at LCPA, Steven Hennigan.

“RSW is the heartbeat of tourism and economy for our islands, so its future is our future,” said John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and CEO. “Ben has always kept us on our toes where local air transportation is concerned, and we look forward to working with Hennigan in the same capacity.”

knowledging its mistake in failing to install the four necessary bolts before delivering the aircraft to Alaska Airlines. This admission has led to increased scrutiny over Boeing’s manufacturing and quality assurance practices.

Bill Berke, leading attorney at Berke Law Firm, located in Cape Coral FL, stated “Our client, Alexander Eaton, along with countless other passengers, have suffered undue travel disruption, stress, opportunity loss, inconvenience, and damages, due to this egregious oversight by United Airlines and The Boeing Company. Through this class action lawsuit, we seek not only to recover damages for those affected but also to ensure such negligence is never repeated in the aviation industry.”

The class action lawsuit aims to hold United Airlines and The Boeing Company accountable for their actions and to secure fair compensation for all passengers affected by the flight cancellation. Berke Law Firm is committed to fighting for the rights and safety of consumers and to upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility.

Lai also introduced his replacement as Southwest Regional Director of FRLA, a position he has served alongside his chamber role since Hurricane Ian, to keep both organizations thriving during frugal times. Chris Lopez, formerly the regional manager of external affairs for Tampa Electric, steps up to the position.

Another new player on the local tourism support team, Kizzy Sanchez spoke as the new regional partnership manager for Visit Florida, the state’s marketing agency.

Benjamin R. Siegel brought SanCap Chamber members up to date on Southwest Florida International Airport improvement campaigns.

Can artificial intelligence outsmart invasive species?

Is artificial intelligence (AI) a viable tool in the fight against invasive species?

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences scientists are exploring that question on a small scale in a project using traps equipped with AI technology. For this study, the traps are targeting Argentine black and white tegus in Fort Pierce.

Scientists hope these AI ‘smart traps’ will help suppress and remove an established population of these lizards that have quickly invaded this Treasure Coast city. St. Lucie County has become a hot spot for tegus over the last seven years. They hope these traps can reduce resources needed to remove tegus because they’re automated and can be operated remotely.

“If we can implement innovative solutions to remove invasive species that are effective and reduce costs, that is a win-win,” said Melissa Miller, project lead and research assistant scientist specializing in invasion ecology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center

The ability to operate traps via a web interface, eliminating daily visits to checking traps, saves time and resources that can be used to combat other invasive species in Florida, said Miller, who is also affiliated with UF/ IFAS Croc Docs and the UF/IFAS Invasive Science Research Institute.

The Argentine black and white tegus, native to South America, are found in abundance in several counties in Central and South Florida and have also been introduced as far north as Georgia. They can grow up to four feet long and weigh over 10 pounds. They can lay an average of 35 eggs in

a clutch during breeding season.

These ground-dwelling lizards, known for being resourceful, can inhabit natural and agricultural lands and dig burrows in which they hibernate over winter. They forage on insects, plants and small vertebrates. They are known to raid eggs from nests of native wildlife, including those of the American alligator and have been doc-

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umented to prey on threatened species such as juvenile gopher tortoises.

For this AI project, the UF/IFAS team worked with Wild Vision Systems, which designed the traps and the AI technology. The software is designed to recognize tegus by identifying their iconic patterned skin from thousands of photos. The software leverages a mobile web application for

users, providing remote control and monitoring of the trap, real-time notifications of captures and other features.

Once the trap recognizes the tegu, the trap doors close automatically capturing the lizard and notifying the trap operator with a mobile alert.

The tegu project is the first field test of the AI smart traps. The team deployed 10 traps in St. Lucie County from May through October 2023. In that time, the tegus that entered the traps were successfully captured, resulting in removal of 15 tegus from the study site. This gave scientists a look at its potential for capturing invasive lizards and other species.

The team hopes to start a second phase of the tegu project, incorporating modifications to further enhance the software’s efficacy, beginning this summer.

“We are hoping to secure funding that will allow us to continue work with the Wild Vision Systems team in exploring additional software designed to capture other invasive reptiles including green iguanas, spiny tailed iguanas and Nile monitors,” Miller said.

Researchers and natural resource managers have developed cooperative programs over the last decade using a variety of control tools to detect, monitor, and remove tegus where they have spread and established populations. This is all to reduce tegu abundance and help contain their populations in Florida.

“The use of AI in invasive species research and management seems promising and a natural next step in exploring novel methods to outsmart invasive species,” Miller said.

Grant helps FGCU create pathway to jobs in supply chain, analytics

Florida Gulf Coast University has secured a $2 million grant for presenting condensed online courses to train local workers for well-paying positions in supply chain or analytics.,

The grant, through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs

Grant Program underscores FGCU’s ongoing efforts to build a better workforce in Southwest Florida and spark economic growth in in-demand fields. Awarded to professors Rajesh Srivastava and Anurag Agarwal, the grant will enable FGCU to offer non-credit undergraduate-level courses in supply

chain and analytics beginning in March. It will also underwrite a four-course certification in analytics (for credit) at the graduate level.

The undergraduate courses will be conducted in 15-week periods at least twice each year over the next five years.

2009

TECHNOLOGY

Tamiami Angel Funds invests in security software firm

Angel investors from Southwest Florida recently provided capital to Circadian Risk to help the company expand its digital platform for assessing, analyzing and monitoring physical security risks in large organizations.

Members of Tamiami Angel Fund IV invested $565,000 in Circadian Risk, the 16th portfolio company in Tamiami Angel Fund IV. The Michiganbased company created software to help companies secure physical assets such as office buildings, schools and stores, and keep people safe.

Specifically, Circadian’s software allows companies to assess and monitor risks ranging from active shooters to arson, espionage, explosives, vandalism and workplace violence. The software uses a logical, score-based approach to generate interactive dashboards and visualizations updated in near-real time so organizations can improve and maintain security for their people and physical assets.

“Organizations have accepted the fact that they need to look at their cyber risk on a 24/7 basis. But when you look at the types of scenarios from a physical-risk perspective, they could be more catastrophic than cyber risk,” said longtime security expert Michael Martin, CEO and founder of Circadian Risk.

Prior to Circadian’s software rollout last year, there were no easy tools to assess and monitor physical risks in multiple locations. Today, large enterprises across industries ranging from finance to education, health care and retail have started us-

PASSIDOMO PAGE 1

But Passidomo’s main focus this year shifted from Live Local to Live Healthy. She used the power of the Senate gavel to drive health care initiatives directing $717 million to boost Florida’s medical workforce and fortify its hospitals.

The package was chiefly divided into two bills.

One, SB 7016, reworked standards for psychologists, psychiatric nurses and mobile response teams and reexamined recognition of foreign accredited medical degrees and certificates. It also created health screening grant programs, Training, Education, and Clinicals in Health (TEACH) funding, and limited and temporary licenses for assistant physicians, physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses.

Another bill, SB 7018, focused on

Tamiami Angel Funds chairman to speak at South by Southwest

As chairman of the largest angel-fund organization in Florida, Timothy Cartwright has seen his share of early-stage entrepreneurs flub their pitches to investors.

Cartwright, partner of Fifth Avenue Family Office and chairman of Tamiami Angel Funds in Naples, led a panel discussion at the South by Southwest global conference in Austin, Texas to help entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes they make when raising capital. The panel, titled “Don’t Do This! What NOT To Do When Raising Money For Your Company,” took place from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 10 at the Hilton Austin Downtown.

Cartwright co-hosted the panel with John Lilly, former Pillsbury Company CEO and longtime Procter & Gamble executive who is managing member at early stage investment fund Lateral Capital in Sarasota.

“It’s fair to say that in our combined decades of experience John and I have seen plenty of entrepreneurs

ing the firm’s software to manage physical risks in different locations on a near-real-time basis.

“The scoring system Circadian Risk has developed can now be adopted by property and casualty insurers to rate physical risk, thus benefiting companies that take proactive steps to manage these risks,” noted Timothy Cartwright, partner of Fifth Avenue Family Office and chairman of Tamiami

innovation in health care. That creates a state Health Care Innovation Council which focus on increasing efficiencies and improving outcomes for patients in Florida. It also creates a revolving loan program that will be run by the Department of Health, and directs millions into various grant and trust programs.

Passidomo also urged a major education deregulation effort, pulling back on many mandates on school districts. In totality with state investments in a Florida Wildlife Corridor, she said the Session will improve life for all Floridians.

“More Floridians have options to Live Local, in the heart of the communities they serve. More Floridians will be Living Healthy as we grow Florida’s health care workforce, expand access and invest in innovation,” Passidomo said in her speech. “More Floridians are Learning Local – through universal school choice,

give investors a rational excuse to decline or stop funding their businesses,” Cartwright said. “Our goal with the panel is to help entrepreneurs avoid some of the most common blunders they make in their communications with investors.”

As the largest angel-fund organization in the State of Florida, Tamiami Angel Funds has considered hundreds of investment ideas from entrepreneurs seeking funds to grow their early stage companies since it was founded in 2008. Cartwright is also a director of the Florida Venture Forum, the state’s largest network and support organization for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, helping startups and high-growth companies connect with the capital and services they need to grow and scale.

Founded in 1987, South by Southwest, also known by its initials SXSW, is best known for its conference and festival that help creative people to achieve their goals.

Angel Funds in Naples. “To that end, we’re excited to have insurance veteran Phil Feldman as Tamiami Angel Funds’ representative on Circadian’s board.” Naples-based Tamiami Angel Funds are membermanaged funds that allow high-net-worth individuals and families to invest in promising early stage and expansion-stage companies located in the U.S., with a preference to those in the state of Florida.

or in neighborhood public schools that have served our communities for generations. Through our Compact to Conserve, the Florida Wildlife Corridor will one day be our Central Park as we preserve our state’s beauty for future generations to enjoy.

“I am very proud of our state budgets over the last two years. We wisely utilized pandemic funds to make criti-

cal, one-time, generational investments in our infrastructure – from roads and bridges, to education facilities, to clean water and coastal resilience. Instead of spending all of what we have, we are paying down debt, setting aside historic reserves, and providing for meaningful tax relief, so Floridians can keep more of their hard-earned money.”

Photo courtesy Florida Senate Senate President Kathleen Passidomo gavels out the 2024 Session.

LARC breaks ground on cutting-edge culinary training kitchen

The Lee Association of Remarkable Citizens celebrated the groundbreaking of its state-of-the-art Commercial Culinary Training Kitchen. This initiative promises to bridge critical workforce gaps within the hospitality industry.

The unveiling of this groundbreaking project marks a pivotal moment in LARC’s journey towards fostering inclusive employment opportunities and unleashing the potential of every individual it serves.

“In 2019, we recognized a pressing need to address the substantial workforce shortages plaguing Southwest Florida’s hospitality sector, which stands as the region’s second-largest industry,” said Angela Katz, executive director of LARC. “As champions of inclusivity and empowerment, we asked ourselves, ‘How can we leverage our expertise to not only fill these gaps but also empower individuals with disabilities to thrive?’”

Despite facing fundraising setbacks amidst the challenges of the global pandemic, LARC’s unwavering dedication received a significant boost with a $650,000 State Appropria-

tion. Spearheaded by state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, this funding is part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Freedom First Budget. Under the expert craftsmanship of Stephen R. Bowen Construction, this Culinary Training Kitchen will provide a state-of-the-art space where staff will deliver training designed for the hospitality industry.

This culinary hub will be a focus in LARC’s innovative LAB (Learn,

Achieve, Become) Program, launched in 2019. Through LAB, individuals with IDD are nurtured in a dynamic learning environment tailored to their unique abilities, encompassing vocational training, independent living skills and holistic personal development. Five Labs include Lab for Living, Wellness Lab, Smart Living Technology Lab, Vocational Exploration Lab and Collaboration Lab.

Within LAB lies the Vocational Exploration Lab, where individuals are equipped with the skills and confidence to thrive in the workforce. Statistics underscore the immense potential of individuals with disabilities, with studies revealing superior attendance rates and significantly lower turnover rates compared to their non-disabled counterparts. By embracing inclusivity, businesses can unlock many benefits, including heightened employee retention and company loyalty.

“With the launch of our Commercial Culinary Training Kitchen, individuals with disabilities are poised to showcase their talents, dedication, and skills in the food service industry,” Katz said. “This initiative is a testament to the power of collaboration and compassion, offering a win-win solution for businesses and individuals alike.”

Since its inception, LARC has been a cornerstone of support for individuals with IDD and their families, offering a comprehensive suite of services ranging from life skills and vocational training to community residential support.

Naples-Based Premiere Plus Realty joins United Real Estate’s network

Premiere Plus Realty, the Naples-based, No. 2 market share leader in Southwest Florida, joined United Real Estate’s family of companies. Premiere Plus Realty and its 1,500 agents will retain its company name, staff and leadership but expand its tools and service offerings for agents and clients.

The decision to join was driven by shared values and guiding principles, a common vision of growth, collaboration and a servant-leadership approach to business. PPR and United are committed to putting clients and agents first and instilled the attributes of humble, hungry and smart throughout their operations. The affiliation provides a roadmap for PPR to achieve its goals of becoming the most successful brokerage in Florida and among the top 25 in the U.S. PPR produced over $3.29 billion in annual sales volume and 5004 transaction sides in 2023. It ranked No. 88 in the U.S. by sales volume in T3 Sixty’s 2023 Mega 1000 list, based on 2022 sales data.

“It became evident that if we wanted to take our company to the next level, we needed a strong, collaborative partner,” said Premiere Plus Realty Owner Eric Gallus.

“Their resources, including Learning Academy, Financial Wellness, United Referral Network and United Real Estate Group Healthcare, are unique in our market and further differentiate us from competing brokerages.”

“United is making us better versions of ourselves. We are leveraging their national scale, tools and services to hit our growth goals. By combining our resources, we far outmatch what our competitors can offer. We are empowering agents, boutique brokerages and teams to compete with traditional firms and better serve their clients. They will have everything they need, yet pay much less to operate their business with us. United has increased our value,” said Premiere Plus Realty President Jillian Young.

PPR strengthens United’s presence to nearly 5,000 real estate professionals across the state of Florida and over 23,000 real estate professionals in the United States.

The move also expands United’s Specialty Properties Group portfolio, a collection of websites featuring luxury properties, golf properties, gated communities, waterfront properties and condominium

property types at Lifestyle.UnitedRealEstate.com.

“We are in the business of helping others. Helping agents grow their business and realize their full potential. Helping buyers and sellers ‘find their freedom’ with a timely, market-value real estate transaction. Helping our communities and the people that live there thrive. The alignment of values and guiding principles between Premiere Plus Realty and United, their intense commitment to the community they serve, their agents & customers and the razorsharp thinking that they are already bringing to our national network are why we are excited about them choosing to affiliate with United,” noted United CEO Dan Duffy.

“Over 20 years ago, Premiere Plus Realty was founded with the sole purpose of putting agents and clients above themselves. That simple pledge made them one of the most successful brokerages in America. Now, Eric, Jillian and their staff carry that mission forward by joining our national network to expand tools and service offerings for their agents and the clients they serve,” stated United President Rick Haase.

First phase of construction complete for St. Peter Claver Place Apartments

The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America completed Phase 1 construction of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments, an affordable housing complex within the Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard redevelopment area.

St. Peter Claver Place Apartments provides affordable housing for qualified residents, those who make up to 60% of the area median income. Phase 1 includes 136 units consisting of twobedroom, two-bath and three-bedroom, two-bath rental units. The monthly rents range from approximately $600 to $1,300. The community also features a clubhouse, playground and collaborative workspace. Each apartment includes stainless steel appliances, walk-

in closets, quartz countertops, luxury vinyl tile flooring and a balcony or patio.

“We are extremely thankful for our continued partnership with the Diocese of Venice and the strong support from the city and elected officials to help bring this project to the community,” said Rick Miller, president of National Development of America. “We’re pleased to offer quality housing at rental rates that working people can actually afford.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by officials from both sides of the partnership between the Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America, as well as Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson; Fort Myers

Austin Clinton, David Mulicka, Wendy Borgman, Stephen Bowen, Angela Katz, Brian Bradley, Mike Gavala, Pam Jenkins shovel dirt at a groundbreaking for LARC’s commercial culinary training kitchen.

entrepreneurship and emergency medical responder, among others.

“In Florida we have become the number one state in the nation for talent development by making strategic investments in our workforce,” DeSantis said. “We will continue to equip students in our state with the skills they need to succeed, without being burdened by debt.”

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida is strategically investing in workforce development, ensuring that our state remains at the forefront of innovation,” said Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. “This funding reflects our dedication to equipping students with the skills necessary to excel in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”

School districts and Florida College System institutions receiving funding through the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant in 2023–‘24 are:

• Lee County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on advanced manufacturing technology, firefighting, electricity and other additional programs.

• Broward County School District : Funding will assist programs focused on semiconductor business management and analysis, practical nursing, horticulture and many other additional programs.

• Flagler County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on phlebotomy, nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians and other additional programs.

• Indian River County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on automotive maintenance and light repair.

• Leon County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on applied robotics, engineering pathways, welding technology and other additional programs.

• Martin County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on applied information technology, criminal justice, nursing assistants and other additional programs.

• Miami-Dade County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on industrial biotechnology, automotive maintenance and light repair, digital video technology and other additional programs.

• Nassau County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on welding technology.

• Okaloosa County School District: Funding will assist programs focused

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on teaching, emergency medical responders, criminal justice and other additional programs.

• Santa Rosa County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on global logistics.

• Seminole County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on global finance and entrepreneurship.

• St. Johns County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on applied cybersecurity.

• St. Lucie County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on applied robotics, building construction technologies, pharmacy technician and other additional programs.

• Sumter County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on welding technology, animal science, horticulture and other additional programs.

• Washington County School District: Funding will assist programs focused on cloud computing and virtualization, management and entrepreneurial principles, welding technology and other additional programs.

• Florida State College of Jacksonville: Funding will assist programs focused on welding and medical assistance.

• Miami-Dade College: Funding will assist programs focused on enterprise cloud computing, computer programmer mobile applications development, network security and other additional programs.

Tallahassee Community College: Funding will assist programs focused on applied robotics, engineering technology, supply chain management and other additional programs.

This $25-million investment is part of the $100 million allocated in August to the Workforce Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program. The program provides grants to school districts and Florida College System institutions to fund some or all of the costs associated with the creation or expansion of career and technical education workforce development programs that lead to industry certifications included on the CAPE Industry Certification Funding List.

DeSantis and Diaz previously announced an additional $22 million in funding for workforce related initiatives and $35 million in funding under the same grant specific to the growth of Florida’s semiconductor industry.

The Diocese of Venice in Florida and National Development of America completed Phase 1 construction of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments.

HOUSING PAGE 14

Councilmembers Johnny Streets, Teresa Watkins Brown and Darla Bonk; Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Michele Hylton-Terry; and Florida Housing Finance Corporation Chair Ryan Benson.

“Throughout Fort Myers, people are in need of housing and, in particular, rental housing,” said Rev. Frank Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice. “We are excited to contribute to the residents of our community and help them. The Diocese will also help those who move in further by offering resident assistance programs.”

National Development and the Diocese of Venice embarked on this project eight years ago to address the critical demand for affordable rental housing in Southwest Florida. Through close partnership with the City of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency and Lee County Housing Authority, National Development of America was

able to overcome various market challenges that significantly impacted the development.

“Our company started over 40 years ago in Fort Myers, and we are invested in this community. We are committed to its residents, and housing is our mission,” Miller said. “This is something we are very excited about and we are thankful for the opportunity to serve the community.”

National Development has recently completed other affordable housing projects throughout Florida, including Casa San Alfonso in Zolfo Springs and San Pedro at Meadow Park in Arcadia. It has more housing developments planned throughout Southwest Florida in 2024.

National Development of America is a Fort Myers-based developer that specializes in affordable and workforce housing. The company has developed communities throughout Florida, Louisiana and Texas, and coordinates general contracting and property management for all of its housing developments.

Better Way to Borrow

Like Thomas Edison, we believe there is always “a better way.” To us, that means being attentive, invested and involved in the efforts of our community’s business owners as we provide them with commercial lending services that empower them to reach their goals.

As a bank with a 5-Star Superior Rating from Bauer Financial, we are standing strong with money to lend. With a history of long-term stability and resilience, we are absolutely committed to remaining well-positioned to honor our promises and protect our banking customers.

River

Greg