New Cape Coral Businesses
139 new businesses registered for Cape Coral Tax Receipts
(Business Licenses)
in May, 2013.
Visit the EDO website's
Download Center
for listings of all new
Cape Coral business license registrations in the last six months.
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Gearing Up For
4th of July
Red White &Boom
Plans for The City of Cape Coral's - RE/MAX Realty Team's Red, White and Boom 4th of July Celebration are in full swing. Exciting events will be happening from early morning on.
CenturyLink-Prism TV Freedom 5K race -- 7:30am. To register, click here. Sign-ups will also be welcome on race day.
The Cape Coral Bridge will close at 6am on July 4th, as well as Cape Coral Parkway from Del Prado Blvd. to the bridge to ensure the safety of our community and volunteers.
The City of Cape Coral's - RE/MAX Realty Team's Red, White and Boom main celebration will kick off at 4pm on Cape Coral Parkway from the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge to Del Prado Blvd. Country music teen sensation Rachael Farley will headline this year's event! Farley is an 18 year old 'firecracker' who recently released her first single called "Ain't Easy".
Free Kids Areas -sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral
Free Parking Trolley -sponsored by Entech Computers
Trolley pick-up areas include Club Square, Iguana Mia, Sweetbay and Big John's in Cape Coral. Parking is free in any of those locations. There will be additional parking at the El Rey Jesus Church located at 1629 SE 47th Street for $10.00 per car, no charge for Handicap Parking.
American Tribute 9:15pm
FOS Furniture will present a special American Tribute for our local men and women serving in the war zones. Southwest Florida's best fireworks display will follow immediately after the tribute.
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National Chain Eyes CRA
A new Starbucks location is being proposed for the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) at Cape Coral Parkway and Chester Street. This new location could bring up to 30 new jobs to the south Cape and in excess of $1 million in new investment. A new 1,800 square foot building with a drive-through is under consideration.
This type of new development is welcome in the CRA.
By bringing another national tenant into the CRA it may also leverage some much needed new developments that could bring additional investment and jobs to the Cape. |
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Coconut Festival
Brings Scholarship
Opportunity
This year the annual Coconut Festival will be adding a new element: the 1st Annual Coconut Festival Queen's Scholarship Program.
This program plans to award a $2,500.00
college scholarship as
well as a year reigning
title of Coconut Festival Queen.
To be eligible you must
be a young lady between the ages of 18-25, a
current Florida resident, and obtain a $300 local
business sponsorship.
For more information,
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Economic Development on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for the latest Economic Development News.
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Contact Us | |
Cape Coral Economic Development Office
Dana Brunett
Audie Lewis
Karen Ramos
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Visit our Website
City of Cape Coral
Economic
Development
Office
 | | Click on the image to visit our website. |
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Economic Development News
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Message From Your EDO Director
 Time to Prepare
For Hurricane Season
It's that time of year again in SW Florida, hurricane season. I'm imploring all business owners to be proactive in preparing for a natural disaster. Work with your staff on a disaster plan so everyone understands what their roles are in case disaster strikes. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), 43% of small businesses that close because of a disaster never reopen. Don't let that happen to you!
In addition to a disaster plan, every business should have a safe or box that includes copies of important documents and supplies necessary to continue after a disaster. Many of the suggested documents may already be on a disk or flash drive, which works well. To help your business survive, the SBA suggests that you include the following documents in your fire- and water-resistant disaster box:
- Business continuity, emergency preparedness and disaster recovery plan including documents required for disaster loans and/or other assistance available after a disaster.
- Current profit and loss statement and balance sheet with schedules.
- Inventory list and photographs.
- Current schedule of liabilities.
- Tax returns for the last three years.
- Emergency contact list of employees and key customers/clients.
- Insurance policies and agent information.
- List of suppliers and vendors.
- Voicemail box number and remote password information.
- Backup computer systems/data files.
- General office supplies.
- Photographs of business inside and out.
- Camera to document damage.
- Cash reserves (ATMs and Credit Card processing may not be available).
- Bank records including checking, savings, credit and debit cards, loans and letters of credit.
It is our hope that your disaster plan and box will never be put to the test. By preparing today, we position ourselves for as quick a recovery as possible. Planning ahead will help all of us to 'weather the storm'.
Sincerely,
Dana Brunett
City of Cape Coral
Economic Development Director |
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Bringing Spirit & Promise to the Cape
 A hidden gem in Cape Coral may soon explode into the spotlight now that a new law has passed.
Joann Elardo founded Cape Spirits over a year ago with a goal to create a truly unique Florida product in the form of high quality, artisan spirits, starting with 'Wicked Dolphin Rum'. Since the first batch of rum was released in March, Elardo knew she had a winner. The silver Wicked Dolphin Rum was given the Gold Medal at the 2013 Miami Rum Festival, and recently won Best in Category at the American Distilling Institute-a highly acclaimed competition.
"We're using Florida ingredients for a tropical flair, with a copper still and barrel aging to ensure fine quality and flavor," said Elardo. "Now we are developing spiced rum and a line of vodka made from 100% pure Florida sugar cane. Look at the bottom of our bottles to see our Cape Coral emblem."
This creative entrepreneur, who once marketed Converse shoes overseas, had a vision to be able to taste and sell her spirits directly from the local factory on SW 3rd Place. When she learned that this was not legal in Florida, Elardo went straight to Tallahassee to make her point. This month, the Governor signed House Bill 347 into law, making small businesses in Florida competitive with 23 other states that produce premium quality, artisan craft spirits.
"This is a victory for the entire state," said Elardo. "We are already talking about creating a rum trail to draw visitors to Florida, much like Kentucky's bourbon trail."
Best of all, on July 1st, when the new law goes into effect, the Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery will open its doors for tours, tastings and sales.
Elardo hopes that her distillery will help Cape Coral to become the tourist destination it deserves to be. "We have wonderful waterfront, eclectic charm, and so much to offer. I not only see the potential of Cape Coral, I believe in it."
Cape Spirits and the Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery is located at 131 SW 3rd Place in Cape Coral, just off of Pine Island Road. Visit their website at www.WickedDolphin.com to learn more. |
ICSC Convention A Recruiting Success
The national International Consortium of Shopping Centers (ICSC) convention just finished, but in many ways, the work is just beginning for the Economic Development Office (EDO) staff. Ten intense weeks of preparation led up to the convention and the post-work has just gotten underway.
For instance, the EDO team has already reached out to 858 of the attendees through individual emails specifically targeted to raise interest in exploring the significant growth market of Cape Coral. This contact includes a focused outreach planned for 62 separate companies identified by Dana Brunett, the EDO Director, as very important for future local growth.
To say that we are encouraged would be an understatement. After meeting with 76 individual companies at the convention, the potential we see right now includes 28 future projects that could land in Cape Coral over the next 1-2 years. Likewise, EDO staff has secured nearly three times that number of commitments from companies that have expressed an interest in further exploring Cape Coral for other potential projects that may develop over time.
All of these efforts are part of an overall EDO strategy to increase the ad valorem tax base for commercial businesses in Cape Coral and thereby increase the economic growth of the city and the overall job base. It is our hope and expectation that each of these new businesses will spur additional investment and development interest in other local projects.
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Belk Has 125 Reasons to Celebrate
Recently, an enthusiastic crowd turned out for a memorable anniversary celebration of the family-owned Belk Department Store at the Surfside Shops in Cape Coral. Mayor John Sullivan and Council Members Kevin McGrail and Lenny Nesta were among the dignitaries on hand.
On this day, the Cape Coral store had good reason to celebrate-ranking in the top ten of 103 stores in their division.This Belk Celebration was one of 301 nationwide, paying homage to a company that has successfully remained under family ownership since opening in North Carolina in 1888. Today, Belk is in its third generation of family ownership. 75 customers and 25 employees took part in a private breakfast, with 150 customers waiting to join the festivities when they opened their doors that morning.
Belk Manager Cathy Norwood is happy to report that sales are up. "Last year, at the end of January, we sold more than this particular store has sold since it opened in 2007," said Norwood. "I attribute a good part of that to our focus on customer service. We believe the shopping experience should be about much more than the cash register at the end."
Norwood points to their full Cosmetics Department with on-site makeovers and individual consultations as their unique draw for customers. Having the Sandoval community next door is another plus.
Customers can participate in the retailer's 125 Days of Prizes by registering online at Belk's Facebook page or at belk125prizes.com. That promotion runs through July 10.
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SBDC Business Tip:
Penetrating The Noise
 By: Russ Winstead,
Certified Business Analyst
In today's environment we are constantly bombarded by outside sources I call "the noise". I'm speaking of Emails, Texts, Twitter, Phone calls, LinkedIn, Facebook and yes, TV and Radio.
Almost all of them have an element of advertising; all are looking for our attention or business. Because we and (our customers) are constantly bombarded by all this noise, all the time, we start to tune or filter most of it out.
If we are to be effective in our marketing we must be able to "penetrate the noise" and "stand out" to be heard. The way to accomplish this is varied depending on your type of advertising, your market, your product or your service. However, one thing is common regardless of the media and that is it must be unique in a way that people are going to be "awakened" by it. It must stand out! to be heard.
Take a look at your current advertising and ask yourself, would this catch my attention if it wasn't my ad? Why would I look or listen to this? In all the noise out there, why would this ad get my customers attention? If you get it right it could be HUGE! If not you will just be part of the noise...........
If you need help in business planning and unique ideas I'd be glad to help.
Call today at (239)573-2737 or visit the SBDC website. |
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Two Signs of Economic Growth
Florida's Economy Growing at a Faster Rate
Florida's gross domestic product grew at 2.4 percent in 2012, just under the national average of 2.5 percent, according to Labor Department statistics released this month. That's a marked improvement from both 2010 and 2011 when Florida's economic output rose less than one percent each year (and fell 6 percent in 2009). Experts predict the 2013 figures will be much stronger after the state's impressive job creation so far this year. A dozen states grew faster than Florida, led by North Dakota which, fueled by a mining boom, grew a whopping 13.4 percent in one year. (Source: Tampa Bay Times)
Small Business Loan Guarantees Growing
Small businesses in South Florida are on pace to receive more federally-guaranteed loans this year, a sign that the region's economy is on the upswing, according to a US Small Business Administration official. Headquartered in Miami, the SBA's South Florida District issued 919 loan guarantees to small businesses totaling $470.4 million in the six-month period from October through April.
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