CRA LAUNCHES JOB CREATION, TALENT ATTRACTION PROGRAM
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has launched its Job Creation & Talent Attraction Program. Targeted industries eligible for the program include research and development in the physical, engineering, computer or life sciences; light assembly, packaging and fabrication associated with research and development in the physical, engineering, computer or life sciences; software, computing and technology; light manufacturing; and general office. This program will incentivize the creation and retention of full-time employment within the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Areas by offering a grant payment to companies that create or relocate high wage full-time jobs within an area. Companies can earn up to $8,000 when a new employee is living and working in a CRA area. Currently, funding for the new Job Creation & Talent Attraction Program is only available in the downtown redevelopment area. For more information, visit www.cityftmyers.com/craincentives.
MANUFACTURING JOB FAIR SET
The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA) will conduct a hiring event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 28 at a pair of CareerSource Southwest Florida offices. The Fort Myers location is at 4150 Ford St. Extension, and the other is in Naples at 3050 Horseshoe Drive N., Building A, No. 110. There is no cost to participate for either businesses or applicants. The new Center for Manufacturing Excellence at Immokalee Technical College is partnering with the SRMA to coordinate the event. The center is launching through a $3 million Florida Job Growth Fund grant awarded last year to Collier County Public Schools to expand manufacturing training. Sponsorships and additional information are available by contacting Bill Welch at (239) 931-8282 or wwelch@careersourcesouthwestflorida.com.
YOUTH HAVEN FIRST IN STATE TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAM
Youth Haven will implement Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS), an advanced approach that focuses on relationship-building with children, a press release states. Youth Haven is the first institution in Florida to take on the CPS model. Director of Think:Kids and Massachusetts General Hospital Associate Professor Dr. J. Stuart Ablon traveled to Youth Haven’s campus to begin first-hand training Youth Haven staff in January. The CPS philosophy states that if a child “could do well, they would do well.” Ablon asserts children who exhibit difficult behaviors want to do better, but something is blocking their ability. Youth Haven staff is undergoing rigorous training to learn the methods and techniques to help children overcome these blockages. This includes learning to identify missing skills in some children, such as problem-solving, flexibility, and frustration tolerance.
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SWFL NAMES COO
Doug Stewart has been promoted to chief operating officer of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida. Stewart most recently served as vice president of finance. Prior to his tenure with Goodwill Industries, Stewart held titles such as business owner and franchise partner of a national services organization, as well as director of financial planning, vice president of strategic development, president, COO, vice president of finance and chief financial officer for various organizations in the manufacturing, retail, financial services, real estate and high-net-worth family-management industries. Stewart began his career with a former Big Six accounting firm in Washington, D.C. Collectively, Stewart has more than 30 years of diverse industry experience. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from The Pennsylvania State University and is a Certified Public Accountant from the state of Pennsylvania.
NAPLES LAKES RANKED AMONG TOP FLORIDA GOLF COURSES
Naples Lakes Country Club ranked No. 11 of the top golf courses in Florida in Golf Advisor’s Best of 2018: Florida list. Florida’s top 30 golf courses are named to the annual list. Ratings are determined by Golf Advisor reviews. During 2018, more than 600 Florida golf courses were reviewed with comments from more than 33,000 players. Although Naples Lakes is a private community, the golf course offers seasonal public access. Naples Lakes is Collier county’s only Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course. It underwent a $3.2 million renovation last year, and improvements included enlarging and leveling all tee complexes, reshaping fairways, building new greens as well as expanding the practice facilities.
BUZZY JOINS GATES CONSTRUCTION
GATES Construction welcomes John Buzzy as senior project manager. Buzzy is responsible for overall project coordination and management from the pre-construction and permitting stage through to owner occupancy. He has more than 35 years of construction experience with a variety of project types and particular expertise in commercial general contracting including hotels, hospitals, condominiums, airport terminals, storage/retail centers and light/heavy industrial. Buzzy received his Bachelor of Science degree in building construction/structural technology from Penn State University. He will be based out of GATES Construction’s headquarters in Bonita Springs.
CSN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR TO DISCUSS WORLD RELATIONS
John Neumann, member of the Class of 2019 at Community School of Naples (CNS), has been invited to speak to the members of the Naples Council on World Affairs (NCWA) on Feb. 4. Last summer Neumann and seven other Collier County rising seniors, including CSN’s Anna Bartoux and Noah Balamut, received a scholarship from NCWA to Georgetown University’s one-week Academy on International Relations. Neumann is one of the scholarship winners speaking at the February lecture. Neumann has also been invited to be among the student voices on Capitol Hill for Language Advocacy Day (LAD) on Feb 14. He will attend lectures and events dealing with language policy and meet with Florida politicians and aides to advocate for the importance of the teaching of world languages and funding for these programs. Neumann is one of the first students in the country to be awarded a Global Gold Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, meaning he has working fluency in a language other than English, and the probable attainment of a Gold Seal in Chinese later this year, a press release states.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Memories of Lee County during WWII to highlight Cracker Dinner
The Southwest Florida Historical Society’s annual Cracker Dinner, held Feb. 18 at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers, will focus on recollections of what it was like to grow up in Lee County during World War II. The buffet dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7:15 p.m. Genevieve Bowen (pictured), who was born in Fort Myers, will recall her childhood memories of servicemen in Fort Myers at Buckingham Air Field (now Lee County Mosquito Control), practices for potential air raids and traffic jams downtown on V-J Day along with other memories of Fort Myers in the 1940s. Her presentation will be accompanied by live patriotic. Tickets cost $35 and are available at Barbee & Sons, Sam Galloway Ford, and the Southwest Florida Historical Society. Checks may also be mailed to the Southwest Florida Historical Society. Tickets can be picked up at the door on Feb. 18. The annual Cracker Dinner is sponsored by Barbee & Sons, Sam Galloway Ford, George T. Mann General Contractor, and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C. Funds raised will support Southwest Florida Historical Society.
Elvis tribute concert to support Lighthouse of SWFL
Springwood Court Assisted Living Community will host a charity benefit concert starring renowned Elvis tribute artist David Morin from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Cape Cabaret in Cape Coral. Proceeds will support the mission of Lighthouse of SWFL. Performing about 22 shows per month, Morin has performed at the Bellagio in Las Vegas and other venues around the U.S. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by calling Carol at Springwood Court (239) 691-8713. Proceeds will support the mission of Lighthouse of SWFL.
MarineMax accepting donations for Coast Guard
In partnership with Sea Tow, MarineMax Naples will be accepting donations in support of local Coast Guard families. The items most needed are non-perishable food; diapers, formula, and related; gas cards; toiletries; laundry soap; and Publix, Walmart, and Visa gift cards. MarineMax and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have had a long-standing relationship with both being part of the boating community. The USCG often leads boating classes at MarineMax in order to educate and inform new boaters on the proper protocols for maneuvering and handling boats safely. In addition to hosting classes, the USCG is responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental stewardship in U.S. ports and waterways.
Get breaking business news delivered straight to your inbox each weekday morning with Gulfshore Business Daily.
