Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels
U.S. CENSUS SHOWS SWFL INCREASED POPULATION, DIVERSITY SINCE 2010
The first detailed information released from the 2020 Census shows that Southwest Florida’s population is rapidly growing and changing. Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties gained more than 220,000 total residents from 2010 to 2020 and has a combined population of more than 1.3 million people. Lee grew about 23%, gaining 142,000 residents; Collier and Charlotte each grew nearly 17%, adding more than 54,000 and nearly 27,000 people, respectively. Data shows the region also becoming more diverse. The share of non-white residents in Lee and Collier nearly doubled from 17% to 31%. Charlotte County’s share jumped from 10% to 16%. The Hispanic or Latino population now comprise
Video courtesy of WINK News
FDOT TO BEGIN ROAD PROJECT ON COLONIAL BLVD. AT I-75 IN FORT MYERS
Florida Department of Transportation is set to begin construction this month on a year-long traffic project to create a diverging diamond on Colonial Boulevard near Interstate 75 in Fort Myers. FDOT says lane shifts will begin soon along Colonial at I-75, but officials say the same number of lanes will remain while the work is being done, and lane closures will happen overnight. Three separate interchange improvement projects will take place over the next three years along Colonial — one at Six Mile Cypress Parkway, one at I-75 and one at The Forum — but FDOT says only one project will be worked on at a time to minimize the impact to drivers, WINK News reports.
TWO FILETS SEAFOOD-STEAK RESTAURANT AND MARKET PLANNED IN NORTH NAPLES
After relocating its Deep Lagoon Seafood restaurant this spring in North Naples, Phelan Family Brands plans a new upscale, casual dining concept in the former restaurant’s space called Two Filets Seafood-Steak-Market, said Grant Phelan, CEO of Bonita Springs-based Phelan Family Brands. Phelan plans an extensive remodeling of the former Deep Lagoon and Randy’s Fishmarket Restaurant at 10395 Tamiami Trail N. in Naples Park. Two Filets will predominantly offer seafood, but it also will have steaks and a market with seafood and steaks. The new restaurant is targeted to open in December or January.
PALMIRA GOLF CLUB COURSE RENOVATIONS ON SCHEDULE IN BONITA SPRINGS
Almost six months into the course renovation project at Palmira Golf Course, a few days have been lost due to rain but, fortunately, the weather has been cooperative overall. On the Ibis Course, all nine of the holes are complete, including the new practice area east of No. 9 and the new warm-up area at No. 1. This includes 2,000 linear feet of stacked rock wall and two new stacked rock wall culvert bridges at No. 2 and No. 4. All bunkers have been redesigned, removed or added, and filled with new sand. Sodding and sprigging of each of the nine holes on the Osprey Course has begun. Most all of the major “reshaping” work is complete on all nine holes including 1,500 linear feet of stacked rock wall and three new stacked rock wall culvert bridges. Five holes are expected to be sprigged with bunkers filled by mid-August. The remaining four holes will be sprigged by the end of August, assuming the weather cooperates. The nine holes on Egret will open last where the least amount of work is being done on the fairways. It should be finished much quicker than the other two nines.
LEE MEETING TO SHARE PLANS FOR CAUSEWAY ISLANDS PARK IMPROVEMENTS
Lee County Parks & Recreation will host an open house for the Causeway Islands Park Improvement project from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 26, at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers. The county plans to improve park amenities and install erosion control structures at the park. During this open house, the public is invited to view preliminary project plans and renderings as well as discuss the improvements with a consultant and county staff Plans call for the shoring up of erosion-prone areas of Island A and Island B, which are part of the Sanibel Causeway. Beach sand also will be added along parts of these islands. In addition, enhancements will be made to upland portions of both islands, including the creation of structured parking, new restrooms, additional picnic pavilions, pathways and landscaping, and the addition of other park amenities. The county plans to keep construction impacts to a minimum and complete the project by summer 2024.
REAL ESTATE SYMPOSIUM TO TAKE PLACE ON SEPT. 8
The 2021 Real Estate Symposium, presented by the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS) in partnership with the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), takes place on Sept. 8 at FGCU. The symposium will begin with registration and continental breakfast at 8 a.m. and the program runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Topics of discussion will include water quality and real estate development. Admission is $35 for members of REIS and $50 for nonmembers, with the exception of FGCU students who may attend at no charge. Admission includes snacks and refreshments. Seating is limited and reservations are required by Sept. 6. Reservations may be made online.
COGENT BANK EXPANDS ASSOCIATION BANKING GROUP
Cogent Bank, a full-service business and personal bank based in Florida, has expanded its association banking division after its first year in the Southwest Florida market with an initial banking center in Fort Myers and another scheduled to open in Naples next month. Cogent has hired George McDonald as the lead client service specialist for its association banking division to support this expansion. McDonald brings more than 20 years of banking experience to Cogent and most recently managed multiple property management, homeowners’ and condo associations at a large regional bank. Cogent’s association banking division’s benefits feature evergreen hurricane and emergency lines of credit, fully electronic signature cards and modern receivable solutions, including lockbox, self-enroll automated clearing house (ACH) and credit cards with website integration. A software integration with most major property management software is also included, the company states.
SUNSHINE ACE HARDWARE PROMOTES TWO TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS
Sunshine Ace Hardware has promoted two of its associates, Jason Falcone and Serina Gomez, to district manager positions overseeing south and north regions. Falcone will serve as district manager for southern stores, which covers Sunshine Ace Hardware locations in Collier and Lee counties and the commercial paint store. Falcone joined Sunshine Ace in 2019 and served as manager of the Downtown Naples store. Gomez will serve as district manager for northern stores, including Sunshine Ace Hardware locations in Charlotte and Pinellas counties and Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware and Crowder’s Gifts & Gadgets in Manatee County. Gomez joined Sunshine Ace in May as a leader-in-training. Sunshine Ace includes nine hardware locations in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Pinellas counties, as well as Sunshine Commercial Paint & More in Naples, two Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware stores in Manatee County and two Crowder’s Gifts & Gadgets shops in Manatee County. The company recently announced plans to build a new hardware store in North Naples.
Zachary Lombardo
LOMBARDO ELECTED VP OF COLLIER COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
Woodward, Pires & Lombardo P.A. Government Relations Attorney Zachary W. Lombardo has been elected as vice president of the Collier County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section for 2021 – 2022. Lombardo previously served as treasurer of the organization. The Collier County Bar Association (CCBA) was formed to serve the issues and concerns of the lawyers and judges in the Collier County area. It has since expanded to address the concerns of the public and provides lawyer referral services and pro bono events open to everyone residing in the Collier County area. The section on young lawyers encourages incoming attorneys in the Collier County area to be involved in the community and participate in pro bono events with the association. Lombardo is an associate attorney at Woodward, Pires & Lombardo P.A. He graduated cum laude with his Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law.
Debra Wilson
WILSON APPOINTED AS LEE HEALTH’S VP OF ONCOLOGY
With more than two decades of oncology experience, Debra Wilson has been tapped to serve as Lee Health’s vice president of oncology. In her new role, which she began on Aug. 2, Wilson is responsible for establishing the vision and strategic direction for cancer services at Lee Health. Wilson comes to Lee Health from Roper St. Francis Healthcare in Charleston, South Carolina, where she served as system associate vice president of oncology services and chief administrative officer for Roper St. Francis Mt. Pleasant Hospital. She also worked at Deaconess Health System in Evansville, Indiana, for 19 years, five of which she served as the director of oncology services. Wilson attended the University of Southern Indiana, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing and her master’s degree in nursing management and leadership. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Oncology Nursing Society.
OCTOBER SPECIAL SECTION: ADVERTISING & PR FIRM GUIDE
The October 2021 issue of Gulfshore Business magazine will include our semi-annual Advertising & PR Firm Guide. Don’t miss this targeted opportunity to promote your firm and its services to the 40,000-plus monthly readers of Gulfshore Business magazine! For advertising inquiries, please contact Associate Publisher Chris Renstrom at 239-498-8517 or chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Wounded Warriors of Collier County purchases first home with help from community partners
Wounded Warriors of Collier County (WWCC) has made its first warrior home purchase, Bravo House. After years of renting, Wounded Warriors of Collier County purchased one of its two rental homes. With a donation of $247,500 from The Community Foundation of Collier County and a secondary grant from the J. Aron Charitable Foundation Inc., WWCC was able to fully fund the purchase of three-bedroom Bravo House, which provides long-term supportive housing for senior veterans living on a fixed income. Home Depot Foundation is donating roofing supplies and Vogel Construction Group will be donating construction labor costs to complete a roof replacement on the Bravo House.
Don’t be the last to know what’s happening in Southwest Florida. Sign up for our free daily newsletter, Gulfshore Business Daily, to stay connected.
