Lead Photo: Wells Fargo awards a 45,000 grant to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County. Details below.
LEE COMMISSIONERS APPROVE NEW ROUND OF LEECARES ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday authorized the next round of LeeCARES programs to assist individuals, families and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board approved plans to launch Round 2 of LeeCares Assistance for individuals and families providing for broader eligibility and increased award amounts up to $3,000 per household. Grant recipients from earlier rounds of assistance are also eligible for Round 2 funding. Round 1 closes to applications on Aug. 7 and Round 2 opens Aug. 17. The new plan also enhances the Business Rehire program by increasing grant sizes by up to $8,000 awarded to each full-time equivalent rehire according to wages paid; doubles the maximum scholarship amount allowed for each child that qualifies for childcare expenses to $2,500 in order to extend the program through the remainder of 2020; distributes personal protective equipment to county residents in partnership with the municipalities; and enhances CARES Act funding by $1.8 million for the existing Rapid Re-housing Program administered by the county’s Department of Human & Veteran Services. Visit LeeFLcares.com for additional information about all available programs.
Video courtesy of WINK News
LEE COUNTY REPORTS SHORTAGE OF POLL WORKERS FOR 2020 PRIMARY
Because the Lee County elections office will be down about a thousand poll workers, Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle is asking voters to be patient when they come out to vote in the state’s primary on Aug. 18. Lee County also needs people to work during the general election in November and its early voting days. For information on becoming a poll worker in Lee County, click here or call 239-LEE-VOTE (533-8683). The elections office also has cut down the number of polling locations available so wait times will increase. “We reduced our polling locations from 125 to 96,” Doyle says. One way to reduce those lines is to take advantage of early voting, which begins Saturday, WINK News reports.
BONITA CHAMBER BECOMES SWFL INC., LAUNCHES FREE BUSINESS MEMBERSHIP
The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a new membership model to better serve businesses in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, and a new name to reflect its regional reach: SWFL Inc. The new organization offers four premium membership packages and a free, basic package. Any business in SWFL can become a basic member and add on additional benefits from the SWFL Inc. menu of services, including video tours, event sponsorships, advertisements in the SWFL Visitor Guide and more. Businesses can join SWFL Inc. at SWFLinc.com or by calling (239) 992-2943.
LEE COMMISSIONERS OK AGREEMENT FOR LEETRAN MOBILE FARE SYSTEM
The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an agreement that will allow riders to use a new mobile app to both plan their trip and pay fares with their mobile device. The mobile app will be developed by SBX Corp. and is expected to be available in November. To follow service-related updates or learn more about LeeTran, visit the agency’s website at RideLeeTran.com.
CENSUS BUREAU TO STOP KNOCKING ON DOORS EARLIER THAN PLANNED
The Census Bureau will stop knocking on doors earlier than planned because of the pandemic. The Census Bureau only comes to the door if a response, either by mail or online, hasn’t been received from that address. Its last attempt will be Sept. 30 instead of Oct. 31, but the deadline for people to return census forms is still Oct. 31. The final report for 2020 is due Dec. 31. Getting an accurate count is critical to ensure communities get the government funding they need, WINK News reports.
Video courtesy of WINK News
LEE COMMISSIONERS APPROVE PURCHASING 216 ACRES OF CONSERVATION 20/20 LAND
The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to approve the purchase of two parcels totaling 216 acres for the Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition Program. The parcels, one in eastern Lee County and one on Pine Island, are contiguous to existing preserves. The purchases include $1.3 million for about 201 acres abutting the Imperial Marsh Preserve-Galloway Tract, about a mile south of State Road 82 and about 3 miles west of the eastern county line. The purchase price is $52,500 for about 15 acres of land next to the Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve, as well as Calusa Land Trust’s conservation land. For more information, visit Conservation2020.org.
KAVA CULTURE PLANS NEXT LOCATION IN NORTH NAPLES
Kava Culture Kava Bar is targeted to open Sept. 1 in The Pavilion shopping center on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road in North Naples. Launched in Bonita Springs in 2017 by sisters Caroline and Jacqueline Rusher, Kava Culture has since expanded its organic herbal menu of euphoric kava, energizing kratom elixirs, kombucha tea and other beverages to locations in Fort Myers Beach, downtown Fort Myers, Port Charlotte and Tampa. A semi-circular covered patio leads to the entrance of the North Naples space where both legs of The Pavilion shopping center meet. Until recently closing, the third location of Delicious Raw Kitchen & Juice Bar had operated there since 2015.
TRILOGY LABORATORIES LAUNCHES HOME FACIAL KIT FOR SPAS, RETAILERS
Trilogy Laboratories has launched a Botanical Home Facial kit as a business solution for spas and retailers. The Botanical Home Facial kit is a four-step luxury treatment suitable for all skin types. One kit includes enough product for at least four at-home facials. Trilogy Laboratories continues to develop innovative products to serve the needs of retailers, skincare experts and beauty brands during COVID-19. It recently released a moisturizing hand mask to treat skin irritation due to over-sanitizing and washing. Trilogy Laboratories provides turn-key private labeling of luxury skincare products. For more information, visit TrilogyLaboratories.com.
IN THE KNOW
Wellfit Girls announces new leadership transition
Wellfit Girls, a Southwest Florida nonprofit dedicated to empowering teen girls, announces Brooke Spencer as its new executive director. A Naples native, Spencer has been with Wellfit Girls since 2017. She has climbed the ranks as a volunteer, administrative assistant, program coordinator and then program director before taking on the role of executive director. Spencer earned a master’s degree in public administration for Florida Gulf Coast University. Colby Robertson, the organization’s director for the last seven years, is stepping into a new co-founder role and will continue to support the organization as treasurer of the board. Robertson and Jill Wheeler co-founded Wellfit Girls in 2014.
Young Professionals announces incoming board of directors
The Young Professionals of Naples announced its incoming board of directors, elected to serve through 2021. The board of directors will be led by president, Jury Paulson, Habitat for Humanity; vice president, Laura Richardson Bright, American Cancer Society; treasurer, Peter Michaels, Halstatt; secretary, Moira Larkin, David Lawrence Center; events director, Madison Alger, Sunshine Kids Foundation; events director, Madison McNally, STARability Foundation; development director, Hannah Wilson, Germain Lexus of Naples; communications director, Samuel Spaiser, Discovery & Innovation LLC; and membership director, Jordan Tompkins, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. For the safety of all Young Professionals of Naples members and the community, events will continue on a strictly virtual basis through Sept. 30. Young Professionals of Naples will be offering a $25 discount on the standard annual membership rate now through Sept 30.
Heather Tice
First Florida Integrity Bank promotes Tice
First Florida Integrity Bank (FFIB) has promoted Heather Tice to senior vice president – director of marketing. Tice has 12 years of experience in the banking industry and over 20 years of experience in the field of marketing. She joined First Florida Integrity Bank as AVP- director of marketing in June of 2008. Prior to joining FFIB, Tice was the project manager for two boutique marketing firms in Los Angeles. She spearheaded the development of FFIB’s annual charity golf tournament in 2009 which has raised over $910,000 to date for local children’s charities. Tice is the president of the board for the bank’s charitable foundation, FNBGC Charitable Foundation, and is actively involved in the community. Tice holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in telecommunications – media management from Pepperdine University and is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Collier. She recently received the Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP) certification from the American Bankers Association.
Kevin Harris
Wilderness Country Club appoints food and beverage director
Wilderness Country Club has appointed Kevin Harris as food and beverage director. Harris has nearly 30 years of food and beverage experience, including several clubs in Southwest Florida. Most recently, he was director of food and beverage for Countryside Golf & Country Club in Naples. Before that, he served as food and beverage manager for The Colony Golf & Country Club in Bonita Springs and worked at Gateway Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers and Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa. Harris is a graduate of Edison Community College (now Florida SouthWestern State College) with an associate’s degree in hospitality management. He also has gained professional education as a member of the Club Management Association of America.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Brewery releases limited-edition pilsner to benefit Cape Coral boy with leukemia
Fort Myers Brewing Co.is introducing Adyn Strong, a new German pilsner brewed for a special cause. Adyn Pickett is a Cape Coral resident who is fighting leukemia. Pickett was diagnosed with leukemia at ages 4, 6, and 7. His family learned this summer that the leukemia had returned. Adyn Strong will be sold exclusively at Fort Myers Brewing Co.’s taproom in Gateway and available for to-go pickup starting Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. The limited-edition craft beer sells for $12 with $10 from every 6-pack sold going directly to benefit the Pickett family as 8-year-old Adyn prepares for his fourth battle with cancer. The limited-edition label for the Adyn Strong brew, which was inspired by Adyn’s love for LEGOs, was created by Jeromy Boutwell of Boutwell Designs with printing services donated by Blue Label Packaging Co.
Wells Fargo grant helps make homes affordable for three families in Naples
The Wells Fargo Foundation has awarded Habitat for Humanity of Collier Countya grant to help build three affordable homes for families in Naples. The local nonprofit received a $45,000 grant from Wells Fargo as part of the bank’s $8.1 million donation to Habitat for Humanity International to build, renovate and repair over 350 homes across the U.S. The grant is provided through Wells Fargo Builds and is part of Wells Fargo Foundation’s $1 billion philanthropic commitment to creating more housing affordability solutions by 2025.
Earn to Learn FL receives $12,000 from United Way
Earn to Learn FL has received $12,000 in COVID-19 response funding from United Way of Lee County for its Near Peer Coaching for Postsecondary Success program. This program offers 12-month paid stipend opportunities to current college students, or recent graduates, who have been impacted by the economic downturn resulting from the pandemic. These near-peer coaches will be deployed to high schools this fall. They will start by coaching 11th graders to navigate the pathway toward their own higher education success. For more information, visit EarntoLearnFL.org.
STARability Foundation awarded $10,000 grant
The Community Foundation of Collier Countyhas awarded the STARability Foundation a $10,000 grant for its COVID-19 response. The grant supports the virtual programs STARability quickly launched to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities after the organization suspended in-person programs in March because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Community Foundation of Collier County’s funding also will help offset the cost of other expenses related to the pandemic. The Community Foundation of Collier County awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. Selected organizations receive grant dollars from the Changing Needs Fund. This Fund is made up of donors who believe in the Community Foundation’s ability to identify and grant to the most community’s most current needs. For more information, visit STARability.org.
Best Buddies SWFL receives $5,000 grant
The Southwest Florida office of Best Buddies Internationalhas received a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Collier County. These funds will support general operations to continue supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Research shows that children with intellectual and developmental disabilities participate in social activities at a lower rate than children without disabilities and typically with a parent. When Best Buddies is offered at a school, the main focus is to match a general education student with a student who has an intellectual or developmental disability via the School Friendship program, which is one of Best Buddies’ four mission pillars. In addition to one-to-one friendships, Best Buddies also strives to provide integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Best Buddies Southwest Florida has also received $30,000 in COVID-19-relief support from the Golisano Foundation.
