CHARLOTTE COLLECTS $1.01 MILLION IN TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX DURING MARCH
The Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau announced Charlotte County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenues collected during March 2019 totaled nearly $1.01 million. This reflects a 5.43 percent increase over March 2018’s collections of $957,412. This is the most TDT Revenue that Charlotte County has collected during a single month since the Bureau’s inception in 1997. Two events—the Snowbird Baseball Classic and the SpringFling Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse—created a $16 million economic impact and $10.5 million in direct expenditures. Charlotte County levies a 5 percent tourist development tax on accommodation stays of six months or less, in addition to the 7 percent sales tax. The first 3 percent is spent for tourism promotion and marketing support, and the fourth and fifth percent are used to fund the debt service on the bond for the renovations at the Charlotte Sports Park.
PREMIER SOTHEBY’S RANKED 32 ON POWER BROKER REPORT
Naples-based Premier Sotheby’s International Realty announced that it has been ranked No. 32 on the annual RISMedia Top 500 Power Broker Report. The company moved up three spots, from No. 35 in 2018. With approximately $4.5 billion in sales volume, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty achieved more than 6,400 closed transactions in 2018 at an average sale price of $660,650. The RISMedia Top 500 Power Broker Report ranks residential real estate brokerage firms according to closed residential sales volume for 2018. RISMedia is the residential real estate industry’s definitive source for news and information for real estate’s most profitable and productive professionals. For more than 35 years, it has provided the industry with news, trends and strategies through Real Estate magazine and RISMedia.com.
NEWMAN JOINS BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION BOARD
Debra Newman, a 23-year breast cancer survivor and founder ofPhotoMagicEvents, has accepted an offer to join the board of directors of the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation (FBCF). Newman was a longtime supporter and former chair of the Grants Committee for Susan G. Komen before the agency closed its offices in Southwest Florida. In her new role with FBCF, Newman will advocate the foundation’s core purpose “to improve the lives of those in Florida with breast cancer and give hope where there is none” to Southwest Floridians. The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1993.
CANNATA JOINS BOARD OF LATCHKEY LEAGUE
Evelyn Cannata has been appointed to the board of the Latchkey League. The Naples-based organization was founded in 2013 by Myra Janco Daniels to promote educational development for children in need by providing after-school educational, cultural and recreational services. Cannata brings decades of community relations and philanthropic experience to the Latchkey League. She started her career in New York City, working in the medical field and corporate development. She relocated to Naples in 2004 with New York-based clients including Tribeca Events and “Autism Speaks to Wall Street,” an annual celebrity chef gala.
DOH-LEE HONORS NURSES
The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) from May 6-12 joins partners across the community to celebrate National Nurses Week. DOH-Lee recognized Wednesday as School Nurse Day to honor Florida’s more than 1,178 registered professional school nurses. During the 2017-2018 school year, Florida’s school health nurses served more than 2.8 million students and supervised more than 25 million services to keep Florida’s students safe and healthy while at school. In the Lee County School District, there are approximately 93,000 students whose success and achievements are directly impacted by approximately 40 dedicated school nurses, a press release states. For more information, visit floridahealth.gov.
JOB FAIR COMING IN JUNE
The Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce invites the community to its 2019 Job Fair, held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 1 at Hodges University in Fort Myers. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees can meet with employers, who will be offering jobs on the spot. Guests are encouraged to bring résumés and dress professionally. For more information or to rent a booth, call the chamber at (239) 418-1441 or email hispanicchamberflorida@gmail.com .
LEE SCHOOL FOUNDATION SLATES ANNUAL EVENT
The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools will host its 28th annual Partners in Education – State of Our Schools Breakfast on May 17 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. The Wizard of Oz-themed program will start at 7 a.m. In partnership with The School District of Lee County, the annual event provides an opportunity for Superintendent Greg Adkins to address the business community on the progress, accomplishments and vision of The School District of Lee County. Gary Griffin, board chairman for The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, and Marshall Bower, president and CEO, will give an update regarding the accomplishments of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and the goals going forward. The event also serves as an informative and entertaining opportunity to recognize and honor local business partners. Sponsorship and ticket information is available by calling The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools office at (239) 337-0433.
Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida receives grant
Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida has received a $10,000 grant from the Suncoast Foundation to strengthen and support its Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program. The grant will specifically help the nonprofit organization improve oral health for children by providing continued dental screenings and sealants to first- and second-grade children attending Collier County Title One Schools.
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