Lane Valente Industries opened its southern headquarters at 8228 Northup Drive near Punta Gorda Airport, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and job fair April 24.
The celebration, in partnership with the Charlotte County Economic Development office, brought together community leaders, business partners and local officials who toured the facility and networked with tenants operating from the site.
Tenants include Herc Rentals, Prestige Aluminum Fabrication LLC, Iron City Rods and Customs, Commercial Appliance Parts & Service LLC and On-Site Boat Repair. Officials from the companies took part in the grand opening ceremony and job fair, with some conducting interviews during the event.
Prior to the event, Daniel Martindale, LVI vice president of national programs, said the company plans to hire 30 employees in the next year. LVI provides construction services, remodels, design services, energy services and facility maintenance services for companies with single and multiple locations and has a presence in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Bonita Springs-based Herc Rentals, a full-service equipment rental company, also announced it was hiring.
Founder George Lane started LVI more than three decades ago from his garage in Long Island, New York. As the company grew, it purchased a 10-acre parcel on the east side of Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park in August 2022 for $1.53 million. It built two 21,000-square-foot industrial flex buildings and a 14,000-square-foot industrial flex building, all of which are fully leased, Martindale said.
“The goal was to facilitate growth and bring the fabrication group and office team under one roof,” he said.
The company formerly rented space in Fort Myers but outgrew its facility while rent was increasing. The company opted to build its own headquarters and other buildings that could be rented.
Herc Rentals, one of LVI’s long-term clients at the former Fort Myers location, was the first to secure a lease at the Punta Gorda commercial park.
“They opted for a build-to-suit, 14,000-square-foot building situated on a 4-acre parcel. In June of 2024, just eight months after we broke ground, they were able to move into the new space. We have not only been able to support our client’s needs, but the move also demonstrates LVI’s commitment to fostering strong, long-term partnerships,” Martindale said.
The Punta Gorda location will be LVI’s second largest office with the largest being its corporate headquarters in Smithtown, New York.
Features of the new facility include solar-powered parking lot lighting, a dedicated 300kVA transformer to support direct current fast chargers and a half-mile walking path overlooking a lake. Additionally, the site houses a specialized training facility for the traffic division and provides 6,000 square feet of office space.
The presence of LVI in Punta Gorda was a major accomplishment for county Economic Development Director Kay Tracy and her team, who have been instrumental in recruiting new businesses to establish roots or to expand within the county.
“Today’s ribbon cutting is a testament to Charlotte County’s business-friendly climate and our continued investment in infrastructure and growth,” Tracy said. “We’re proud to welcome Lane Valente Industries and their tenants to Punta Gorda, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact they’ll have on our economy.”
