The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Capital Access Team (CAT) is available to assist small businesses with COVID-related funding that includes new PPP loans, PPP forgiveness applications, venue grants, SBA EIDL grants, SBA EIDL loans, and SBA EIDL reconsiderations. The team can help review and complete your loan package before you send it to your bank. The CAT is led by highly specialized SBDC consultants. All consulting services are confidential and at no cost. Request no-cost consulting by filling out the form by clicking here. For questions, email sbdc@fgcu.edu.

 

Sixteen Publix stores in Collier County are set to become COVID-19 vaccination sites beginning Jan. 14. At a Wednesday press conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced 56 additional Publix stores statewide would become vaccination sites, including 16 in Collier County. Vaccinations are provided to eligible individuals, by appointment only, while supplies last and at no cost to the individual. Customers with health insurance will need to bring their insurance cards to their scheduled appointment. Those without health insurance will need to provide their driver’s license or Social Security number, WINK News reports.

 

Blue Waters Development Group LLC has announced plans to develop Victory Park, a commercial project in Cape Coral. Victory Park will include a 125-room Wyndham Garden hotel, commercial space, and 100,000 square feet of medical space and industrial space. The groundbreaking is scheduled for the second quarter of 2021. Pre-leasing is now taking place. RealAmerica Realty is the leasing agent for Victory Park. For leasing or general information about Victory Park, contact Steve Komondorea at 239-573-6464 or email steve@realamericarealty.com.

 

A major road construction project could change how long it takes to get to work in Fort Myers. The Florida Department of Transportation began work Monday on the diverging diamond interchange project starting at Colonial Boulevard and Interstate 75. The project is going to cost upwards of $52.7 million. The biggest thing to note is that I-75 will be widened to add an auxiliary lane in each direction from Colonial to MLK Boulevard. At each exit, emergency stopping sites will be added. FDOT says this project is supposed to help traffic flow and make the area safer, especially in the case of an emergency evacuation in fast-growing Lee County. This project is set to be completed by 2024, WINK News reports.

 

Seagate Development Group is partnering with Barron Collier Cos. on one of the largest pieces of undeveloped land in Bonita Springs. Having recently closed on this 175-acre property at 14780 Bonita Beach Road SE, they will take it through entitlements for a residential neighborhood. The completed community will offer lake and preserve views for all residents as well as opportunities for passive recreation and easy access to stores, restaurants and I-75. Seagate and Barron Collier Companies have been partnering on successful residential and commercial projects for many years. These include Hill Tide Estates in Boca Grande; CubeSmart self-storage facilities in Ave Maria, Estero and Fort Myers; and Eastlinks Business Park in the Gateway area of Fort Myers. For more information and updates, visit SeagateDevelopmentGroup.com.