News

Florida Ranks #1 in the Nation for Attracting and Developing Skilled Workforce

November 08, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s focus on training workers with the technical skills and credentials is paying off as the Sunshine State has been named number one in the U.S. for attracting…
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MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SCHOOL RECEIVES POWERPLANT RATING

October 31, 2022

PUNTA GORDA, FL (Oct. 25, 2022) – Charlotte Technical College (CTC) currently offers Aviation Airframe Technology which is a 1350-hour program.  This program opened in August 2021 and our first cohort of students…
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Applying for Disaster Unemployment Assistance

October 26, 2022

1) Go to Connect,MyFlorida.com 2) Select “Sign up now” if you have not accessed the System since before September 2021. 3. Follow the steps to complete the application.
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FEMA to Provide Direct Temporary Housing in 4 Florida Counties

October 26, 2022

TALLAHASSEE – At the request of Governor Ron DeSantis, FEMA will provide temporary housing to eligible Hurricane Ian survivors in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto and Lee counties. FEMA approved Direct Temporary…
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Governor Ron DeSantis Waives Eligibility Requirement of the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, Allowing Sole Proprietors in the Marine Fisheries Industry to Receive Critical Assista

October 20, 2022

Waiving this eligibility requirement allows sole proprietors in the Marine Fisheries Industry located in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee, and Sarasota counties to apply    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis…
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How Workers in Florida Can Access Disaster Unemployment Assistance After Hurricane Ian

October 19, 2022

How Workers in Florida Can Access Disaster Unemployment Assistance After Hurricane Ian The National Employment Law Project (NELP) is a non-profit advocacy organization with the mission to build a just…
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Disaster Financial Assistance for Privately-owned Access Routes

October 18, 2022

If you live in one of the 26 Florida counties designated for FEMA disaster assistance and you had a privately-owned, driveway, road, bridge or dock damaged or destroyed by Hurricane…
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Resources Available to Small Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Ian

October 12, 2022

Florida SBDC Network State Office (Pensacola, Fla.) – The Florida SBDC Network encourages small businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian to seek available disaster assistance. “We are saddened to see and hear…
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Governor Ron DeSantis Awards $2.5 Million Through the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to Help Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Ian

October 10, 2022

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded an initial $2.5 million to businesses through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. This program was activated by Governor DeSantis…
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Affordable housing moves forward

September 19, 2022

Affordable housing moves forward Around 600 units planned for Veterans Blvd PORT CHARLOTTE — Around 600 affordable housing units are planned for 32 acres of Charlotte County-owned land on Veterans…
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Grant helps Charlotte Tech get a plane

September 19, 2022

Grant helps Charlotte Tech get a plane Aviation maintenance students will learn from used ‘78 Beechcraft PUNTA GORDA — Students enrolled in Charlotte Technical College’s Aviation Airframe Mechanics program now…
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Equus Breaks Ground on the Florida Gulf Coast 75 Logistics Center in Punta Gorda, Florida

August 04, 2022

AUGUST 4, 2022 - Equus Capital Partners, Ltd. (“Equus”), one of the nation’s leading developers and real estate investment managers, announced that it has broken ground on a 378,000 square-foot…
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Babcock Ranch Top 10 in New Home Sales in Master-Planned Communities

July 27, 2022

In Summary Total new home sales among the 50 Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities declined by 18% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same time period last year. Supply chain issues…
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Hurricane Season Preparedness Webinar - June 2022

June 16, 2022

The Charlotte County Economic Development Office partnered with the Small Business Development Center at  Florida Gulf Coast University, CareerSource Southwest Florida, Charlotte County Emergency Management, Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, Punta Gorda…
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SBA Approves Over $1 Million in Disaster Loans in Florida; Physical Disaster Loan Application Deadline July 1

June 16, 2022

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved 12 disaster loans in the amount of $1,034,900 for Florida businesses and residents affected by the severe storms and tornadoes…
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$3 Million in State Funding Approved For New Aviation Technician Facility

June 03, 2022

PUNTA GORDA, FL (June 3, 2022) – The Charlotte County Airport Authority (CCAA) is pleased to announce that $3 million was approved in the Florida State Budget for a new combined…
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We explore economic development across SWFL with a focus on Charlotte County

May 24, 2022

Lee county added about 23,000 more residents in 2021. This pace of growth like that isn’t unique to Southwest Florida. Just take Charlotte County: data shows there will soon be…
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Punta Gorda called a good spot to relocate a business HQ

May 23, 2022

Elon, buddy, have you heard of Punta Gorda? A little slice of paradise along Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s about an hour drive south from Sarasota or north from Naples. And…
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Charlotte County’s Sunseeker resort plans to bring a unique experience to SWFL in 2023

May 11, 2022

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — “There’s nothing like Sunseeker. There’s nothing like Sunseeker in the country. This is a unique product especially to SWFL,” Charlotte County’s Economic Development Director Dave Gammon…
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Two counties in the region lead the way nationally in population growth

May 02, 2022

More than 1,800 counties nationwide posted population increases in 2021. Of those, two counties on the west coast of Florida — Polk and Lee — ranked among the top 10…
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Wright Construction Group begins construction on Punta Gorda Airport

April 22, 2022

Construction began on the Runway 4-22 Rehabilitation Project at Punta Gorda Airport. As a part of the outlined scope for the project being handled by Wright Construction Group, the 7,000-foot…
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Florida is a national leader in business startups

March 18, 2022

New business starts are coming in fast nationwide and Florida is galloping to the lead. Nearly six million applications for new businesses were filed from January 2021 through January 2022,…
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Renovation plan revealed

March 01, 2022

PORT CHARLOTTE — The Promenades Mall owner submitted a redevelopment plan with 1,100 apartments, office and retail space all mixed together adjacent to the Charlotte County’s hospital hub. Currently, the 26-acre long-standing…
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Mall sold to debt holder for $100K

March 01, 2022

MURDOCK — Bond holders owed $44.8 million for the bankrupt Port Charlotte Town Center mall now own most of the facility after they ended up the high bid of $100,100. …
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Florida Tech Jobs: The 10 Best Areas to Work [2021]

October 04, 2021

Finance Buzz Article Tech is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in America, and as the industry has grown, specific cities have become major hubs for technology companies. All kinds…
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MSA’s efforts yield measurable, meaningful growth.

August 30, 2021

Florida’s Punta Gorda-Charlotte County MSA rises to #11 in Milken Institute’s “Best Performing Cities” ranking. A rise that lifts all boats: In this year’s Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Index,…
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