LEADING NEWS
Florida Now Top 10 in the Nation for Manufacturing Jobs, Surpassing New York
September 29, 2023
Most recent job numbers show that Florida is now ranked #10 in the nation for manufacturing employment. There were 426,000 jobs in Florida’s manufacturing industry in August 2023, advancing Florida ahead of…read more | add to report
Assist in the Response – Report Storm Damage to Charlotte County
September 07, 2023
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (Aug. 31, 2023) – Charlotte County has an online Self-Reporting Storm Damage system to help us collect damage assessments. Visit www.tinyurl.com/reportingdamage, enter your address, select the…read more | add to report
A $100 billion wealth migration tilts US economy’s center of gravity south
July 24, 2023
Drive along the 240-mile stretch of the Atlantic coast from Charleston, South Carolina, through the grassy marsh land of southern Georgia and down into northern Florida, and you’ll see one…read more | add to report
Charlotte County Wins Big with Top State Economic Development Award
June 27, 2023
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (June 27, 2023) –– Charlotte County is the overall winner in the recent annual Florida Economic Development Council Awards, taking home the Melissa Medley Creativity Award…read more | add to report
Seagate Development Group Announces Completion of 9 Acre Complex For ABC Supply, Inc in Charlotte County
June 19, 2023
Seagate Development Group’s Commercial Division has announced their completion of phases one and two for American Builders and Contractors Supply Co, Inc. – completing and turning the project over to…read more | add to report
Port Charlotte getting a ‘downtown’
June 15, 2023
Parkside Village to contain hotel, apartments, shops, offices PORT CHARLOTTE — Charlotte County commissioners approved a zoning change which paves the way for Parkside Village — Port Charlotte’s new “downtown.”…read more | add to report
Roundtable brainstorms on how to expand workforce
May 03, 2023
PORT CHARLOTTE — How can Southwest Florida businesses attract and keep employees? It was the main topic at a roundtable Tuesday bringing together employers, manufacturers and other stakeholders. Problems and…read more | add to report
Inside Sunseeker’s Restaurant Row
April 04, 2023
CHARLOTTE HARBOR – All casino speculations aside, residents have been talking about October's opening of Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor, the first luxury property of Allegiant Travel Co.’s Sunseeker Resorts. It’s…read more | add to report
PGD’s Runway 4-22 Reopens Primary Runway Opens After Year-Long Reconstruction Project
January 17, 2023
Punta Gorda, FL (January 13, 2023) – The Charlotte County Airport Authority (CCAA) reopened Runway 4-22 on Friday after a year-long reconstruction and rehabilitation project. Runway 4-22 is the preferred…read more | add to report
Large logistics center under construction in Punta Gorda lands first tenant
January 12, 2023
A Texas lumber distributor will take 75,000 square feet of space for its first Florida location. Dakota Premium Hardwoods, a national lumber distribution company, is opening its first Florida location…read more | add to report
Study: Punta Gorda Airport brings in $1.7 billion in economic impacts
December 16, 2022
PUNTA GORDA — The Punta Gorda Airport brought an estimated $1.7 billion in economic impact to Charlotte County in 2021, according to a study. The airport created 11,319 jobs, $541…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
$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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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,…read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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. …read more | add to report
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…read more | add to report
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,…read more | add to report
Click HERE to read our June 2022 newsletter. In this month's newsletter we added a section for Charlotte County Economic Indicators which we will update monthly.
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Click here to read the January 2022 Economic Development Newsletter. Want to receive our newsletter in your email? Sign up below.
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