Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
(Est. 1925)
~ 95
th
Year of Serving All Charlotte County
~
Offices in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda
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BUSINESS ONLINE
~~~ Monday, June 22, 2020 ~~~
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- Chamber Updates
- Sustaining Partners
- Chamber Member News
- Job Spot
- Resources
- Just For Fun
- Contact information
- Social Distancing and Safety Protocol Statement
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Annual ads are as low as $264 in the
2021 Community Guide and Business Directory
.
As business continues to rebound, the pace is forecast to increase rapidly for our community. This is because of our outdoor activities and abundance of less crowded areas. And it has already begun!
This is exactly where people want to visit, do business, and relocate. Make sure YOUR business is primed to reach thousands in this beautiful, free, printed magazine as well as a new digital flip-magazine. For more information, click
HERE
!
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The annual New Teacher’s Breakfast on Thursday, July 30 has officially been dubbed the
New Teachers Breakfast Parade.*
Chamber members can participate and attend the parade by sponsoring a new teacher for $35. Teachers will drive thru the Event Center parking lot and along the waterfront to pick up special boxed breakfasts and goody bags. They will be celebrated by their sponsoring businesses with greetings, signs, balloons and banners. If your business would like to sponsor one of the 90 new teachers for $35, and participate in the New Teachers Breakfast Parade, please contact the chamber at 941-627-2222 or jcaffee@charlottecountychamber.org. To see the flyer, click
HERE
!
Gift bag items are needed for our new teachers. Please drop off 100 of your promotional items or gifts by July 24 to the Port Charlotte office at 2702 Tamiami Trail. Let's show how much our educators are appreciated!
(Gifts/promo items only. No flyers, please.)
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Be a ChamberACTION hero!
Since
you believe in the value of chamber membership, and love to be active in our community, the ChamberACTION Committee could be your perfect match. The mission of the ChamberACTION Committee is:
To support chamber activities on a regular or on-call basis. Along with providing valuable education about the chamber, joining ChamberACTION can lay the foundation for more in-depth involvement, and the heightened visibility you receive provides more recognition for your business.
This group, led by Vice President of Membership Steve Lineberry of Premier Photographic Events, includes a diverse cross-section of business professionals who are dedicated to sharing the value of becoming a member of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. They also assist with organizing and implementing events for their approximately 1,000 chamber member associates. These events include professional presentations, social networking events, and often a combination of both.
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The dedicated Sustaining Partner businesses provide additional support to the annual chamber budget which, in turn, provides them with additional membership benefits. This allows us to continue with increased promotion, advocacy, involvement and leadership at the local, state and federal levels as we support our businesses and the community we serve.
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(For your business to become a Sustaining Partner and enjoy special benefits, please contact Teri Ashley at 941-639-2222 or
tashley@charlottecountychamber.org
for information.)
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Is your construction project giving you nightmares? If so, you don’t have to deal with the aggravation alone. As an experienced attorney, Lance Ball, Esq. can guide you through the complexities of construction law and assist with a resolution. For aggressive advocacy at reasonable rates, contact the
Ball Law Firm
at (941) 740-2255 or
BallLawCenter.com
today. For your safety, we continue to offer telephone consultations during the pandemic.
Buffalo Graffix
is open and operating Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. We are here for all your design, printing, imprinted apparel, promo products, signs, wraps and direct mail needs. Check out our current specials on
www.buffalograffix.com
to save on the things you need to keep yourselves up and running! Call 941.625.2833 or email us at info@buffalograffix today to learn more! We hope you are all staying safe and healthy!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the
City of Punta Gorda
assisted businesses by permitting event banners for 30 days with or without a permit. The City is continuing this extension thru July 31. Temporary signage permitted prior to July 31, 2020 will not count toward the allowed 12 each year. Temporary signage is to be removed by August 1, 2020 and any businesses desiring temporary signage after this date must contact the City’s Code Compliance division. Also beginning August 1, business event permits will count toward the 12 business events permitted annually. Code Compliance permits -
http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/residents/code-compliance/code-compliance-permits
, email at
pgcode@CityofPuntaGordaFL.com
or telephone at 941-575-3352.
Rain has resulted in the recurring rash of rodent-related repairs. Rats will make a home under your hood, eating the electrical wiring and shoving nesting material where it can later catch on fire. A car doesn’t have to sit for long periods to be a shelter for rats. Repair costs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, but fortunately they may be covered by insurance. At
Complete Auto Repair
, we will clear out nest debris and replace your car’s wiring that the rodents had for dinner. Call 941-623-2926, or stop in for details.
Cooling Dynamics
offers new monthly service! We’re proud to be one of the few HVAC companies now offering monthly service to visit and change your air filters for you. No more climbing ladders to change your filters and no more forgetting to do it. Instead of spending $15+ a month on air filters … we will change your filters and service your A/C for $29! Start breathing the difference with cleaner/safer air, saving on your electric bill and prolonging the life of your A/C system. Click
here
for more information or call 941-416-5541.
Curry Moving & Storage, Inc.
remains open for business, but is closed to public access at this time. You may reach us by phone; 941-625-4191 or by email;
currymoving@gmail.com
. We have mini-warehouses for rent with the best price in town. In light of the challenge we are all facing, Curry Moving & Storage is taking several hygienic precautions to keep our customers and employees safe. We are currently offering all first responders one month free mini-warehouse space or lot space. Remember, He is the light in the darkness!
Dancing Moon Travel:
Is Costa Rica on your bucket list? If not, it definitely should be! Join Pat and her guest Jim McGinnis as they cover the beauty and adventure that awaits you when you visit this incredible destination.
https://bit.ly/June24PatHand
We are with
David Allen Capital
and we provide capital for business owners. We currently have 12 lenders that are putting together funding packages for small business owners that are still doing business in our community. Our process is very fast and simple. Even though we are receiving a lot of applications right now, we are able to get an approval in two days and funds into the business owner's account in one week. We are working with local business owners, but we would like others to be aware of the opportunity to receive funding for their businesses.
Eye Centers of Florida
, including the Port Charlotte office at 1940 Tamiami Trail #103 (in front of Lowe’s), is offering 30% off all additional pairs of eye wear with the purchase of one complete pair. Walk-ins and outside prescriptions welcome! Call 888.EYE.APPT (888-393-2778) for an appointment. See all optical specials here:
https://www.ecof.com/resources/coupons/
.
At
Friendly Floors
, we want you to love your floors for a long time. That’s why our team listens carefully to your needs, and recommends the best options. Call us to learn more about the new “Waterproof Hardwood” floor. Yes, there is such a thing as waterproof hardwood now, and waterproof laminate too. We’ve watched videos of tractors driving over metal hardware, and these floors are unharmed, so they should be strong enough for your family! Come see all our waterproof hardwood options at our showroom at 3785 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a time-trusted organization that is an open forum for consumers to file a complaint. The BBB is more than a review site. Claims made are investigated, and false claims removed. If you find a business that has been reported multiple times to the BBB, you may want to get another estimate. Check out
Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage
’s online reviews our A+ rating with BBB. Call Kenny Gardiner for moving estimates for long-distance, cross-town moving, packing and unpacking, crating, and temporary storage at (941) 423-5311.
Granny Nannies Senior Care Agency
is open, and we moved to our new location. We are an essential business. We are busier than ever giving the best care to our clients, and taking care of our caregivers. Professional in-home senior care services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Granny Nannies is dedicated to ensuring you receive the home health care you or your loved one require and deserve.
Are you a review super hero? The answer is yes if you write reviews of your favorite businesses. Your online reviews are extremely valuable to businesses, which attract new customers based on your words, and rank better with reviews. Patti Guerzo, of
Guerzo Business Consulting
, is offering a free session to any chamber member who wants to become a review super hero. Send an email to
patti@guerzo.com
, and get ready to be a force for good in our community!
If you have re-opened your business but now face the prospect of pressure from your creditors, call Mark Martella, Esq. of
Icard Merrill
, to help you deal with them while you rebuild your business income. Having gone through four economic downturns as an attorney and small business owner, Mark can assist you in your restructuring and advise you how to avoid the fatal mistakes made by past clients in similar circumstances. For a complimentary, confidential consultation, please call 941-206-3700 or e-mail Mark at
mmartella@icardmerrill.com
.
When it comes to finances, the basics still apply. Budgeting apps can help you keep spending below income, and plan for the future. At
Independent Financial Coaching
, we can recommend budgeting tools that suit your situation. Sue Craig, our budgeting expert, can help create a financial plan that will deliver your dreams to you. Don’t wait! Call Sue today, 941-916-5324.
Kiwanis Shoes for Kids Project
begins on June 21
st
and runs through July 26
th
. This project
provides new, properly fitted sneakers for children in the Charlotte County Public School System (CCPS). You can make a monetary donation thorough our Kiwanis web-page (
www.pcsunrise.kiwanis.org
) or donate a new pair of sneakers at one of our collection sites (
www.shoesforkidsproject.org
). Your gift means one youth will not have to wear duct tape, not have to curl their toes, not have to wear plastic bags over their socks. Helping just one changes their lives…Bless you!
Learn to Sail
is pleased to honor our Punta Gorda City workers for their hard work and dedication by offering them a 25% discount on sailing lessons for their children ages 8 - 18. Please go to
https://www.learntosailswf.org/class-schedule--pricing-summary.html
to view the available sessions, and age groups. Please use the code PGCW when checking out to receive your discount.
Did you know that
Murdock Stones Etc.
sells industrial grade weedmat (groundcover) and weedmat pins? The weedmat comes in 12 different sizes. For the month of June, all chamber members can get $5 off any one roll of weedmat.
590 Prineville St
. in Port Charlotte (by the Sun Flea Market).
7621 Sawyer Circle
(off Gasparilla Rd. …look for the World’s Largest Mailbox).
www.murdockstonesetc.com
. 941-629-6651.
Two trends have compelled more employers to conduct background checks than ever before. First, two million reports of workplace violence annually have made businesses more aware of the need for background checks. And, second, "negligent hiring" lawsuits have increased every year since the 1980s. Every employer has a "duty of care" to protect workers and customers from employees the employer should know pose a risk of harm to co-workers and customers. For FCRA-compliant background screening, contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at
NRG Background Checks
. Call: 941-488-8500; Toll-Free: 800-531-6522; Fax: 941-488-8505; Email:
nrginfo@atlantic.net
VA Benefits? Toby Lynn loves helping our Veterans get the financing they need. VA Mortgages are just one of her specialties. Let her get a family member or best buddy, who is a Veteran, pre-qualified at no cost! That’s right….free pre-qualifying. Specializing in happy, smooth, and on-time closings. Call today! Toby Lynn, Branch Manager,
The Mortgage Firm
, 941-356-6579 –
www.ThePerfectMortgageSolution.com
Health Insurance options are available to those who lose coverage but there are short time frames that must be met. Call
Tim Murno
at 941-769-1163 to compare alternatives to COBRA. Evenings and Saturdays available by appointment.
Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™
offer sales and installation of auto and marine accessories, mobile electronics, audio video equipment, security systems, window tinting, vehicle wraps, paint protection films, detailing services, nano ceramic coatings, maintenance and repair services, and more. Tint World® is also the leading provider of residential, commercial and marine computerized window tinting and security film services. The all-new Tint World® Port Charlotte store is located at 2000 Tamiami Trail #217-218, Port Charlotte, FL 33948-2182. For more information, call (941) 229-6055.
Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Ross, McKinley & Young, P.A.,
congratulates Shareholder Cheyenne Young on being selected Best Attorney in Harbor Style Magazine’s Harbor Hottest Awards. Ms. Young practices in the areas of estate planning and estate administration. She would be pleased to meet with you to discuss solutions to protect yourself and the people you love most with a well-prepared estate plan. For a confidential consultation, please call 941-639-2171 or e-mail
jennifer@wotitzkylaw.com
.
Job Spot
Home Instead Senior Care
is currently hiring full-time/part-time home health aides and CNA’s to join our CAREGiving team. Home Instead CAREGivers deliver one-on-one care to seniors in their home by providing companionship and assisting them with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing. We provide paid training and 24/7 support as well as offer full medical benefits. If you have a heart for seniors and are looking for a career where you truly make a difference, please call Regina at (941) 505-0450 or visit us online at
homeinstead.com/CharlotteCountyFL
Career Source of Southwest Florida
online resources include available jobs
Charlotte County Realty
is looking for 1-2 licensed buyers' agents that have a passion for showing properties and client satisfaction! We have a surplus of business that translates into better than average financial compensation for you. Both newer licensees and veteran agents are being considered. Please forward your resume to:
kathy@charlottecountyrealty.com
Your
"Help Wanted"
information could be here! Please submit 90 words or less to tashley@charlottecountychamber.org.
Resources
LOCAL-
Please
call 2-1-1
for any resource needs.
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan-
ForidaDisasterLoan.org
STATE AND FEDERAL-
Florida Chamber of Commerce-
www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus
Small Business Administration-
www.sba.gov/disaste
r
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association-
https://frla.org/covid-19/
Florida Reemployment Assistance-
http://www.floridajobs.org
Florida Department of Health Data and Surveillance Dashboard-
https://fdoh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/8d0de33f260d444c852a615dc7837c86
Relief for Taxpayers Affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic-
www.irs.gov
Just for Fun
I entered ten puns in a joke contest hoping one would win ...
But no pun in ten did.
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Do you have news or information about YOUR business? Send it to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce and we'll share it with the entire membership. Email your submission to Teri Ashley at tashley@charlottecountychamber.org. Please send 90 words or fewer, in paragraph form, by noon on Friday.
Business Online
is emailed weekly on Mondays, or Tuesday following a holiday. This is a free membership benefit! ( We do reserve the right to publish and edit any submissions.)
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Teri Ashley, Executive Director
Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
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2702 Tamiami Trail
Port Charlotte, FL 33952
941-627-2222
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311 W Retta Esplanade
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
941-639-2222
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*Social Distancing and Health Safety Protocol Statement:
The Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce requests that you kindly not attend events with a fever, any COVID-19 Symptoms, if anyone in your household has shown symptoms of COVID-19, or if you are included in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined high-risk category for COVID-19. Additionally, while we know that most are accustomed to handshakes, fist-bumps, and hugs, we ask that you refrain during this time and follow all recommended health safety protocols. Social distancing is required by anyone attending chamber events and it is recommended that face masks be worn to lessen the possible transmission of COVID-19 to others. By attending Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce events, all attendees acknowledge and assume the risk that COVID-19 is contagious and exposure may occur.
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