The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Activates Business Damage Assessment Survey to Evaluate Impact of Hurricane Ian on the State’s Businesses

Tallahassee, FL – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Ian. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Ian recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, DEO is committed to supporting preparation, response, and recovery efforts of Florida businesses, communities, and citizens impacted by Hurricane Ian. The business damage assessment survey assists DEO and its federal, state, and local partners in those efforts,” said DEO Secretary Dane Eagle.  “I encourage businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian to complete the Business Damage Assessment Survey at FloridaDisaster.biz.”

On September 24, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 22-219 declaring a state of emergency in all 67 counties in the State of Florida. All affected businesses should complete the survey. 

Results from the Business Damage Assessment Survey will be shared with various federal, state, and local agencies to implement appropriate relief. Businesses can complete the survey online or visit  FloridaDisaster.biz and select “Hurricane Ian” from the dropdown menu. If you need additional assistance with your business, please call 850-815-4925 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or email ESF-18@em.myflorida.com.

Complete Business Damage Assessment

2022-2023 Sustaining Partners

Sustaining Partner businesses provide additional financial support annually to the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce which, in turn, provides them with additional valuable membership benefits. These contributions to the chamber allow for the continued increase of promotion, advocacy, involvement, and leadership at the local, state and federal levels. This is done to always be proactive in support of our businesses and the community we serve.

EMERALD LEVEL: Centennial Bank; Friendly Floors;  Granny Nannies Home Health Agency; Nolan Family Insurance;  Panther Hollow Dental Lodge;  Port Charlotte Florist; Sandhill Healing Center; South Port Square; St. Andrews South Golf Club; State Farm Insurance-Mike Martin; and Wotitzky, Wotitzky, Ross and Young, PA.

And remember, each time you attend a chamber event, your business card goes into the drawing for a 5 night Bahama or Caribbean cruse for 2 on Carnival Cruise Lines sponsored by Pat Hand,  Dancing Moon Travel.  The more events you attend, the more chances to WIN...Just look for the big gold bingo drum and add your business card!  Drawing will be at our 98th Annual Meeting 2023.

POSTPONED Members, our monthly Networking at Noon is at Hurricane Charley's on Wednesday, October 12. Cost is $15pp. Also please limit your attendance to only 1 or 2 per member as seating is limited. They will offer a buffet lunch. RSVP in the member portal.

POSTPONED Join us on Wednesday, October 19 at 8:00 a.m. for our Third Wednesday Coffee from 8"00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. followed by our New Member Orientation. This will take place at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda. Come for coffee and a breakfast goodie and do a little networking before the program. Please RSVP in the member portal.

TENTATIVE - STILL CONFIRMING Members, join us for our Business Card Exchange on Thursday, October 27 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at The Farr Law Firm, 99 Nesbit Street, Punta Gorda. Halloween costumes encouraged. Remember to bring your business cards and if you like a small gift to promote your business. Please RSVP in the member portal.

The 12th Annual Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo date is February 2, 2023! Remember to save the date and set aside a little of your marketing budget ($395 for a booth space) for the Hottest Business Day in Paradise, Expo2023!

Print Sponsor: Buffalo Graffix

Newspaper Sponsor: The Daily Sun

Radio Sponsor:  iHeart Media, Inc.

Bag Sponsor: WhitCo Insurance-Alexia Martin Agency

Refreshment Station Sponsor: The Purple House Salon

Alzheimer's Association

19806 Midway Blvd.

Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Gail McKee

(239) 294-1728

http://www.alz.org

POSTPONED Mathnasium Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, October 11th at 5:30 p.m. (Event is from 5-7p.m.)

1808 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte (Same mall as Panera)

Will have Food Trucks (Tacos & Drinks and Ice Cream)

Face Painting for the kids.

Please RSVP to portcharlotte@mathnasium.com by Oct. 5th.

or in the member portall.

TENTATIVE - STILL CONFIRMING The UPS Store 7614 Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting

·       Thursday, October 13^th Event 5-6p.m., Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm

·       19400 Cochran Blvd. Suite 150 Port Charlotte

Music, Food & Drinks

Kindly register in the member portal.

DATE CHANGED  24 Twenty One 10 Year Anniversary Celebration & Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, January 24 from 5pm to 7pm Ribbon Cutting at 5:30 p.m.

2421 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte - Appetizers, Entertainment,

Adult Beverages, Door Prizes Please RSVP for this event directly to 24twentyone@gmail.com or by calling them at 941-249-4059

Punta Gorda Marina 40^th Anniversary

Thursday, November 10th at 5:30 p.m.

26096 Marion Ave., Punta Gorda

Food Trucks, Drinks, Desserts & Giveaways

(Dual Ribbon Cutting with PG Chamber)

Please RSVP for this event in the member Portal.

·

Succentrix Business Advisors Grand Opening / Ribbon Cutting

 Tuesday December 6^th event 5-6pm Ribbon Cutting 5:30pm

  25080 Olympia Ave Suite 200 Punta Gorda

  Wine, beer, soft drinks, light appetizers and branded cookies

Please RSVP for this event in the member Portal.

PLEASE NOT THAT SOME OF THESE EVENTS MAY HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE RECENT HURRICANE.  PLEASE CONFIRM WITH THE HOST ORGANIZATION.

Come to Home Instead of SWFL’s Open House October 15, 2022 from 10 am – 1 pm. A free “Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care” Class will be held. Many are dealing with this disease and need help! Class from 11 am to 12 noon and taught by Sue Townsend, RN, Home Instead of SWFL. Come at 11 am for the class or preregister by calling 941-505-0452. By the way, free ice cream from the ice cream truck onsite! See the big old house at 520 Olympia Avenue in Punta Gorda.

Southwest Florida Honor Flight is hosting their Fall golf tournament on Saturday, Oct. 15th at Deep Creek Golf Club in Punta Gorda. Individual and team registration is open by emailing swflhonorflight@gmail.com. All proceeds will be used to transport our Veterans to Washington DC to be honored at their memorials on an upcoming Southwest Florida Honor Flight in 2023. Veteran and Guardian applications are always accepted and can be found at www.swflhonorflight.org.

The Center of Abuse & Rape Emergencies is co-hosting a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Training with the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence at ShorePoint Health Punta Gorda on October 17-21, 2002 from 8am-5pm. Training topics highlights include: Sexual Assault Response Team Roles, Medical & Forensic History, Head to Toe Assessment, Forensic Documentation, Trauma Identification and Evidence Collection. There is no cost to the participant. Please register at www.fcasv.org. Upon completion, the medical professional will have a clear understanding of the principles of care for those who experience sexual assault.  

Charlotte Players- Blithe Spirit Oct. 7-16. This play concerns the socialite and novelist Charles Condomine, who invites the eccentric medium and clairvoyant, Madame Arcati, to his house to conduct a séance, hoping to gather material for his next book. Get ready for Halloween with the second play of the season! For tickets go to www.charlotteplayers.org or call 941-255-1022.

Save the date for the United Way of Charlotte County H.O.P.E. Block Party on Thursday October 20, 20022 from 3-6PM. Join our celebration to support local non-profit agencies at the Port Charlotte Town Center, parking lot.  Admission to the BBQ and networking event is a gift to support local social service work. Needed items include: Target or Walmart gift cards, gas cards, blankets for seniors, diapers - any sizes or cash donations. RSVP: 941.627.3539 or click here. 

Haunting on the Harbor is October 21-31, 2022 open 6:00pm-11:00pm each night at our new larger location, 3811 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, FL 33950 just south of Walgreens on US41 south-between Smart Stop storage and Bank OZK. Visit www.PuntaGordaHaunting.com to see all the details. Vendor forms here. Free gate admission, entertainment, costume contests, kid's fun zone, food trucks, vendors, full bar and cold beer. Contact jerry@smugglers.com at Laishley Crag House/Smugglers Event Management or call 941-637-5953 for more information.

Best wishes to all those suffering the effects of Ian! For us oldtimers, the memory of Charley was more than enough! We really didn't need to have a second act! We had some home and yard damage in Charlotte County ... but our office in Venice, remarkably, is unscathed ... and we hope to be caught up with the work we missed over the last several work days and back to our regular operation by today!    For FCRA-compliant screening services ... contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at NRG Background Checks.  941-488-8500;  800-531-6522;   nrginfo@tlantic.net

Be the Light, become a Disaster Relief Worksite partner.  The CareerSource of Southwest Florida program will create temporary jobs to provide humanitarian assistance and debris cleanup.   Individuals who lost employment due to the disaster will be given priority.  To learn more email BusSvc@careersourceSWFL.com or call  them 239-931-8200 ext. 1805.  View or Print the flyer from this link.

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Building a healthier workplace one employee at a time! Gulfcoast South AHEC offers FREE tobacco cessation counseling and FREE Nicotine Replacement in the form of patches, gum and/or lozenges at no cost for qualifying participants. Let’s get back to happy and healthy together. As part of Tobacco Free Florida’s in-person/virtual Group Quit sessions, we are here to help. Call 866-534-7909 or visit gsahec.org to register today.

Last night our power and internet were restored so our Buffalo Graffix staff will be at the office today to get our machines running again. We sincerely appreciate everyone working so hard to get our area back up and running after the storm and now our team can help too! If you need signs, banners or anything to promote your business, we're here to help. Call us at 941-625-2833 or send an email to info@buffalograffix.com. 

CCF is serving as the centralized coordinator of monetary donations to provide aid to Charlotte County residents impacted by Hurricane Ian. Donations to the Charlotte County Disaster Relief Fund can be made online, and 100% of all donations will be deployed to assist hurricane victims. Checks can be mailed to the Charlotte Community Foundation, noting “Disaster Relief Fund” in the memo line, 227 Sullivan Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. Tax receipts will be provided.  Other efforts are underway in neighboring counties, as well as in Charlotte County to provide assistance specifically to nonprofit organizations.

We pray that you find yourself safe in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. As we begin to rebuild please keep in mind that Kelting Inspections offers post-storm inspections that will assess the damage done to your home after a storm. You can schedule an inspection at 941-655-8888 or online at www.keltinghomeinspections.com.

We sincerely hope that you, your staff and families are all okay.  We are still without power and internet service at our shop and homes.  With spotty cell phone service, we are trying to monitor emails.  We can work with our print partners to take care of you. If you have immediate needs, please call or text 941-830-0372. Thank you for continuing to trust in us for all your printing and promotional needs. We greatly appreciate you. Darcy, Eric and Joe, The C&R Graphics Team. Visit our website.

Dear Monarch Direct Clients, Friends, and Family, I wanted to send you a note… I trust and pray you all made it through Hurricane Ian safe and healthy. There is a lot of cleanup to be done here at Monarch. We are officially back open for business and are here to help. If you need our help with signage cleanup, repair, or replacement, please click the link below to get on the list and one of our commercial team members will be in touch with next steps.  https://monarchdirect.com/commercial-signs/repair-and-fix-commercial-signs/

P.S. We do have FREE “Yes We’re Open” banners that can be picked up at our Port Charlotte Location. 

As our community deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies of Charlotte County (C.A.R.E.) is still here for you. C.A.R.E. is a safe place for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.  Trauma effects every aspect of a person’s life – their body, emotions, thoughts, behaviors, spirituality and relationships with themselves, with others, and with the outside world around them. This is true whether the trauma is a victimization, natural disaster or car accident. Encourage your loved ones struggling with abuse to call 941-627-6000.

Members may create Member-to-Member deals, Hot-Deals, post Jobs and News Releases using the MIC (Member Portal). There is no additional cost to do so!  We recommend that you check these links each week to see what members are offering.

"Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put some sunglasses on." — Lady Gaga

We encourage members to shop with other members to keep our community and local economy strong. If you do business with one or more of our renewing members please congratulate them for their Chamber Anniversary. These are members who renewed between August 16, 2022 and September 15, 2022... Take a look!

LOCAL-

Please call 2-1-1 for any resource needs.

Charlotte County Economic Development Office- www.cleared4takeoff.com

Community Organizations Active in a Disaster- https://coadfl.org/

Career Source of Southwest Florida online resources include available jobs- https://careersourcesouthwestflorida.com/immediate-southwest-florida-job-openings/

Charlotte County Department of Health- www.Charlotte.FloridaHealth.gov

City of Punta Gorda- http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/

Charlotte County Administration - https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/dept/admin/Pages/default.aspx

Charlotte County Public Schools- https://www.yourcharlotteschools.net/

NEW My Neighborhood, visit www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov and click My Neighborhood in the top menu. Type an address in the search field and scroll through the page to see property information and county and/or city services and public facilities in the property’s neighborhood.

United Way of Charlotte County Disaster Relief page at www.unitedwayccfl.org/ian. 

STATE AND FEDERAL-

Florida Chamber of Commerce- www.floridachamber.com/coronavirus

U.S. Department of Labor- https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic

https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20200320.

Small Business Administration- www.sba.gov/disaster

Federal Emergency Management Association - www.FEMA.gov or 1-800-621-3362

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association- https://frla.org/covid-19/

Florida Retail Federation- http://www.frf.org/index.php/news/covid-19

Florida Dept. of Health- http://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/COVID-19/

Visit Florida- www.visitflorida.org

Governor's Office- www.flgov.com

Center for Disease Control- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Small Business Development Center - www.fsbdcswfl.org

Six-year old Angie and her four-year old brother, Joel, were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church."

"Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked.



Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two men standing by the door? They're hushers."