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 29, 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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APPLY NOW
! The 2021 Leadership Charlotte application is now available by clicking the
link
, or by calling the chamber at 941-627-2222. Leadership Charlotte is the signature program of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce. For more than 30 years the program has annually assembled approximately 25 individuals who wish to increase their leadership skills and gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges in our community. The selected participants in Leadership Charlotte commit to attend monthly day-long sessions, as well as participate in a class project.
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Missing Out Would Be a Big Mistake!
As we rebound, the business pace is forecast to increase rapidly for this community. The reason 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.
Annual ads are as low as $264 in the
2021 Community Guide and Business Directory
.
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 A.C. Freeman House-
Do you remember how excited we were to be back in our Punta Gorda offices at the historic A.C. Freeman House? Well not so fast, my friends. We’re out again. The stately old house developed some major new problems which will need significant repair. (Imagine an invisible, gigantic blue tarp and the accompanying issues.) This time it looks like it’s going to be months instead of weeks, so we will be operating completely from our Port Charlotte location for quite a while. We hoped to be back there soon.
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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!
Charlotte Players
Kids onstage is back on with a new location! The workshop will be held at the Community Life Church, 19048 Edgewater Drive, Port Charlotte, FL 33948. You may call in to register at 941-255-1022. Camp runs July 13-17, 20-24. The cost is $215 before July 5
th
and $ 235 after July 5
th
. Performances will be on July 24
th
at 7pm and July 25
th
at 2pm.
In this heat, your auto’s air conditioning is critical to your safety. If you have had you're a/c refilled, and you are still not feeling cool air, remember that if your engine is running too hot, the air conditioning can’t work optimally. Ron Morgan’s team at
Complete Auto Repair
hones in on all the reasons an a/c isn’t doing its job, and saves money for their customers with a focused repair plan. If you need your air conditioner to work better, set up an appointment with us. Call 941-623-2926. Remember, we are offering a free air-cabin cleaning ($30 value) with all repairs.
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:
This week Pat welcomes Ashley Vaughan, Senior Manager at Holland America Lines. If you love to engage with your destination, are a foodie or a music lover, join us to discover why a HAL cruise could be for you. Live on Facebook, 8 pm Wednesday, July 1.
https://bit.ly/July1PatHand
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.
Day's Complete Pool Care, Inc.
is a small local business striving to be reliable, honest, and dedicated. Communication is a top priority, and we are licensed, insured, and certified. As a company, we make it a point to keep up on all new changes in chemistry and industry developments. We definitely are a full service company. All you have to worry about is swimming, and we do the rest! We take pride in keeping your pool sparkling all year around. Contact us at 941-235-0375.
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:
ht
tps://www.ecof.com/resources/coupons/
.
Celebrate the 4
th
of July at
Fishermen's Village
! Sidewalk Sale (participating merchants) 10 am-6 pm. Live music kicks off at 12 noon featuring Singer Rita Beach (near Good 'Ole Days Coffee Cafe), Ragady Lapsey, Steel Drum/Tropical Vibes, 12 noon-4 pm third section of Village, Lenny Sales & Jennifer Jean (Skylark Acoustic Duo) 12 noon-4 pm in Center Court and at 5 pm, Singer Mark Gorka performs variety classics 5-9 pm in Center Court.
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.
Apartment buildings usually have more than one floor and moving can be exceedingly difficult when it comes to moving heavy and awkward furniture in or out.
Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage
has been in the moving business for generations. Multi-floor apartments are not a problem for our crew. We have equipment for that and use proper procedures, therefore no people or furniture are harmed in your move. Call Kenny 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.
The employment market has been turned on its head. From record employment to record unemployment, people are moving around or taking themselves out of the market. With all this uncertainty, hiring is a real challenge. Patti Guerzo, of
Guerzo Business Consulting
has been a recruiter for over 15 years. As a consultant, she can also offer alternatives to finding that dream employee. Take this golden opportunity to consider outsourcing work functions to create a focused team. Talk is cheap – Patti will talk to you about your needs for free, and offer her best ideas. Call her at 312-420-0884.
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
.
Unemployment benefits due to Covid-19 will be ending in 5 weeks. If your household is receiving these funds, do you have a plan for August? At
Independent Financial Coaching
, we specialize in taking the mystery out of the future. A spending plan will save you money, and give you confidence from knowing your numbers. Sue Craig is our budget guru, and she is available via Zoom to help. Call Sue at 941-916-5324.
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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.pcsunrisekiwanis.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.
You shouldn't order a background check on applicants or employees on a whim. Always have the person's written permission. Then, if you decide to reject an applicant or terminate a worker based on results of that background check ... you must inform the person in writing ... and provide him/her with a copy of the relevant report so he/she can dispute the information.
You must also inform that person of your final decision in writing. Contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at
NRG Background Checks
for info. Call: 941-488-8500; Toll-Free: 800-531-6522; Fax: 941-488-8505; Email:
nrginfo@atlantic.net
Realizing Dreams-
Since reopening, Florida has become a COVID-19 hot zone. Governor DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr.Rivkees advise Floridians to wear masks in public and enclosed spaces where social distancing is not possible. Let’s all wear face masks to cool off Florida as a hot zone and prevent closing businesses again. To get reusable 100% cotton face masks, email Jim Cantoni, (not the weatherman) at
jim@ccpromos.com
or call 414-367-6937. Over 3,000 in stock. $3 each 25/pack =$75. Single use face masks $1 each 50/pack=$50. Plus tax. Ask for customization and bulk discounts.
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
Husband: “Oh, the weather is lovely today. Shall we go out for a quick jog?“
Wife: “Hahaha, I love the way you pronounce ‘Shall we go out and have a cake’!”
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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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