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

In response to Hurricane Ian, the Charlotte Community Foundation activated the Charlotte County Disaster Relief Fund. The CCF Board of Directors pledge $500,000 in matching funds in an effort to provide financial assistance and resources to Charlotte County residents. Additionally, CCF activated the Charlotte County Non-Profit Disaster Relief Fund. This fund will be utilized to provide assistance to nonprofit organizations that incurred structural and/or infrastructural damage preventing them from operating. The William G. & Marie Selby Foundation has generously provided matching funds for Charlotte County.  Visit, www.charlottecf.org.

~~ 2023 Community Guide Link ~~

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.

Members, join us for Networking at Noon on November 9, 2022 at The Village Brewhouse. Cost is $15pp. Please make your food selection when registering, choose from: Cod Beach Tacos, Beef Tips or Caesar Salad. Please only 1 or 2 people per membership as seating is limited. Register in the member portal.

Join us on Wednesday, November 16th at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference for our Third Wednesday Coffee. Our Coffee Sponsor is Phoenix Services. Our Program Speaker is Carrie Walsh, Charlotte County Human Services Development Director.

Kindly RSVP in the member portal so that we can properly plan this event.

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

My SALON Suite

24075 Peachland Blvd., Building 2

Port Charlotte, FL 33954

Patrick Manchi

(941) 270-4561

Pmanchi@mysalonsuite.com

https://www.mysalonsuite.com/portcharlotte/

Industrial Safety LLC

42235 Edgewater Drive

Punta Gorda, FL 33982

Michael Zylka

(732) 646-2711

Mzylka@comcast.net

http://www.industrialsafetyllc.net

Investigator David Ferrante Agency A1700214

8725 Placida Rd., Unit 7, #124

Placida, FL 33946

David Ferrante

(941) 777-3247

dave@investigatoroncall.com

http://www.InvestigatorOnCall.com

Visual Arts Center - Ribbon Cutting

Tuesday, November 1, 2022 - 5:30pm

   Food, Beverages, Wine, & a Drawing for the kick off of “Season of Art” This will be a Dual Ribbon Cutting with the Punta Gorda Chamber.

Please RSVP in the member portal.

Punta Gorda Marina 40^th Anniversary - Ribbon Cutting

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.

BoxDrop Mattress Port Charlotte LLC - Ribbon Cutting

 Tuesday, November 15, 2022 @ 5:30p.m. (Event is from 5:30-6:30p.m.)

·       4265 Tamiami Trail Unit N, Port Charlotte (Same shopping center as Rita’s Italian ice)

·       They will be offering snacks, sodas, wine, and do mattress specials and giveaways

Please RSVP for this event in the Member Portal.

First Impressions Foundation 5 Year Celebration - Ribbon Cutting

Thursday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m.

318 Tamiami Trail #228, Punta Gorda (across from Ice House/Green 2 Story 2nd level)

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.

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

Members Send YOUR Member News/Events to BOL@charlottecountychamber.org and we'll share it each week. Email submissions of 90 words or fewer, in paragraph form, by noon on Friday for inclusion the following Monday. This is a free members-only benefit! (We do reserve the right to publish and edit any submissions.)

The Annual Arts and Crafts Fair at the Punta Gorda Isles Civic Association (PGICA) is Saturday, November 5, 2022, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., featuring handmade items for holiday shopping. Indoor space is sold out, and the fair is now expanding outdoors on the beautiful PGICA property. Jewelry, paintings, fabric art, nature crafts, plants, stained glass, pottery, and more as the fair provides the community a much-needed fun event featuring unique items for friends and family. Nonprofit 501(C)3 PGICA, 2001 Shreve Street, Punta Gorda. Additional information - Teri Ashley or Kelli Nash, info@pgica.org or 941-637-1655. 

Animal Welfare League PetOberfest Rescheduled! Please join us on our new date, Nov. 12, 2022. We still have a great lineup for vendors and we will be announcing the winners of our Summer Raffle on that day as well! Grand prize is a cruise or $2,500!!! After the last few weeks we're guessing everyone could use a little time away. The raffle tickets will be on sale until Noon on the 12th. You can purchase them by clicking here.

Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity is hosting our 24^th Annual Turkey Trot! The 5k/Fun Walk will take place on Thursday, November 24^th, at FSW Punta Gorda Campus. Cost is just $40 ($45 day of) and includes a finisher medal. All funds raised benefit our Homeownership Program to help local families achieve the dream of affordable homeownership. Join us for this annual Thanksgiving tradition! For additional information and to sign up visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/PuntaGorda/CCHabitatTurkeyTrot

Here’s a tip from Complete Auto Repair to keep your air conditioner running:  Your car’s a/c can actually freeze and shut down if you keep it on recirculation and the coldest heating while driving on the highway.  At high speeds, push the outside air button to make sure you have cool air for the whole trip.  If you find your air conditioner doesn’t cool like it once did, call Mary for an appointment, at (941) 623 – 2926. 

Not everyone is cut out for Florida.  If Ian, or any other piece of living in our state, has motivated someone to move then have them call Gardiner & Sons Moving & Storage. We’ll help them make a new start somewhere else.  If you wouldn’t move no matter HOW many hurricanes pass through, remember we offer temporary storage to get you through your repairs.  When Quality Counts, Call Kenny at Gardiner & Sons, (941) 423-5311. 

It's understandable that employers hiring workers who will drive company vehicles will check the driving records of those persons. But, checking a driving record may also provide insight into potential substance abuse (DUI and related). And, with respect to repeated accidents and infractions, a driving record can also be an indicator of one's general attitude about safety and safety issues, following rules and regulations, and showing care and consideration towards others in a similar situation.    For employment and tenancy screening ... contact Doris Hebert-Ferrigno at NRG Background Checks.  941-488-8500;  800-531-6522;   nrginfo@atlantic.net

Kelting Inspections is offering the following services to help you and your family with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian: post hurricane inspections, pressure washing, wind mitigation, and mold testing. We are also offering 10% off to first responders and linemen to thank them for their hard work in getting SWFL back up and running. Just mention this ad when you call. Reach out to us today at 941-655-8888 to schedule! 

Phoenix Services… We help you look good inside and out! Are you unhappy with your current cleaning crew? Do you need a painting or flooring project started? We’re your one stop for commercial office cleaning, commercial/residential painting, and flooring projects. Call us today for a bid at 941-525-7114 office or email sue at suen@phoenixservicesfl.org Were honored to be part of this great community.  Currently accepting new team members for our growing team!  Florida Licensed Contractor. Insured.  Serving Charlotte, Lee, Desoto, Sarasota, and Collier Counties CBC# 1265844

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.

C.A.R.E. Outreach Offices, Helpline/Hotline and emergency shelter facility are open 24/7. Your story matters and support groups provide a safe place where you can have a voice. C.A.R.E. has a Sexual Violence support group that meets every Wednesday from 3-4pm. Please call the SV Helpline for further information (941)637-0404. In this support group survivors can talk openly and honestly about their feelings and experiences with others who understand. Gain tools for managing the effects of trauma. When participating in support groups, survivors can experience a sense of empowerment, control, and hope.

Charlotte County Economic Development Office has launched a post-Hurricane Ian outreach effort to contact business owners to determine their needs. “Just like homeowners, commercial property owners and businesspeople are facing a range of challenges due to Hurricane Ian,” said EDO Director Dave Gammon. “We want to talk to them, gauge their needs, and try to connect them with resources to help them recover.”

Business owners can contact the EDO at 941-764-4941 to learn about immediate assistance programs offered in Charlotte County.

Our new Business Recovery Center is now open and located in Port Charlotte. It will be open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, at Promenades Mall - 3280 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.  Our disaster specialists are working alongside SBA representatives at Business Recovery Centers to provide on-site support with loans and other post-disaster challenges. ·    The Florida SBDC Network stands ready to help your small business recover. For information about disaster assistance available and how the Florida SBDC Network can help you, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster.     PTAC - Florida Hurricane and Disaster Recovery Resources     Emergency Bridge Loan Information

   Disaster Loan Fact Sheet

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.

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.

~ New Kids on the Block ~

Charlotte State Bank & Trust, part of the Crews banking family, recently added a new lender to their team. Tracy Mathieu, Mortgage Loan Specialist, works out of the Peachland branch, 24163 Peachland Boulevard, Port Charlotte. “It’s an exciting time here at Charlotte State Bank & Trust,” shared Craig DeYoung, Bank President. “It is important that we build relationships with our customers and guide them through their individual needs. By expanding our team, we will be able to better serve our community.” Mathieu may be reached at 941-235-5189 or tmathieu@csbtfl.com.

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.

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” ―Michael Jordan

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 September 16, 2022 and October 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

A little Halloween Fun:

• What's a werewolf's go-to pickup line? Howl you doin', good lookin'?

• Do zombies eat burgers with their fingers? No, they eat the fingers separately.

• What do you call a hip jack-o'-lantern? Waaay ahead of the carve.

• Where do you find the spookiest sweets on Halloween? The ghost-ery store.

• Why did the headless horseman decide to get a job? He wanted to get ahead in life.

• Why can't a vampire go to a barbecue? They're afraid of stakes.

• How much does a bone car cost? A skeleton-ton!

• What is a ghost's favorite day of the week? Fright-day!

• What does a ghost teacher say to their students? "Watch the board and I'll go through it again!"