Fly to Savannah GA with Allegiant from Punta Gorda Charlotte Airport. The non-stop route starts June 6, but tickets are on sale now! In a huge expansion just announced, 44 seasonal nonstop routes and 3 additional “large market” cities have been added to Allegiant’s portfolio. Some of the routes depart from the traditional beach/warm-weather focus. Allegiant maintains their goal is to “connecting leisure travelers in under-served cities to popular destinations around the country.”

Lyons HR, a national IRS-certified and ESAC-accredited Professional Employer Organization (PEO) with worksite employees in 44 states, announced it has acquired Acline HR of Punta Gorda. Bill Lyons, CEO of Lyons HR stated the acquisition and retention of local staff is ideal for our expansion efforts in Florida.

Seawalls in place, the connection to Alligator Creek from the PGI canal system has finally been dredged through. Finishing touches are on track for the Pass to open in April 2020. Currently, seawalls are being finished, environmental restoration is in progress.

500 players from all over the world participated and brought hundreds of spectators each day of the 4-day competition Dec 27-30. The First World Championship was a win-win for the players and for our local economy. Five 2019 pickleball tournaments in Punta Gorda have raised over $800k in economic impact for Charlotte County. This World Championship event may generate another $400k. And the plan for next year is BIGGER!

Residential sales for November in Charlotte County: 436 homes sold, a 9.27% increase over last year’s sales in Nov. The median price of those sold was $225,000, a 2.32% rise over Nov. last year. Median time on the market is a short 28 days. Some of the homes were sold within the first 10 days of listing. Real Estate is hopping!

The shorter runway at Punta Gorda Airport is now closed, to be lengthened to accommodate Allegiant jets. Construction time to add 593’ to the runway is approx. 9 months. Disruption to air traffic will be minimal, as Allegiant primarily uses the main Runway 4-22. The main runway has not been overhauled since it was built in the 1940’s. It will be overhauled in 2021.

Babcock Ranch is fast becoming the town for which it is planned. Expanding into a new community, the population will increase by over 900 people. Recently, 364 home purchases have closed, another 120 are under contract.

UPDATED 12/30/19: Through Dec 1, Kitson & Partners, Babcock Ranch developers, has reported 507 new home contracts!

When a Tampa puppy mill was shuttered and 200+ dogs & cats were seized, the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County offered to take some of the harder-to-place dogs; older, some with health issues. Our community stepped up and adopted all the dogs into loving homes in 3 days.

Kudos to Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau for winning an award for its innovative campaign work in tourism marketing (eTourism Summit Excellence Award) from Expedia Group Media Solutions. The bureau’s campaign, “Outsiders Welcome,” also earned an award for best use of video. 

Dec 27 – Dec 30, 2019: Based on Global Pickleball Rankings, the best Pros, Senior Pros & players of all age categories will compete to be World Pickleball Champions at the new PicklePlex complex. $100,000 in Prize Money!