After Hurr. Irma decimated the local citrus crop and sod farms last year, both have benefited from good growing conditions in 2018, especially this summer. Growers are “cautiously optimistic” about this year’s crops.

Alive After Five is now the Wine Walk – complete with wine tastings and specials at local merchants. Purchase a wine “passport” for a samplings map, then go enjoy! 5PM – 8PM, the first is Sept 20. Next is Oct 18!

With Army Corps of Engineers permit in hand, PG City Council voted to move forward with the purchase of the land for the Bird Cut, now officially named Buckley’s Pass. The pass will offer residents and marine businesses faster & safer entrance/egress to Harbor waters from that area of town. Assessment & construction specs now in the works.

In the first 7 months of 2018, Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) has surpassed the one millionth passenger, as well as the six millionth passenger since commercial service commenced in 2007. This July 2018 saw a 24.5% increase in passenger traffic over July 2017.  “This is another milestone for PGD, and it demonstrates the success of our low-cost airport model,” said PGD’s CEO James W. Parish. PGD is Allegiant’s 4th largest operation.

The Punta Gorda Airport and Allegiant Air continue to build the repertoire of destinations served, announcing services to 4 new cities: Omaha NE (OMA), Appleton WI (ATW), Syracuse NY (SYR) and Albany NY (ALB). Welcome to new visitors!

Visit the Town Center Mall to see a new gallery of local art. While PG has several, PC had none. Opened July 18, it was spearheaded and now is maintained by the Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County and several local artists.

Punta Gorda now has 104 new hotel suites available for let – a boon to downtown businesses during festivals and weekends with activities that attract people from out-of-town. Welcome Spring Hill Suites by Marriott!

The first and only near real-time weather reporting site has been installed on the Peace River by the Punta Gorda Boaters Alliance. The weather sensors were placed on Peace River Marker 4, approximately one-half mile off Gilchrist Park, and will provide near real-time wind, temperature, and barometric pressure data. A second site will be established on Peace River Marker 2 in the fall of 2018.

Cheney Brothers, in partnership with Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW), has been awarded a $524,000 grant, which will be used to hire and train onsite up to 330 new employees. Working closely with the State of Florida Economic Development Office, FSW has been successful in securing $2.6M in Quick Response Training funds to train over 1,400 new hires since July 1, 2017.

Sales are brisk at the new city of Babcock Ranch. Fox News recently broadcast a Special Report: “Urban Future, Babcock Ranch billed as first solar city” – See the Video

Thanks to the partnership with highly regarded Aviation College at Western Michigan University, advanced degrees in flight training, airport operations and management, and aviation mechanics (Airframe and Powerplant, or A&P) will soon be offered at the local campus of Florida SouthWestern State College and the newly renovated Punta Gorda Airport. (Approval from the Higher Learning Commission is in the works.)