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.

It is the time of the summer when Charlotte County Public Schools is looking to hire – almost 100 new teachers needed! You can make a difference in the future of Punta Gorda, teach HERE.

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 June PG City “Business Community Workshop” was well attended by business owners and residents alike. A wide spectrum of ideas and concerns were voiced. The encouraging outcome was the appearance of a common middle ground and a desire to understand issues that affect both residents, visitors and business owners equally.
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1. All business agree that something needs to be done with the old shopping center on Marion, such as a central focal point of a food store to attract people.
2. Downtown businesses can support each other with recommendations; including restaurants / retailers reciprocation.
3. Residents need to support the local merchants. PG would be a very different city if they closed.
4. Merchants need to support the local residents with products and service that entices them to shop the stores instead of online.  —see more next slide->

5. Encourage a younger retail customer base to balance an aging customer base
6. Discuss the success of PG with those that simply want to disrupt discussions of the future of our City. End the name calling. Foster positive discussion and brainstorming.
7. Educate yourself about efforts to improve and manage growth within the downtown area.

“Let’s get to work – and work smarter and closer together.”

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.)