BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR PUNTA GORDA AND PORT CHARLOTTE OR MORE CONDOS?

There have been two jobs I have held in my life where I had a direct pipeline of information about the local happening in my community and the people who lived there. The first was when I was a lifeguard, but usually that information dealt more with personal relationships and the hot spots to go to. So while I was up to date on the local happenings, I don’t know making sound business decisions based on this information was the prudent thing to do. However, for the past nine years as a Realtor, I have had the opportunity to be more acutely aware of the existing economic fabric of the Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte areas and the potential that exists. Perhaps most frustrating is to see the opposing opinions of those who view these areas as retirement havens. Many don’t want things to change at all. Their opinion is that they came here to retire and don’t want to be paying for public schools, improved infrastructure or anything for that matter that will increase their taxes. The thought of investing in their community for future growth is a sensitive subject and the idea of creating business incubators to stimulate the growth and development of new businesses is almost as foreign to them as it is to develop a colony on Mars. “I want a restaurant with cheap meals” or “how about a bakery or gift shop?” Now there’s a novel idea!!! My favorite is, “Let’s build more condos.” Just what we need in an area that already has an over-supply! To them it is another property on the tax rolls; to me it is just adding to the problem we already have……an oversupply of single family homes, condos and restaurants, and not enough businesses that will add to the tax base while helping keep the children graduating from our high schools and colleges coming back home for solid job opportunities. Each time I hear “I want a restaurant, or retail shop,” I think “There we go again, taking the same pie and making each slice a little bit thinner.” If we are not creating an interest for those to bring their businesses to the area, or create new business opportunities, then we will only be adding to what we already have and relying on the same economic base to support them. Presently the Charlotte County Commission in conjunction with the Enterprise Charlotte Economic Council is considering using $3 Million of taxpayer monies to purchase a state-of-the- art vacant building in downtown Punta Gorda which was formally the home of IMPAC University and an international business performance and consulting company once owned by Jim Irwin. Proponents say this would be an ideal location for the creation of business and technology based companies and also serve as an “entrepreneurial hub for innovative and healthy living.” Those opposed say, “it is an irresponsible use of public funds,” with two county commissioners saying it would be better used for condominiums or as a resort,” something I would strongly oppose. This 55,000 square foot facility situated on a 4.4 acre site overlooks Charlotte Harbor and is within walking distance of historic downtown Punta Gorda. It would also be an economic boost to the shops of Fisherman’s Village as a new base of customers and employees coming to this area would see this as a new destination to frequent. Yes it would take additional funding to renovate some areas of the building and remodel or retrofit others as there is a 250 seat auditorium along with a basketball and racquetball courts on the premises, but I think of the former school building in New York City, that Bill Zanker, (founder of The Learning Annex), used to create a very unique private adult education program which today is worth over $100 Million, employing over 120 people. Unlike the traditional adult education classes one may find at Edison State College or some of the other smaller satellite universities, I personally found The Learning Annex to provide a blueprint for success for those in the midst of career changes or for those looking to test drive a new business. Featured guest speakers such as Donald Trump, Anthony Robbins, Rudy Guiliani, Alan Greenspan, George Forman, Richard Branson, Suze Orman and Russell Simmons were just some who conducted classes in the small but intimate classroom settings. I have personally seen the excitement and turnout when Donald Trump’s son Don spoke at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota, and can’t help but think of the economic boost to the area should the former IMPAC building become the business and entrepreneurial incubator I know it can become. For me this is a no brainer. Let’s sell off the over-supply of condos we currently have and start investing in our future, and for those who fear the change in their “retirement community,” they may just find their taxes stabilize, their local services improve and the values of their property increase as a result of the diverse new businesses now supporting the area.