Civic luncheon all about opportunity
It may be one of the most important luncheons that North Fort Myers has had in years.
The North Fort Myers Civic Association will hold the “Undiscovered Opportunities Luncheon” at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Shell Factory in the Dolphin Room.
The event is devoted to revitalizing the area’s business community. At issue are vacant office space, dated shopping plazas and the image of being a rural community.
Michael Land, president of the North Fort Myers Civic Association, said with all the recovering the economy has done in recent years, it’s North Fort Myers’ turn to see some of the benefits.
“What I hope this luncheon will accomplish is to build a new outlook and enthusiasm to the area and start a Renaissance,” Land said. “We’re accepting the way things are and that’s not the way it should be.”
Rick Tupper, chief financial officer and marketing director for the Shell Factory, said the Cronins are committed to the Civic Association and have given the group money for a brochure to let business owners know that North Fort Myers is open for business.
“There are more than 200 empty buildings in the area. That’s just incredible. With all the growth happening in the revitalization of downtown, it can only come north,” Tupper said. “The Shell Factory wants to take the lead in developing a more robust business climate here.”
Tupper said the luncheon, which is open to everyone whether you’re a business owner or citizen, is but the first step in letting people know about the area and its business potential.
From there, Tupper said they would get to work trying to find ideas in terms of an identity for North Fort Myers and concentrate on the three things that make North Fort Myers special – business, recreation, and living opportunities.
“We have the empty storefronts, the proximity to the river and the living opportunities anywhere from North Star Yacht Club to the mobile home parks,” Tupper said. “We have a pretty diverse area and we’re trying to shake the rural image and begin to press the theme of a business community.”
“We want to promote our farms, our 18 miles of riverfront, the availability of homes and stores and land,” Land said. “We also want people to know about places here most don’t know exist, such as the ECHO farm.”
Tupper said it’s going for a more diverse clientele that has helped the Shell Factory, as it has advertised on Telemundo, the Spanish-speaking station, and on urban radio stations, helping the attraction bring in more minorities and to move toward another year of double-digit growth.
Among the keynote speakers will be County Commissioner Brian Hamman and urban planner Greg Stuart.
Overall, Land said he hopes the luncheon will beget more such events and inspire some hope among the residents and business owners.
“We have to wake this town up and do what we can to revitalize this community,” Land said. “These problems didn’t happen overnight and won’t be solved overnight. But we have to start somewhere.”
The cost of the luncheon is $10. For more information, call the Shell Factory at 995-2141.