Chamber awards scholarships to two North students
The North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce honored two students last week as recipients of the Chamber Foundation’s scholarship during its monthly business leaders luncheon at the Smokin’ Pit.
North High senior Anna Marie Cichelo and Madison Lampkins, who currently is attending college at the Air Force Academy, were each awarded $1,000 to further their education.
The foundation gives the award annually to those interesting in starting their own business.
Cichelo, who works at Chick-fil-A and earned a scholarship there as well as a Bright Futures scholarship, plans to attend Florida State in the fall, where she wants to go into athletic training and sports medicine, as well as concentrate on business so she can start her own facility for student athletes.
Cichelo has a 5.2 GPA and is involved in several outside activities, including Grace for Chase, a foundation created by a North High teacher. She found out about the scholarship through her father, who is a member of the chamber.
Lampkins, who was a four-year starter for the North girls soccer team and one of the program’s all-time greats, was in Colorado on break from school at the Air Force Academy and unable to attend. Her father, Andrew Lampkins, is also a chamber member with Achieva Credit Union.
In other business, Rachel Busch of the Economic Development Office for Lee County gave an update on what the future business outlook for the area looks like.
North Fort Myers, as well as Lehigh Acres and the Dunbar section of Fort Myers, are areas the EDO is especially looking at through its “Develop” initiative
The North Fort Myers study, which looked at the area between Old and New 41 from the river to Pondella Road, has one of the highest traffic counts in Lee County.
There is no reason the area can’t have a great business climate, Busch said.
But with the lack of money for retail and her desire not to turn the area into “Restaurant Row,” the best use for the area would be white collar jobs.
She also talked about her latest initiative Dine Local North Fort Myers.
She said more than 900 cards have been handed to, with 442 more downloads. Also, more than a dozen local eateries have signed on, offering discounts. Busch said she advertised heavily for the campaign, reaching more than 22,000 people in ads.
Busch also said there are dozens of government and non-profit initiatives businesses can take advantage of for free.
Randy Kriss, a real estate developer, said it will take synergy from the local business community to make it grow.
“If we want to get anything done, we need rooftops, business, infrastructure, but we need to put energy into it,” Criss said. “We are all neglected but the most promise is in North Fort Myers. We have ideas, but it will take all of us.”