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Forward - THE CHAMBER'S REPOSITORY OF BUSINESS RESOURCES

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Grants, loans, credits, offers, and local incentives identified or curated by the Greater Naples Chamber may be found ​on our resource platform Forward.
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COLLIER COUNTY DATA SNAPSHOT

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW
  • Exports: $14.5B
  • Corporate Income tax: 5.5%
  • Personal Income Tax: 0%
  • Sales Tax: 7%
  • Estate Tax: 0%
  • Average Office Rent per SF: $27.94
DEMOGRAPHICS
  • Population: 393,210
  • Median household Income: $65,700
  • Labor Force: 181,441
  • Persons Employed: 173,723
  • Cost of Living: 118.0
  • Bachelor’s Degree: 21.8%
ADDITIONAL DATA RESOURCES
COLLIER COUNTY'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS
1. Collier County Public Schools     
2. Naples Community Hospital (NCH) 
3. Arthrex              
4. Publix Super Markets     
5. Collier County BOCC           
6. Wal-Mart
7. Physicians Regional                
8. Collier County Sheriff's Office    
9. Marriott Hotels    
10. Gargiulo
11. LFC Agricultural Services   
12. Ritz-Carlton    ​
13. Oakes Farm              
14. Seminole Indian Casino                       
15. Bentley Village
16. Ave Maria University       
17. City of Naples                    
18. Home Depot             
19. The Moorings Incorporated         
20. Stock Development Associates
21. Collier Health Services      
22. Lowes     
23. Conditioned Air Company of Naples
24. La Playa Beach & Racquet Inn      
25. Grey Oaks Country Club 

BUSINESS RESOURCES

CONSULTING

  • Small Business Development Center
    The SBDC, located at Florida Gulf Coast University, helps in many aspects including business continuation, finding access to capital, data and business intelligence, DISC and driving forces, government contracting, growth acceleration, and international trade. To request consulting, visit their website https://fsbdcswfl.org/.
  •  SCORE – Naples
    SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. To find a mentor and request a meeting, visit their website https://naples.score.org/.  
  • Fusion Pointe
    Fusion Pointe is a nonprofit venture development organization based in Southwest Florida focused on dramatically increasing the number of high-quality, investment-ready companies in Southwest Florida. Through mentorship and technical assistance, Fusion Pointe positions startups to attract private investment and create new jobs. To submit an application, visit their website https://www.fusionpointe.org/.
  • Goodwill Industries SWFL Microenterprise Program
    ​Goodwill’s SWFL MicroEnterprise Institute assists individuals with a business idea in developing a plan to guide their start-up process or strengthen their existing business. Subject matter experts do small presentations in the class and experienced business coaches work with participants each evening to develop their plan. The next class in Naples begins Sep. 27 and runs through Nov. 4. Classes are held Monday and Thursdays evening from 6-9pm.  
    https://goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise/

REGISTER MY BUSINESS — BUSINESS LICENSING — TAXES

  • ​Sunbiz
    Sunbiz (https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/) is a great place to start is looking to register a business. You must register your business name here, and you can apply for your employer identification number here as well. Most businesses need an EIN, including those with employees and those operating as a corporation or partnership. To apply for an EIN online, go to https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-id-numbers. A fictitious business name registered with the Florida Department of State is required for any individual or business entity is required before starting business in Florida.  To register a business name, visit https://dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/start-business/efile/fl-fictitious-name-registration/.
  • Collier county Business tax receipt 
    All businesses operating in Collier County must have a county business tax receipt. Obtaining a business tax receipt requires filing an application at the Business Tax Receipt Office, 2800 N. Horseshoe Drive. All commercial businesses located in the county will need approval from the Planning Department (located at 2800 N. Horseshoe Drive) and a fire inspection from your local fire department district. In some instances, permits and certifications are required from other state or county agencies. If you are using a business name, you must register the name under which you do business with the Department of State, Division of Corporations at www.sunbiz.org (850-245-6058). Business tax receipt fees vary with the kind of business. Business tax receipts run through September 30th of the following year and are to be renewed by September 30th or are held delinquent and are penalized a percentage as prescribed by law.  (https://colliertaxcollector.com/business-tax-receipts/) A PDF copy of the Collier County business tax receipt form can be found here.
  • Open My Florida Business – The State of Florida’s Official Business Information Portal 
    ​The portal is designed to help individuals seeking to start and operate a business in the Sunshine State. By entering the type of business you wish to start, the portal will create a checklist to help you understand governmental requirements for your business category. Access the portal here http://openmyfloridabusiness.gov/

COWORKING AND FLEXIBLE OFFICE SPACE AND ACCELERATORS

FUNDING

  • Tamiami Angel Fund
    The Tamiami Angel Fund I, LLC is a Member-owned and Member-managed for-profit limited liability company that seeks to provide its Members an opportunity for active involvement in a diversified capital investment process and a portfolio of high quality, high growth companies located in the State of Florida.
  • U.S. Small Business Administration Loans
    The SBA helps small businesses receive loans, include the following:
    - 7(a) loans: A group of SBA loans which guarantee portions of the total amount, cap interest rates, and limit fees.
    - 504 loans: Long-term, fixed-rate financing to purchase/repair equipment, real estate, machinery, and other assets.
    - Microloans: Provides $50,000 or less to help businesses start up or expand.
    To learn more about the SBA loans and find lenders, contact them at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans.
  • Additional funding 
    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) Grants & Loans
    - USDA Business Programs

INDUSTRY & TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

EMPLOYER INCENTIVES — SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Local incentives 
Please contact Melanie Schmees at melanie@napleschamber.org to discuss local incentive options.
 
Florida Power and Light Energy Incentives
  • Economic Development Rider (EDR)
    A new or expanding business must create at least 25 new jobs per 350kW demand of new electric demand.
  • Commerical Industrial Service Rider (CISR)
    ​    A new or expanding business must have a load of 2,000 kW or greater, served by a single meter and document that this is part of a competitive site location project with opportunities for lower electric rate alternatives. To find out if your business qualifies, contact FPL here. ​​

TALENT RESOURCES

​WORKFORCE RESOURCES
  • CareerSource Southwest Florida 
    CareerSource Florida is the statewide workforce policy and investment board. Our partners include the Department of Economic Opportunity, 24 local workforce development boards and 100 career centers throughout Florida. Together, we help connect businesses with the talented workforce and training needed to succeed and grow. Helping Floridians Find Jobs and Employers Recruit Talent | CareerSource Southwest Florida
  • Spherion  
    Spherion is a staffing leader with local roots and a passion for placing the right person in the right job. Founded in 1946, we have a firm grasp on what it takes to build a strong workforce and a successful career. Spherion Staffing Services | Staffing & Temp Agencies | Job Search
  • Florida Southwestern State College Corporate Training Center  
    The FSW Corporate Training Center provides a centralized location for FSW’s corporate training initiatives, the Florida Flex Quick Response Training (QRT) and the Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grants. It is also the focal point for FSW’s customized business training programs. 
  • Express Employment 
    Express Employment Professionals is one of the top staffing companies in the US and Canada to help people find jobs and provide workforce solutions to businesses. Express has more than 800 franchise locations that provide a full tange of employment solutions that include full-time, temporary, and part-time employment in a wide range of positions.
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) 
    HR Collier is a vibrant group of over 200 human resource professionals who come together to discuss issues related to human resource management and to find ways to better serve their employers and employees. To join, visit https://www.hrcollier.org/
 
JOB BOARDS UPSKILLING AND TRAINING
  • Incumbent Worker Training (IWT)
    The IWT program provides grant funding and continued education and training of incumbent employees. An incumbent worker is defined as an employee working at least 37.5 hour per week and receives a W2, is at least 18 years of age, is a citizen of the United States or non-citizen with permission for employment in the US, a Florida resident working at a Florida location, and has been employed six months before date of application. Businesses can receive up to 50% reimbursement of preapproved, direct, training related costs, up to $200,000 per company. Businesses with 50 or fewer employees and in a rural or distressed area receive up to 75% reimbursement. For eligibility, the business must be for-profit registered with the State of Florida, operating for at least one year before date of application, describe the training and commitment to retain/avert layoff of employees receiving training, and provide financial viability. Not-for-profit and government agencies, retail establishments, volunteer employees, workforce development boars, labor unions, and businesses that received a IWT grant in the previous year are no eligible. Costs covered under the IWT program include tuition/training/course costs, curriculum development, and textbooks/manuals. Wages/fringe benefits, compensation, travel, food, membership fees, conferences, test/exam fees, equipment, licenses, capital improvements, and company web site design are not allowed costs. To apply and look at a sample application, visit https://careersourceflorida.com/training-grant/.
  • Quick Response Training (QRT)
    The QRT Program provides grant funding for qualifying businesses to train new full-time employees. Partial reimbursement is given for customized, skill-based curriculum development and training to new or expanding businesses. Eligible businesses are for-profit, create new full-time jobs, create new full-time jobs in qualified target industries, require non-degree, specialized skills-based training of 12 months or less not available at the local level, create high-quality jobs paying at least 125% average annual wage, produces an exportable good or service, provide documentation for participants, and demonstrate financial viability. Reimbursable training includes a portion of instructor salaries, curriculum development, textbooks/manuals, customized skills based online training, and travel for trainer or trainees. To apply and view a sample application, visit https://careersourceflorida.com/qrt/.
    * To be eligible for the QRT Program, businesses must meet Florida qualified target industries. These are high-skill industries with exportable goods or services and wages of 125 percent above state or local wages. The industries include cleantech, life sciences, infotech, aviation/aerospace, homeland security/defense, financial/professional services, manufacturing, corporate headquarters, and research and development.
    * This PDF lists all industries and businesses that qualify. 

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
  • Florida Southwestern State College
    Florida Southwestern State College offers 26 degrees as well as certificates for other fields of study with over 16,000 students across campuses in Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Glades Counties.  It is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. College Central Network®
  • Florida Gulf Coast University
    Florida Gulf Coast University is a state university that opened its doors to students in 1997 and is located just north of Collier County. It has over 15,000 students and offers 58 undergraduate programs, 25 masters programs, one specialist program, and six doctoral degree programs.  FGCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).  In addition, the university has specialized accreditation for business, engineering, education, health care, resort and hospitality, and social work.
    - Eagle Networks (fgcu.edu)
    - Director of Internships & Cooperative Programs: Ashleigh Droz adroz@fgcu.edu
    - Lutgert College of Business: Tifarah Pardue tpardue@fgcu.edu
  • Ave Maria University
    Ave Maria University is an accredited Catholic university that has 34 major programs, 28 minor programs, two graduate programs, and 15 different men’s and women’s sports with approximately 900 students.  Ave Maria University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral degrees.  A sister institution is the Ave Maria School of Law, which is fully accredited by the American Bar Association with a student body of nearly 500 that is drawn from almost every state and several other nations. - https://www.careerservices.avemaria.edu/ 
    - Director of Career Service: Jonathan Spadaccini  John.Spadaccini@avemaria.edu
  • ​​Hodges University
    Hodges University offers associate degrees, bachelor degrees, and graduate degrees with the student population of 1,723 (1,487 undergraduate). Hodges University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degrees. Hodges University has received specialized accreditation for its business and business-related programs through International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
    - Director of Career Services: Madelyn A Pfingsten  mpfingsten@hodges.edu
  • Lorenzo Walker Technical College
    LWTC is a part of the School Board of Collier County. LWTC is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education and the AdvancED Accreditation Commission. In addition, it has accreditations with other industry specific organizations and affiliations with state and national associations. The mission of Lorenzo Walker Technical College is to provide rigorous and relevant educational experiences that prepare all students with the academic, technical and employability skills necessary to succeed in their chosen careers and in further postsecondary education as desired.
    - College Central Network®
  • Immokalee Technical College
    The mission of iTECH is to provide rigorous and relevant real-world educational experiences using both traditional and distance learning models in order to qualify students for employment and career advancement.
  • Center for Manufacturing Excellence
    ​The Center for Manufacturing Excellence is a cutting-edge training facility established to deliver the knowledge and skills students need for a successful career in today’s manufacturing field. CME is a collaborative training facility between Collier County Public Schools, the Naples Chamber of Commerce, and local manufacturing leaders. CME was established through the demand to supply local industries with skilled workers in all areas within the manufacturing field, such as Machining, Mechatronics, CNC operations, and advanced machining and manufacturing. Currently, CME offers a full-time Post-Secondary Machining Technology course, short-term targeted training, employability skills, and customized training developed to enhance the skills of current or potential employees.

EMERGING TALENT

 The Greater Naples Chamber’s work-based learning initiative is a long-term talent development strategy that provides students with real-life work experiences where students can apply academic and technical skills to develop their employability. The Greater Naples Chamber’s goal is to build and maintain a qualified, motivated, and diverse workforce which is critical to the success of our local employers.  This work is accomplished by blurring the lines between students, educational organizations and local employers and then connecting them, through quality and meaningful work-based learning experiences such as mock interviews, job shadowing, internships, career fairs, worksite tours, and mentoring.
​
HELP SHAPE OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE BY ENGAGING IN WORK-BASED LEARNING:
  • Student and Business Networking
    Students practice their networking skills with local business professionals in a casual setting at a local company. Businesses can participate individually or host a session.
  • Guest Speakers
    Guest Speakers go into the classroom to discuss their career paths, opportunities within their organization and provide advice. This gives business professionals a chance to be engaged with students and teachers in a small classroom setting.
  • Mock Interviews
    A mock interview, also known as a practice interview, is a chance for a student to go through simulation of an actual job interview with a local business professional.
  • Informational Interview
    An informational interview is an informal conversation between a student and a business professional who works in a field of interest to them. This opportunity supplies a wealth of information and allows the student to ask questions in a one-on-one interview setting.
  • Work-Site Tours
    Work-site tours are exploratory “walk-throughs" at a business planned and organized by our work-based learning coordinator. A group of students learn what type of careers are critical for the business to operate and hear from your employees about their various professional journeys.
  • Job Shadow
    A Job shadow is a short-term experience for a student to spend time with a professional to see employees in their daily work. This is a temporary (half to full day) and unpaid opportunity to explore a career of interest, and for your business to inspire future talent.
  • Internships
    An internship is an opportunity for a student to gain professional, workplace experience while diving into hands-on projects to support the needs and goals of a business. See Internship Toolkit.
  • Advisory Boards
    Academy Advisory Boards ensure that all students receive the highest level and most recent industry curriculum with current work experiences so that students are ready for the fast paced and ever-changing world of work.
LEARN MORE HERE:

EDUCATION PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY

The Greater Naples Chamber partners with all educational institutions and nonprofits who serve students to assist with connecting their students to employers.
  • Collier County Public Schools Work-Based Learning
    The Greater Naples Chamber has a formal partnership with CCPS to help connect students and educators to employers by leveraging the Chamber’s relationships with the business community and robust leadership programs. 
    - Career and Technical Education Department Work Based Learning & Internships (collierschools.com) 
    - Director of Career and Technical Education Programs: Carlos Artime ArtimC@collierschools.com
  • NAF Academies
    NAF Academies are small career themed learning communities within current school structures focused on preparing students for college and career success.
    - Manager of Career & Technical Education Programs: Courtney Stahlman StahlC@collierschools.com
  • “On The Job Training”(OJT)
    A high school OJT education program is an elective academic program that combines a comprehensive classroom curriculum with a related work experience in the business community. OJT programs provide the student with a meaningful opportunity to gain professional job experience related to an identified career goal.

A CATALYST FOR RETENTION AND GROWTH

The Chamber's focus on economic development is to create a healthy economic climate where businesses can thrive. To meet this goal, we provide key services and support, ranging from relocation and expansion expertise to long-term planning with our community partners.

To attract new business investment, we market the Greater Naples region worldwide as a top location for business. In addition, we work with local companies to assist them with expansion plans and other business concerns.

To learn more about economic development efforts and to sign up for your free business consultation, visit www.collieredo.org/

Thanks to our generous supporters