Collier County governments collected more than $30 million in local sales tax revenues during the first three months of 2021, surpassing collections during the same time period in both 2019 and 2020.

Records show nearly $30.4 million came in through local purchases between January and March, with about $27.5 million going to the county and the other $2.9 million to the county’s three municipalities, Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City.

The $13.2 million collected county wide in March is the single largest amount in one month since the sales tax was implemented and dwarfed the $8.9 million and $10.3 million during the same time period in 2020 and 2019, respectively.

In 2018, Collier County voters approved a seven-year, one-cent local option sales surtax. The local option sales surtax is estimated to raise approximately $490 million and will end on Dec. 31, 2025, or when the $490 million is collected. The Greater Naples Chamber supported, and was instrumental in the passage of, the infrastructure sales surtax increase.

Collier County government is expected to receive approximately $420 million for infrastructure projects from the sales tax. The remaining $70 million will be split among the county’s three municipalities.

The county collected more than $184.2 million countywide during the first two years of collections. According to estimates, the county could collect the $490 million in six years if the current rate of collections remains.

Over the past two years, the infrastructure sales surtax oversight committee has reviewed and validated 34 projects. This includes five roadway projects, three hurricane resiliency projects and 21 capital equipment projects.

The infrastructure sales surtax oversight committee is expected to review and validate its first community project, a mental health central receiving facility, when it meets on June 23.

Sheriff Kevin Rambosk was presented with the Leadership Collier Foundation’s prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award during the graduation event for the 2020 and 2021 classes of Leadership Collier and Associate Leadership Collier. The event took place at Arthrex in North Naples on May 27.

This award is presented each year to an individual who fulfills the mission of Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF) through his or her continued education and work toward community solutions in the public interest. Distinguished Alumni have exemplified the highest standards of the Leadership Collier Foundation, of the Greater Naples Chamber, and remain informed, engaged, and contribute directly to the mission of building a stronger Collier County. 

Sheriff Rambosk, a member of the Leadership Collier class of 2003, was presented the award by Collier County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton, a member of the 2012 Leadership Collier class.
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“Sheriff Rambosk has, for over 40 years, served our community from Naples Police Department patrol officer responding to calls and literally saving lives to chief of police to Naples city manager and now as four-time elected Sheriff of Collier County where he leads and inspires a phenomenal culture of ‘Service to Others Before Self’,” Dr. Patton said.

Dr. Patton spotlighted Sheriff Rambosk’s leadership during the economic downturn when he took office in 2009. He not only cut the agency’s budget, he simultaneously increased services and programs. More recently, he has guided the agency and the community through the pandemic, wildfires and hurricanes. In addition, crime levels in Collier County are the lowest since record-keeping began in 1971.

In accepting the award, Sheriff Rambosk spoke of the qualities that make Collier County unique.
“Collier County, over the last decade at least, has created a unique culture of working together for a common cause, building relationships to create a strong community,” he said.

Sheriff Rambosk also called upon graduates to help guide the community as it continues to grow.
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“The dilemma we always face is ensuring we have a strong sustainable community but not lose why we came in the first place,” he said. “The good news is you are the leaders that will be called upon to navigate us through those challenges. And as we sit here today, most importantly - ethical and responsible leadership for the future is more important than ever before.”
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Past recipients of the LCF Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award are: Don York; Ed McNamara; Bud Hornbeck; Senator Kathleen Passidomo; Carlton Case, Jeff Fridkin, Alan Reynolds, Fred Thomas, Terri Douglas, Barbara Berry, Scott Salley, Tom Schneider, Russell Budd, Patrick O’Connor, Paul Marinelli, Dave Weston, Donna MacNiven, Bart Zino, George Drobinski, Jan Kantor, Patrick Neale, James French, Ted Soliday, Mike McComas, CJ Hueston, and Dr. Kamela Patton.

About the Leadership Collier Foundation     
The Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF), of the Greater Naples Chamber, educates local business leaders about the societal and economic challenges facing the community today through the programs and initiatives it governs: Leadership Collier, Associate Leadership Collier, Youth Leadership Collier, The Emerging Leadership Council and Campaign for Leadership. Through the work of the LCF Alumni Association, graduates continue to build alliances, foster goodwill and civic trusteeship that will strengthen Collier County. The foundation also leads the Chamber’s initiative for work-based learning opportunities for local business and students supporting talent development. For more information, contact Amanda Beights at amanda@napleschamber.org. 
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About the Greater Naples Chamber  
The Greater Naples Chamber is a not-for-profit business association representing over 1,100 active members working to cultivate economic opportunity for all. The Chamber accomplishes this through government relations, leadership programs, and providing businesses with the resources and information they need to thrive. For more information, call (239) 262-637 or visit www.napleschamber.org. ​

The Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF) of the Greater Naples Chamber congratulates the 2020 and 2021 class graduates of Leadership Collier and Associate Leadership Collier! A joint ceremony, the largest in LCF's history, was held Thursday, May 27 at Arthrex honoring the four newest groups of engaged community leaders. 

Alumni and graduates shared program experiences and how the LCF programs activated their potential as leaders. Over the past year, classes fed first responders, raised money and supplies for families in need, built homes with Habitat for Humanity and wrote thank you notes to our educators for their perseverance and dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Talented and generous leaders, who are willing to volunteer their time, talent, and treasure - may be our greatest resource as a community," said Dr. Aysegul Timur, LC '12, chair of the Leadership Collier Foundation advisory board.

Collaboration was a common theme of the evening, as alumni and attendees talked about the programs' ability to bring a diverse group of leaders together to enact change.

"In a society where people and ideas feel more divisive than ever, we heard time and time again about just the opposite. Throughout our nine sessions collaboration and connection emerged as common themes," said Delaney Carroll, ALC '21. "Collaboration amongst people. Collaboration between organizations. Shared struggles and common problems creating a connection between industries."

Despite facing a variety of COVID-19 related challenges, programs were able to continue thanks to the support of participants, volunteers, businesses and community leaders.

The words "what's next" echoed throughout the speeches. Graduates of Leadership Collier Foundation programs are encouraged to stay engaged through the LCF alumni association and Chamber events.

It is because of you we are able to empower leaders to be informed, engaged and be the difference!
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Interested in applying for a future Associate Leadership Collier or Leadership Collier program? Visit www.napleschamber.org/leadership for more information.

The Youth Leadership Collier (YLC) Class of 2020 distributed $10,000 in grants, funded by a Community Foundation of Collier County donor, to three local charities as part of the inaugural Youth Community Leadership Project. A partnership of the Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF) of the Greater Naples Chamber and the Community Foundation of Collier County, the project provides Youth Leadership Collier participants with a real world experience identifying issues in their community and awarding grants to fund solutions.

The Community Foundation of Collier County contacted the Leadership Collier Foundation, which oversees the Youth Leadership Collier program, after it was approached by Naples resident Betty Frank, who inquired about starting a student-led organization. Frank and her late husband, Charles Frank, started a similar initiative in Pennsylvania more than a decade ago, and donated $10,000 to Collier’s inaugural Youth Community Leadership Project.

Youth Leadership Collier aims to activate the leadership potential of Collier County students through education and hands-on learning experiences. The Youth Community Leadership Project fits into the mission of the Leadership Collier Foundation by giving students the opportunity to be informed, be engaged and be the difference in their community. After reviewing the Community Needs Assessment, a joint project between the Community Foundation and Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, students awarded $3,500 a piece to Grace Place for Children and Families and Pathways Early Education Center, and $3,000 was awarded to Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida. The grants are focused on issues related to career counseling for students, housing gaps and food shortages.

“The YLC Community Project Council did a tremendous job,” said Amanda Beights, senior director of leadership programs at the Greater Naples Chamber. “They went through a very real grant review and selection process and I was impressed with the high-level thinking displayed by the students; their work was at the level of adult leaders in Collier County.”.

Frank has committed to funding the first two years of the program.

“I think this was a hard one to start in the middle of a pandemic, but they got it done,” she said. “It’s meaningful. If these kids learn about the needs in the community and what a $3,000 gift can do for an organization doing good work in the community, then it’s worth it.”
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The 2021 Youth Leadership Collier program begins June 12 and runs through June 18.
 
About the Leadership Collier Foundation     
The Leadership Collier Foundation (LCF), of the Greater Naples Chamber, educates local business leaders about the societal and economic challenges facing the community today through the programs and initiatives it governs: Leadership Collier, Associate Leadership Collier, Youth Leadership Collier, The Emerging Leadership Council and Campaign for Leadership. Through the work of the LCF Alumni Association, graduates continue to build alliances, foster goodwill and civic trusteeship that will strengthen Collier County. The foundation also leads the Chamber’s initiative for work-based learning opportunities for local business and students supporting talent development. For more information, contact Amanda Beights at amanda@napleschamber.org. 
 
About the Greater Naples Chamber  
The Greater Naples Chamber is a not-for-profit business association representing over 1,100 active members working to cultivate economic opportunity for all. The Chamber accomplishes this through government relations, leadership programs, and providing businesses with the resources and information they need to thrive. For more information, call (239) 262-637 or visit www.napleschamber.org.  
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About the Community Foundation of Collier County
The Community Foundation of Collier County, now in its 35th year, is a tax-exempt, public, charitable organization established in 1985 to increase and focus on local private philanthropy. Today, the Community Foundation of Collier County manages more than 750 funds, collaborates with hundreds of nonprofits, holds over $280 million in assets and has distributed over $212 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and community programs. The Community Foundation of Collier County is one of Florida’s fastest-growing community foundations. For good. Forever. Learn more at cfcollier.org or call 239-649-5000.