Page 37 - May-June-July Life In Naples Magazine

investors regarding the return on investment and the value proposition. Selection Consultant/Broker/Developer presentation. This month, the
In order for the three year Implementation Plan to be successful and Alliance hired it first Executive Director, Eric Bergland. In-bound and
achieve the desired outcomes, a comprehensive fundraising effort must out-bound marketing trips are planned for 2015 to promote the region
be undertaken. and Collier County.

Our day-to-day economic development practice is led by Vice Community Leaders are engaging in discussions relating to
President of Business Development Kristi Bartlett. Kristi works with Opportunity Naples (ON) from the perspective of collective impact.
existing businesses to determine what resources are available to help How can we align our resources to make this happen together and
them expand and stay in Collier County. Recent projects include quickly? Alan Horton in his Hodges University Humanitarian of
the retention of tech company, Kore Wireless and the expansion of the Year acceptance speech spoke to the promise of ON and to the
Project Reverie. Kore Wireless was in the process of relocating to Lee importance of moving forward. “Horton listed about 30 organizations
County, but in a joint effort with the County Manager’s office, the that have grown into community stalwarts in the 30 years since he
Commissioners and the company, we were able to achieve a win-win came to Naples, but one effort has his attention for the future, he said.
agreement that retained 50 jobs and allows for the creation of many It’s called Opportunity Naples, a result of the economic development
more. Kristi also assists companies interested in relocating to Collier partnership of county government and the Chamber of Commerce,
County. Project Coleman was approved for the state’s Qualified Target and its goal is to build a more diversified economy with a homegrown,
Industry grant incentive, which includes a local 20% match. The final multicultural workforce, Horton said.” (NDN, March 13, 2015).
decision on the project will be reached in June and could result in 40 new
jobs at an average wage of over $63,000 annually. The Partnership also Lydia Galton, named by the Women’s Initiative of the Community
continues to source clients for and otherwise partner with the county’s Foundation of Collier County as a 2015 Woman of Initiative, cited
incubator and accelerator programs led by Marshall Goodman. These Opportunity Naples as a positive new direction and said, “We must
programs provide resources we might not otherwise have to offer new champion economic development.”(eBella Magazine, April 2015).The
companies. Insulin NG is one example of a company we led directly to Community Foundation of Collier County recognized the Greater
the incubator and it is now in the process of establishing a presence in Naples Chamber of Commerce with its Outstanding Corporate
the accelerator. Philanthropy Award for the work done via ON.

The strength of our local partnership enhances the support that Thank you for your investment and involvement. I think it’s
we can provide to the Southwest Florida Economic Development clear our partnership is effective, growing and strong. The collective
Alliance. In the last year, we attended two national trade shows work we do will create economic opportunity for everyone in Collier
to promote the region and we participated in an out of market Site County over time. And we’ve demonstrated that when Naples works,
opportunity happens.

With its pristine Gulf of Mexico waters, white sand beaches,
and amazing sunsets, Naples is the pearl of Florida’s Paradise Coast.

You just won’t want to leave.

Whether a buyer or seller, for the expertise you need
to realize your Naples dream lifestyle, give me a call.

Doug

“Ich spreche auch Deutsch” Doug DeCaster Realtor®
Doug Just Sold I Old Naples and the Beach Naples Specialist

• 520 9th Ave S Olde Naples • 317 7th Ave S Catelena 787 5th Ave S | Naples FL 34102
• 334 8th Ave S Chatham Place • 291A 8th Ave S Garden Court Mobile: 239.250.2985
• 461 11th Ave S Spellbinder Villas •250 7th Ave S #107 Oldetowne
• 229 7th Ave S #201 Villa Yvonne •213A 8th Ave S Garden Manor DJDECASTER@EARTHLINK.NET
www.DougDeCaster.com

Life in Naples | May • June • July 2015 37