SANCAP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Dr. Amir Neto shares a business climate outlook based on survey findings of anticipated reopening timelines for local businesses and services on Sanibel and Captiva.

Over 230 SanCap Chamber of Commerce business members and island residents recently learned that the city of Sanibel’s finances are stable, real estate values remain steady, and 70% of businesses have come back in some capacity. The State of the Islands Summit and breakfast held on Jan. 29 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers brought nearly 20 speakers and panelists to the podium to assess Sanibel and Captiva’s hurricane recovery.

The chamber, in partnership with the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) and with sponsorship from Bank of the Islands and other local businesses, presented the summit. Dr. Amir Neto, director of the Regional Economic Research Institute at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, was the keynote speaker, disclosing findings from a survey the chamber has asked local businesses to complete.

Based on surveys received to date, he presented a benchmark standard for future outlooks to come.

“This does not pinpoint numbers, but shows trends,” Neto said, indicating that predicting a timeline for the return of accommodations and non-accommodations businesses is a process that will take time. “It’s going to be a long-term recovery … This is where we come into our crossroads to decide which path we want to take to grow Southwest Florida, to grow the islands.”

He explained that the 70% figure of reopened businesses includes those who have moved off-island and those doing business online or remotely without a storefront.

The summit also presented three panels to explore recovery within different facets of island operations. CFI Executive Director Dolly Farrell moderated the first panel, State of Non-Profits, which also included Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium Executive Director Sam Ankerson. F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva Executive Director Maria Espinoza, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Chief Executive Officer James Evans, “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge Board President Bill Harkey and Community Housing & Resources Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale.

They addressed challenges and issues including affordable housing, transportation frustrations and food insecurity. The panelists recognized the importance of accommodations, the business community and the maintenance of the islands’ environmental priorities.

“Our business community and our conservation community are inextricably linked,” Evans said. “The way businesses and our nonprofits work together it’s just seamless … That’s exactly what we need to get our vitality back is to get resort housing back up … We always support the chamber of commerce for getting back up on their feet. The chamber needs your help as well.”

The State of Real Estate panel, likewise, recognized the importance of the islands’ environment and nonprofits in elevating property values and desirability. Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors Chief Executive Officer Bill Robinson moderated the panel, which also consisted of Kasey Albright and Eric Pfeiffer with the Pfeiffer Realty Group and Jeff Burns with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

The panel discussed in detail the status of residential, condominium, commercial and vacant land availability and sales. It generally agreed Sanibel is seeing a shift in age demographics as a result of the hurricane, with younger families moving in and older residents moving off-island because of anticipated long waits to get back into their homes.

“But it’s the same type of people, people who love Sanibel,” Pfeiffer said.

He reported in his conclusion of commercial property status, based on limited available data, the average and median price has increased after the storm.

“What I really want to tell you today is that the city of Sanibel, from a financial perspective, we are in excellent shape, we are stable and we are firm,” City Manager Dana Souza told the crowd as part of the State of the City presentation.

The panel was moderated by Public Information Officer Eric Jackson, and Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer Steve Chaipel and Building Official Craig Mole also spoke. Souza reported on the decrease in taxable property values, which influenced the decision to increase the millage rate this year to the same rate as post-Hurricane Charley.

“That was a tough decision,” he said.

Souza repeatedly thanked the state for coming to the city’s rescue in monetary ways, including an advance on monies to help with current beach renourishment. He commended city staff for its expediency with permitting. Mole reported 7,700 permits since the storm, compared to 1,800 in a normal year before Ian.

Panelists addressed affordable housing issues, saying the city is looking both on and off island for solutions. Souza explained the city’s new policy for bringing traffic issues back to pre-hurricane status by urging everyone to travel on and off island via Periwinkle Way rather than backroad routes through neighborhoods. He reported the plan has already reduced his travel time leaving the island.

Mayor Richard Johnson wrapped up the summit with hope, optimism and a message of working together.

“We all here are linked to each other by these islands we know and we love,” he said.

“We heard an incredible volume of take-away information this day,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “It was a truly inspiring and pragmatic exercise for so many in our community looking for answers and guidance. This is only the beginning of our series of recovery outlooks, which we will continue monthly at our business luncheons. We urge all island businesses to participate in the survey.”

To view the full business climate survey report, visit sancapoutlook.com.