Chamber’s Business Fair features speakers, local resources
From banks and internet providers to accountants and wellness facilitators, nearly 20 vendors set up for the SanCap Chamber’s inaugural Business Resource Fair on Sep. 3 at The Community House on Sanibel. The business luncheon meeting portion of it featured speakers from the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO).
“We are grateful to CFI (Charitable Foundation of the Islands) for floating the idea of this first-time fair and partnering with the chamber to make it happen,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “Island small business owners certainly left with a new set of tools to take the next step toward resiliency and growth.”
While attendees enjoyed lunch catered by Rosalita’s Cantina, EDO Director John Talmage and Senior Business Developer Tatum Walker brought them up to date on commercial development throughout the county and a new resource tool now available to small businesses.
Talmage talked about the good news: the numerous health care and other high-employing companies moving into the county; and the not-so-good news: the challenges facing the county as it grows less rural, more metropolitan. He said quality of and access to water, sufficient workforce, and affordable housing count among issues the county works to resolve.
“On the housing front, Lee County has now spent money for 3,800 new affordable housing units,” Talmage said. “You’ve got your own wonderful CHR right here.”
“I’ve got to tell you, between FISH (of Sanibel-Captiva), CHR and the Charitable Island Foundation, that’s what makes the island go around,” he added.
Walker introduced an online Business Continuity Planning Guide to serve as a checklist and resource for businesses to prepare, not just for hurricane disasters, but any circumstance that changes or interrupts the course of a small business.
“I think a lot of small businesses consider ‘resources’ as money, but it’s all of us in this room,” she said. “It’s every business that you create a relationship with, it’s every business that you connect with, and it’s part of the planning for resiliency and for sustainability.”
Following the speakers, the chamber opened the vendor fair to attendees, giving them the opportunity to connect with local businesses and organizations for the betterment of their own businesses.
It raffled prizes to those who checked off at least seven visits during their rounds.
The luncheon was sponsored by CFI.
To access the Business Continuity Planning Guide, visit horizoncouncilfoundation.com/business-continuity-resources/.