The Immokalee Business Development Center, launched in 2011 by the Immokalee CRA, will become its own, free-standing organization by the end of 2013.  The business development center, known as the IBDC or, sometimes, IMMBIZ, has guided the creation or expansion of over a dozen Immokalee businesses in the past two years. Collier County Commissioners, sitting as the Immokalee CRA board of directors, approved independence for the center in January. The lawmakers will be asked May 28 to approve IBDC's formal steps toward independence.  "Because we will be an independent organization, we can expand to regional efforts," explained Marie Capita, an Immokalee attorney and manager of the IBDC. "Being non-profit - and not a governmental organization-

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Collier County Commissioner Tim Nance sat down May 22 with leaders and volunteers of Immokalee's many non-profit organizations to introduce himself in his role as county commissioner.  He invited the non-profit agencies to meet with him at the in the courtroom of the Collier Government Center in Immokalee, 106 South First Street (County Road 846).  Nance represents Immokalee and most of Eastern Collier County (District 5) on the county's lawmaking panel. Elected in November 2012, he set up his Immokalee office in the government center in March.  A native Floridian born in Fort Lauderdale and has lived in Collier County since 1982, following his graduation from the University of Florida where he earned two bachelor degrees: one in political science and t

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                              What is now an empty lot at the corner of Immokalee's Main Street and First Street will soon be transformed into a warm and welcoming, aesthetically pleasing central town plaza - or, in the Latin American tradition, a zocalo.  The Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has been given preliminary design plans for the plaza by noted Naples architect David Corban and renowned landscape architect Ellen Goetz. The Immokalee CRA's citizens advisory committee will review the design when it meets May 15 at 8:30 a.m. at Southwest Florida Works, 750 South 5th Street.  The design includes a variety of native pla

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The task of growing and diversifying Immokalee's economy is a multi-faceted endeavor.  Investment from regional and national companies is important but so is the growth and expansion of home-grown Immokalee businesses.  The Salazar Machine & Steel Company is the perfect example of a home-grown business that has prospered with the help of economic incentives available in Immokalee. Founded 12 years ago as a two-man operation, Salazar Machine & Steel has grown into 20,000 square foot operation at the Immokalee Regional Airport. Company Founder Pete Salazar celebrated his expanded operation last week with an open house.  Read what the Naples Daily News had to say about the successful Immokalee business:  Pete Salazar went from working out of his tru

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