"Those of us who live and work in Immokalee envision a great future for our town. We see new business opportunities in international trade and distribution, agribusiness, ecotourism, recreation and entertainment and the construction industry."

What is New in Immokalee?

South Immokalee storm water project improves street, economic & cultural levels

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:51:00

When Collier County lawmakers agreed January 24 to award construction contracts for the $2.7 million storm water improvement system in South Immokalee it was significant on the street level – but also on the economic and cultural levels.

When completed, the new storm water collection system will eliminate troublesome street flooding along the most residential streets of South Immokalee.

Collier County Commissioners awarded the construction contract to the Douglas N. Higgins Construction Company of Naples.

But among the sub-contractors on the job will be Manuel Padilla and his company, Padilla Construction, Inc., a graduate of the Immokalee Business Development Center (IMMBIZ).

Just over a year ago, Padilla was struggling to launch his own company after years working for others in the construction trade.

He attended last spring the initial entrepreneurial school offered by IMMBIZ and, following that, IMMBIZ helped Padilla get certified by the U.S. government as a minority-owned business, meaning he could qualify for special benefits when applying for contracts supported by tax dollars.

Since most of the money for the South Immokalee storm water projects comes from U.S. government grants, Higgins would have to agree – as primary contractor – to award 25 percent of the sub-contractors’ work to minority-owned business.

Enter Padilla Construction Company.

With the construction contract signed and delivered, Padilla Construction will get a nearly $800,000 sub-contract to perform all the sidewalk reconstruction on the project.

"It's working,” said Penny Phillippi, executive director of the Immokalee CRA and creator of IMMBIZ. “Economic development is working in Immokalee. Manuel went from IMMBIZ to (minority-owned) qualifications, introduced to the big contractor at a pre-bid meeting. The (project grant) money is coming back to Immokalee."

Padilla Construction is among the growing number of new and expanding businesses in Immokalee, part of the growing entrepreneurial scene which again demonstrates one of the reasons why Immokalee IS Florida in the 21^st Century.

Land purchased for 1st Street Plaza, Zocalos to follow

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:13:00

They are intended to be bookends – plazas or zocalos; public gathering spots at either end of Immokalee’s Main Street and central business district.

Collier County Commissioners agreed January 24 to the purchase of two parcels at Main Street and First Avenue that will be the site of the First Street Plaza. The $810,000 purchase means the Immokalee Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will now own the two parcels on which will the two zocalos will be built.

The CRA purchase the other property, at Main and Nineth Street, early last year from the Immokalee Pioneer Brown Family.

“It was a great day for Immokalee,” said CRA Executive Director Penny Phillippi, following the county lawmakers’ agreement on the First Street property.

With both tracts in hand, CRA planners can now move forward on final design and construction of the Immokalee plazas, both key ingredients in the CRA's award-winning Public Realm Plan for Immokalee redevelopment.

“Public gathering places, such as zocalos, are in the Mexican-Tenochtitlan the heart of the community and are often anchored by a church or market place,” explains the Immokalee Public Realm Plan. “In Immokalee, the two proposed plazas are intended to inspire civic pride and revitalize the central business district by creating a more livable and walkable community.”

Click here to read the Public Realm Plan and to see more detailed drawings and a slide presentation of what the plazas will, eventually, look like.

ImmBiz now fully partnered with U.S. SBA

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:19:00

The U.S. government agency charged with help entrepreneurs and small business now has an official outpost and partner in Immokalee.

The Immokalee Business Development Center, or ImmBiz, signed January 20 a partnership agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, formally qualifying ImmBiz as an official link in Southwest Florida to the federal agency.

SBA Regional Director Franciso Marrero signed the formal partnership documents with Immokalee CRA Executive Director Penny Phillippi and ImmBiz Director Marie Capita. Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta oversaw the official signing ceremony.

Under the terms of the agreement, IMMBIZ and the SBA will increase joint training and outreach. The agreement means IMMBIZ clients – and others – will be able to increase opportunities for contracts with the federal government. The SBA will send speakers and technical advisors to Southwest Florida for additional training and guidance.

“This is a great opportunity for our growing entrepreneurial sector in Immokalee and across the region,” said Capita. “With the SBA’s presence in Immokalee we can provide even greater resources to people who want to start or expand their businesses.”

Watch the video:

Collier Commissioner Tom Henning's Immokalee meeting discusses Master Plan

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:44:00

Collier County Commissioner Tom Henning's January 13 meeting with the residents of Immokalee drew approximately 60 people to discuss the proposed Immokalee Area Master Plan.

Click here to read the Naples Daily News coverage of the meeting.

The state of Florida granted Collier County an extension until Sept. 27 to approve the Master Plan. The plan failed to garner the needed four out of five votes from commissioners in December to see it formally adopted.

At their meeting January 10, the county lawmakers agreed to discuss the Master Plan on January 24 and decide how to proceed.

Penny Phillippi, executive director of the Immokalee CRA, said she is happy so many people took time out of their late Friday afternoon to attend the meeting.

“It is gratifying to know the people of Immokalee continue to want to be involved in the work of improving our community after nearly a decade of effort.”

“All of us working for the CRA – staff and volunteer advisors – really appreciate so many people attending the meeting on a late Friday afternoon to voice support for the Master Plan and to show how much they care about Immokalee and its future.”

Henning, who represents Golden Gate city and parts of North Naples on the county lawmaking panel, called the special town hall meeting to get a sense of Immokalee’s support and, he said, concerns about the proposed plan.

“As Immokaleans, we may not have the largest voice in county government but I am always grateful for how sincere and articulate Immokaleans can be about our own community,” Phillippi said. “The people who attended the Friday meeting showed, once again, the community of Immokalee is dedicated to moving our town forward to become a shining example of what Florida can be in the 21st Century.”