Assignment 5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

Dixie Moon Café moves to new home in downtown Bonita Springs
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/communities/the-banner/2018/09/13/dixie-moon-cafe-moves-new-home-downtown-bonita-springs/1290541002/

Dixie Moon Café has been a landmark in Bonita Springs since 1920. It originally served as the grocery store, then was a gas station, had multiple restaurants and finally a café before closing down. The building was sitting on valuable property that was recently bought up by a developer. Because the city deemed it a historical landmark, the developer contributed $81,000 to help move it less than a mile away to a new location. The main problem was keeping the original building intact with termite damage and wood close to 100 years old. Now the city does not know what to do with this building after spending an additional $25,000+ to restore it. Many local cities probably have a problem with understanding how to maximize their historical buildings. A possible business idea could be to register/research historical sites in cities and find out what would provide the most benefit to society with the project. For example, this article mentioned making a nice park out of the building.

For bear-resistant trash cans in Collier County: FWC awards $45,000

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2018/09/13/fwc-awards-45-000-collier-county-bear-resistant-trash-cans/1289817002/

There are about 4,300 black bears in Florida and they like to eat human trash which can endanger both parties. Collier County recently received a $45,000 allocation from a $500,000 state fund to develop/integrate bear-resistant trash cans. The trash cans have a clasp that humans can open, but that makes it difficult for bears to open. The program is currently in a testing process because trash removal trucks only have a 80% success rate with emptying the new can. The can is expected to cost $200-$270 and it is uncertain how the cans will be disbursed or for how much consumers will pay. This problem exists for anywhere there are humans and animals in the same environment, for trash cans and other areas pets like to go. A possible business would be to help the cities figure out these problems or to undercut the $200 price and go direct to consumer as a safety concern.


What workers do Southwest Florida's employers need the most? Not nurses. 

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/business/local/2018/09/12/southwest-floridas-labor-market-pretty-fluid-and-actually-working/1277490002/

There is a research study going on with 3 universities in southwest Florida that forecast the amount of job shortages in the top 10 occupations. Instead of healthcare being at the top of the list, it actually is off the list for the first time in Southwest Florida because there is no shortage of nurses. The top 3 occupation shortages are retail supervisors, retail salespersons and maintenance and repair workers. Many cities/states/countries probably experience an imbalance of the correct numbers of workers as trends change and people move.

Marco Island continues to seek increased ambulance service despite COPCN vote
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2018/09/14/marco-island-seeks-discussion-county-second-ambulance/1277868002/

On Marco Island there is only 1 ambulance in the off season and 2 during the season. The article talks about a vote to increase service but the vote failed by a few percentage points. Perhaps, this is because there are younger people moving there that don’t see value in spending more tax money for this service. The article estimates the cost to tax payers is a little over $500,000 per year to have 1 ambulance. The problem is there is a disparity between who wants ambulance services and who should pay for them. This problem of payment is relevant for the whole healthcare space. I assume many cities have this problem because you want everyone to be safe without spending too much money.


Shortage of roof repair workers one year later after Irma 

https://www.naplesnews.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2018/09/08/hurricane-irma-one-year-later-shortage-workers-inspectors-supplies-hamper-roof-repairs/1151530002/

Hurricanes can devastate a community. One year after Irma, people in Southwest Florida are still waiting for roof repairs. They are calling it “Blue roof nation” after the blue tarps have been spread up as temporary repairs. The problem is that hurricanes cause immense destruction in a small area and that there are not enough skilled workers going into the trade jobs. I think we should encourage high schoolers to pursue trade skills and develop ways to help cities after disasters.