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Cape Coral's Target Industries Offer Growth Opportunities

Discover the endless
entrepreneurial business opportunities
offered by a Cape Coral location.

Economic Development Office


	The Cape Coral Area Ranked: "Cape Coral ranks in Top Ten Places to Open a Business" (Biz Journals, 2009) Top Mid-Sized “Economic Development Hot Spot” (Expansion Management, 2008) #1 for Doing Business among Cities over 100,000 (INC Magazine, 2007) #1 Community in the Nation for Job Growth (Forbes.com, 2007) #1 “Best Performing Cities” (INC Magazine, 2006)


	Celebrating Business Successes Cape Coral businesses are sharing their recipes for business success. Business owners are crediting Cape Coral's trained and diverse workforce and efficient use of resources as important factors for the health and growth of their businesses. Businesses in diverse industries succeed in the Cape. Let us know how we can help you grow your business with customized incentives.

	Healthcare Success
	Acology Acology Pharmacy and Prescription Compounding has been operating in Cape Coral since 2003. Last year, a need for more space and greater visibility prompted Acology's move to a larger storefront. The relocation followed a six-month planning process that included permitting and relocation assistance from the Economic Development Office. In addition to traditional pharmacy services, generic drugs, and name brands at discount prices, Acology specializes in customized pharmaceutical compounding. Compounding involves combining different drugs and suitable carriers to create unique products for a patient's specific needs. The pharmacy has built lasting relationships with many area physicians. Michael Coppedge, Acology's owner, chose Cape Coral as his business location for Florida's positive business climate, expressed in several tax advantages. His advice for entrepreneurs is to start their business now, when it is a great time to invest in a business location in Cape Coral and build an outstanding team of employees.

	Manufacturing Success
	Applied Cooling Technology Applied Cooling Technology LLC opened their Cape Coral manufacturing facility in early 2008 as a daughter of U.K. parent company, Britannia Heatex Ltd. Applied Cooling designs, manufactures and repairs industrial and marine heat exchangers. Most of the larger American cruise lines use their high-quality products with customers spanning from Alaska to South America. The company's recipe for success is to stay on top of the technology curve. Sales Manager Ian Mansell sees many opportunities for business owners considering Cape Coral as their business location. Relocated workers and managers from the industrialized northern states brought a vast array of skills and experiences to his firm. Cape Coral is located conveniently to port towns such as Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville. The reasonable price of properties attracted the company to the city. Mansell encourages businesses to look into the incentives available to locate a business in Cape Coral. For his part, he is always on the lookout for complementary businesses, such as more metal materials suppliers and metal processing companies.

	Manufacturing Success
	JRL Ventures/Marine Concepts Already known as the #1 composite tool producer in the marine industry, Marine Concepts is now gaining attention for new areas of work. It is this decision to diversify that has led Marine Concepts and its new division, JRL Ventures, back into a growth mode. Matt Chambers, President of JRL Ventures/Marine Concepts, says his company took advantage of business opportunities and working together, management and staff engineers were able to explore and develop a new line of products for several new market segments. Their customers now include theme parks, governments, wind energy industries, architectural construction and the aerospace industries. In the year 2010, Marine Concepts/JRL Ventures won the Blue Chip Business Community Award. The annual award is presented to a local business that has overcome adversity to achieve success. The stories of courage and perseverance by these businesses are an inspiration to the business community and elected officials. Marine Concepts/JRL Ventures was selected the winner because of the determined efforts of its management and employees to deal with the devastating economic downturn in the marine industry. Once down to 25 employees, Chambers reports that his company's employee base is close to 80 strong and expected to further grow in response to the demand for their products. Founded in 1975, Marine Concepts/JRL Ventures, located on Pine Island Road, celebrated its 35th anniversary in March, 2010.

	Green Industries Success
	Fafco Solar Fafco Solar is finding success in helping others to 'go green'. The company's newest product, an innovative hybrid solar air conditioner, costs about 10-percent more than a high efficiency a/c system; but the solar unit can cut the amount of electricity used in half. Four units are already installed in SW Florida. In January 2011, Fafco Solar announced the completion of a project for the new Lee County Public Safety Building. With over 236 roof-mounted solar modules and micro-inverters, this is the largest photovoltaic system at any Southwest Florida government facility. With the help of their in-house LEED certified architect, the licensed solar contractor is designing energy saving solutions for the whole house or business. Fafco is leading the way at their Cape Coral facility. Their 'green' building is equipped with the new solar air conditioner, solar panels for energy generation and solar skylights. "Small changes, like solar skylights, can make a large difference. We never flip on a light switch." says sales representative, Kelly Denmark. Fafco's power bill is approximately $60 per month. Fafco Solar has offered energy saving solutions for SW Florida for 36 years. Increased sales led Fafco to hire eight new employees within the last six months with more hiring planned.

	Life Science Success
	Ecological Laboratories Affordable commercial land, ease of construction, and proximity to their markets prompted Ecological Laboratories, Inc to move its main plant and distribution from Long Island, NY to Cape Coral. In 2008, the manufacturer of popular aquarium, pond, and wastewater treatment products completed their 4th expansion to what is now a 63,000 square foot facility. The company employs 50 people, with some variation due to production schedules. Ecological Laboratories' strategy to excelling in the current economy has been the same the company had since inception: to provide the best products and customer service in the industry. As a manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of bio-technology organisms for consumer and industrial markets, the company is in control of every step of how its products move from research and development to the consumer. Marketing Director, Matthew Richter, credits controlled growth as another factor for the company's success. Distributors and consumers in national and international markets recognize Ecological Laboratories for its leadership role in the industry. While other companies are failing, distributors are offering increased shelf space to Ecological Laboratories' hundreds of products. Read more Life Science Success Stories

City of Cape Coral Economic Development Office	City Hall 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. Cape Coral, FL 33990	P: (239) 574-0444 F: (239) 547-0452 T: (866) 573-3089	Email: ecodev@capecoral.net http://bizcapecoral.com

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