| Realmark Group has committed
$50,000 to the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral for the construction
of a new chamber welcome center at the chamber’s current
location at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge.
Will Stout, president of Realmark Group, said the $50,000
commitment is a way to get other businesses in the community
to support the chamber.
“The chamber building is located at a major entrance
to the city,” Stout said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
“That building should be a marquee to welcome new businesses
and residents to the city. In that way, it has to be first
class.”
Stout said Realmark Group will give the chamber $10,000 for
its building fund up front. The other $40,000 will be given
to the chamber by matching 25 percent of any other donations,
which means other donations would have to equal $160,000 for
Realmark Group to give the entire $40,000.
The total sum of Realmark’s initial contribution, money
from other donations and money from Realmark Group to match
other donations would come to $210,000.
Mike Quaintance, chamber president, said the estimated cost
of the new building is approximately $500,000. A proposed
park and boardwalk to surround the building would cost approximately
$250,000.
Quaintance is currently in Tallahassee, finalizing negotiations
to have the land the chamber
|
building currently occupies transferred
from state to city ownership.
Quaintance said he appreciates Realmark Group’s support
and hopes it will encourage other businesses to follow suit.
“It’s for the good of the community,” Quaintance
said. “I don’t think we’re going out on
a limb to ask for help to make a gateway to Cape Coral.”
Quaintance said the chamber hopes to raise at least half of
the money needed for the project by the end of the year. At
that point, the chamber would be able to break ground on the
new building.
In addition to getting money from local businesses, Quaintance
said he hopes to get state grants to help pay for the park
and boardwalk. He said he also hopes that some of the chamber
members will be willing to donate services to the project.
Stout said he will present chamber executive director Mike
Quaintance with a giant check Thursday to represent Realmark
Group’s commitment to the community. The presentation
will take place at an invitational grand opening celebration
for the Boat House in the Marina at Cape Harbour.
The Boat House, which has been open for business for several
weeks, features indoor storage, fuel, shops, boat and yacht
sales. The Boat House is two and a half miles, by water, from
the Gulf of Mexico and is part of the new entertainment district
at the Marina at Cape Harbour. |
