Small Business The Heartbeat of Marco Island

As we recover from two storms which have greatly decreased the number of tourists coming to Southwest Florida, coupled with a significant decrease in future travel bookings, I want to encourage all Marco Islanders to support our local small businesses.  These businesses are the heartbeat of Marco Island and their owners are our neighbors who employ our residents and support our economy. Without our great restaurants, outfitters, and shops, Marco Island would cease to be the wonderful, thriving destination that it is.

The combination of businesses, part-time residents and vacation homes pay 70% of our Island’s taxes; therefore, when/if a local business loses revenue or worse yet, closes its doors, that means the subsidized homesteaded residents, who currently pay the other 30%, will be getting a tax increase.

So this is the ask of my fellow residents: please go out for breakfast with a friend or have coffee with a neighbor; plan an afternoon of mini putt, boating or jet skiing. Buy a friend a Marco Island hat for their birthday or a gift certificate from one of our great restaurants or shops. 

Another way you can support small businesses is by voting for Rich Blonna, Deb Henry, Becky Irwin and Bonita Schwan to the Marco Island City Council. They understand the economy of Marco Island, the plight of its business owners and will ensure a prosperous and happy future for all residents. Other candidates in this race have voiced an anti-business sentiment and do not seem to appreciate the hard-working families who are business owners on our island. We cannot let that sentiment flourish.

Please support small business and our Island’s economy by voting for Blonna, Henry, Irwin and Schwan in the November election.