The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau’s weekly newsletter is your resource for news and best practices to help you navigate COVID-19 in the days and weeks ahead.

LeeCares transparency dashboard

Lee County Government is investing in Human & Business Services to provide immediate assistance for individuals, families and businesses. Funds are available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act federal stimulus package. The county is keeping you updated on the amount of applications/calls received as well as funds distributed through its new transparency dashboard.

Please note, individual assistance applications will reopen 8 a.m. on Monday, June 15. Small business relaunch assistance applications will close 5 p.m. Friday, June 12 and are anticipated to reopen on Monday, June 22 if funds are still available.

Complete the VCB's industry partner COVID-19 survey today

By completing the survey linked below, the VCB will gather important data that will assist us in marketing and promoting your business to visitors and the media. The more information the VCB has from our Tourism Partners, the better we can effectively market our beautiful destination.

RESTART SWFL pledges to help businesses restore consumer confidence

RESTART SWFL is an initiative by Florida Gulf Coast University's Lutgert College of Business to help small businesses re-enter the marketplace and assist with helping businesses overcome the current lack of consumer confidence.

The program includes panels for health, business and ethics for local businesses. Upon completion of two of the panels and agreeing to a pledge of principles, businesses will receive a logo/seal of confidence to display at their business and website to show they meet or exceed health standards.

FGCU awards first RESTART SWFL Seals of Confidence to local businesses

April 1 Coronavirus Economic Impact Report

May 12 Follow-up Report

June Southwest Florida Regional Economic Indicators Report

Cape Coral rolls out business assistance program

In response to COVID-19 and its impact on businesses, the Cape Coral Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) recently established a loan program to assist businesses with rent or mortgage assistance. The CRA is investing in businesses located within the CRA special taxing district that were negatively impacted due to closures and other restrictions as a result of the pandemic.

Sanibel Shells Facebook group paints shells for Lee Health heroes

Sanibel Shells, a local Facebook group with the mission to share happiness and love for shells through the simple gesture of painting shells and then hiding them on Sanibel and Captiva for others to find, gifted hand-painted seashells with thank you messages for those working hard on the front lines at Lee Health.

Lee County accommodations going the extra mile to ensure guest safety

Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina has outlined extensive standards of cleanliness and hygiene including, scanning rooms with an ultraviolet sanitizer wand by the exiting housekeeper after cleaning the room.

Drury Hotels ensures a clean, safe stay, so you can Travel Happy® again. The hotels will continue to offer the free hot breakfast and 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Kickback amenities with complimentary hot food and cold beverages – all provided in a grab and go format.

Webinar archive:

• May 15 - VCB's road to recovery webinar #1
• May 21 - VCB's virtual hurricane workshop
• May 28 - LODGING on Demand: getting leisure travel back on track

• Lee County: LeeCares information, COVID-19 updates, beach openings, economic recovery resource portal and United Way 211 hotline
• Lee VCB: Virtual vacation, at-home activities, education & resources
• Enterprise Florida: Microfinance guarantee program
• Longwoods International: Travel Sentiment Study Wave 13
• MMGY Global: COVID-19 travel insights report
• Northstar Meetings Group: Bi-weekly meeting planner pulse survey
• We Travel Forward: Create hotel gift card for consumers