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.

Lee Commissioners approve expanded LeeCARES programs

The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a plan
to allocate federal CARES Act dollars for Phase 2 of its LeeCARES Business Assistance, Food Security,
and Individuals & Families assistance programs.

Applications for LeeCARES assistance programs must be completed online at https://leeflcares.com/. For residents who have questions about the application process, please call 239-533-CARE.

Goodwill, Lee County team up for Individual Assistance Program

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is partnering with Lee County to offer in-person application sites for residents seeking help with rent, mortgage or utility payments through the LeeCARES Individual Assistance Program.

Angelina’s Ristorante makes food donation to healthcare workers

In an effort to express both support and gratitude for local healthcare workers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Angelina’s Ristorante provided fine Italian meals to more than 70 healthcare workers at Lee Health Coconut Point Emergency Room department on May 27. 

SanCap Bank donates $100k to 11 not-for-profits

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s $100,000 gift will support Southwest Florida programs serving the ongoing needs of children and hunger relief efforts, including The Heights Foundation (pictured). 

Florida Rep under one roof, now has space to lease

Ahead of schedule, Florida Repertory Theatre's administrative staff has moved back to the Bradford Building in the heart of the River District.

The move leaves its newly constructed administrative offices, rehearsal halls, and a state-of-the-art kitchen in the First Street Center on First and Lee streets available for lease.

This firmly plants theatre's operations in the heart of downtown. Not only are its performance spaces located in the Bradford block, but now so are its administrative headquarters - operating out of what was formerly the Bradford Hotel lobby.

SanCap Safe guides islands recovery program

SanCap Safe, an initiative from the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, is part of an effort to help island community businesses recover from the pandemic shutdown. 

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.

June 3 Follow-up Report

FGCU awards first RESTART SWFL Seals of Confidence to local businesses

Webinar archive

• June 12 - VCB's Road to Recovery, webinar #2
• May 28 - LODGING on Demand: Getting leisure travel back on track
• May 21 - VCB's Virtual Hurricane Workshop
• May 15 - VCB's Road to Recovery webinar #1

• Lee County: LeeCARES information, COVID-19 updates, beach openings, economic recovery resource portal and United Way 211 hotline
• Lee County VCB: Virtual vacation, at-home activities, education & resources
• Lee County Economic Development: South Lee County Development Activity Map
• Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association: Highlights of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act
• Longwoods International: Travel Sentiment Study Wave 13
• MMGY Global: COVID-19 travel insights report
• Northstar Meetings Group: Bi-weekly meeting planner pulse survey
• TravelWriting 2.0: The future of press trips for travel writers and destinations