With yesterday’s event fresh in everyone’s mind, I wanted to pass along some of my thoughts about the Project Innovation initiative.  Whether you attended the meeting or read or heard about it through local news outlets, I am sure you would agree that it is important for this program to be gaining speed because it can only bring positive change for our area.  How could there be any downside to a diverse set of minds coming together to address local economic issues and work to create viable solutions and economic sustainability? 

For those of you that are not up to speed on Project Innovation, it is an initiative that was launched last year by the EDC Board that has brought together community business people in somewhat of a think-tank concept to generate solutions for economic matters facing Collier County.  A number of volunteers from across the county, representing both non-profit and for-profit organizations, were divided into specific actionable improvement areas including: innovation, quality of place, talent, business climate, infrastructure and governance.   Within each of these areas items were proposed and are already underway like the Bayshore Redevelopment Master Plan, the Children’s Museum of Naples, the Gordon River Greenway, Heritage Trail, Immokalee Regional Airport Master Plan, STEM Council, Tamiami Angel Fund and a regional branding campaign. 

Under the program, any new idea brought up by the community that is determined to be of area interest can be added in an effort to improve our local economy.  For example, there was a new suggestion brought up at the meeting yesterday that will likely take hold.  A local remodeler was discussing how she sees a lot of excess waste of very good household items and building materials in her line of work that she felt could be reused and recycled.  She wasn’t sure what the solution would be, but she felt that the community should address this as an area of improvement.  The point was very well received and will likely become an action item for the group.  How exciting and energizing to see this type of open thinking being embraced and taken seriously by the business community! 

There were many other relevant points made that if addressed properly can help Collier County remain as an economic leader going forward.  It doesn’t matter if you are older or younger, a long time resident or new to the area, it is critical that we have this type of civic communication occurring, especially with the hardships and economic disturbance that has overwhelmed our country the past few years. 

I am sure I am not alone in the opinion that this program represents the engaging and innovative nature of Collier County and makes me proud to be a part of such a forward thinking area!