Cat Country Playland at Miromar Outlets Voted Best Kids’ Play Area by Parent & Child

ESTERO, FL – (March 17, 2010) – “Cat Country Playland” at Miromar Outlets has been voted “Best Children’s Play Area” by Parent & Child magazine. The recognition was announced recently as the result of the magazine’s annual People’s Choice Awards contest. The contest was conducted with a sample ballot in the December issue of the magazine that directed its 60,000 plus monthly readers to an actual online ballot. Winners in all categories were announced in the March issue.

“Cat Country Playland” is a covered interactive open-air recreational area for kids from toddlers to twelve. It features a rubber ground surface with “Miracle Playground” and “Playtime” playground equipment. Colorful attractions for the younger children include a sand castle climber/tunnel/slide, a sailboat climber/seat, a sea turtle climber, dolphin climber, alligator climber and a red convertible sports car climber. Older children have fun on a multi-level climber, slide and tunnel structure. A “Florida beach” theme is emphasized with hand-painted floor-to-ceiling murals. Benches and tables adjacent to “Cat Country Playland” provide a place for grown-ups to relax and observe their kids at play. A schedule of free weekly arts and crafts for children, monthly birthday party celebrations, and special events makes it a popular gathering spot for socializing year round. “Cat Country Playland” is adjacent to food venues, including Subway and Bon Appetit French Bistro.

Miromar Outlets, voted Southwest Florida’s “Best Factory Outlet Shopping Center” for eleven years in a row, features over 140 great designer and brand name manufacturers’ outlet stores including Ann Taylor Factory Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Calvin Klein, Coach Factory, Cole Haan Outlet, Columbia Sportswear Company, DKNY, Esprit, GUESS Factory, J.Crew Factory, Juicy Couture, Kenneth Cole Company Store, Lacoste, Levi’s Outlet Store, Michael Kors, Movado Company Store, Neiman Marcus Last Call Store, Nike Factory Store, OshKosh B’Gosh, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Tommy Hilfiger, True Religion, White House ׀ Black Market, and many more.

Miromar Outlets is a project of Miromar Development Corporation, a multi-faceted real estate development company with a portfolio of residential and commercial properties including the nearby Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club and Miromar Design Center. www.Miromar.com.

Miromar Outlets is located at exit 123 off I-75, on Miromar Outlets Boulevard in Estero, between Naples and Fort Myers, across from Miromar Design Center. Store hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.MiromarOutlets.com. ###

- Contributed by Vivian Dawson, Miromar Development Corp.

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Collier EDC announces seminar

The Economic Development Council of Collier County (EDC) announces an upcoming business seminar, “Financing Your Business in Today’s Economy.” The program takes place on Tuesday, April 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Naples Daily News Community Room, 1100 Immokalee Road.

There are a number of financing options available for qualified companies. A team of experts have been aligned to review these options and determine if a company meets the criteria to participate. In addition, representatives from SCORE are available to counsel CEOs and business owners who might need additional assistance.

The team of experts includes Tim Cartwright, Gulf Coast Venture Forum, to discuss venture capital; J.J. Miranda, Fifth Third Bank, to present loans available through the Small Business Administration; Don Pickworth, ,P.A. , to provide a synopsis of the Recovery Bonds Program and revenue bond financing available through the Industrial Development Authority; and, Duane Lewis, BBIF, to explain the Economic Gardening Loan program for second stage growth companies.

“There are quite a few financing options available to businesses in Collier County. This seminar provides participants with the knowledge to determine which opportunity is best suited to their business,” said Tim Cartwright, “Using capital efficiently inside of your enterprise is crucial in this tight economy and choosing the right financing option is part of that equation. New alternatives such as Recovery Zone Bonds and Economic Gardening loans are attractive and deserve attention from CEOs and their Boards.”

Space is limited; please register in advance by calling the EDC at 239-263-8989 ext. 105 or on-line at www.eNaplesFlorida.com. The cost for EDC investors is $15.00 and non-investors are $20.

- Contributed by Economic Development Council of Collier County

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Gulfshore Insurance marks 40 years

Gulfshore Insurance, Inc. (www.GulfshoreInsurance.com) announces its 40th anniversary of moving beyond insurance to provide individuals and businesses across Florida trusted risk management solutions and coverage from the finest insurance carriers in the world.

In March 1970, a dedicated group of risk advisors came together to offer insurance coverage to the Southwest Florida area. Now forty years later, Gulfshore Insurance has become your trusted risk advisor, employing over 90 individuals in four offices and proudly providing risk management solutions and insurance coverage to more than 10,000 businesses and personal clients.

Gulfshore’s foundation is built upon a tradition of integrity, community involvement, industry leadership, and excellence – core values by which the company lives and works. At the heart of the agency’s success is a devotion to client relationships. Gulfshore is focused on continuing to build strong, long-lasting relationships to help its clients obtain a better return on their investment through proper implementation and management of their insurance programs.

As Gulfshore Insurance celebrates this milestone, it will continue to focus on building relationships and trust with clients, staff, and stakeholders alike. Several special events and programs are planned throughout 2010 to commemorate this milestone. To learn more, please visit www.GulfshoreInsurance.com.

- Contributed by Gulfshore Insurance

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After all, it’s your business.

So we have added this feature to naplesnews.com called It’s Your Business.

Have news about your business to share with Southwest Florida? Send it to business@naplesnews.com and to our Business and Government Content Editor Dave Osborn at djosborn@naplesnews.com. We’ll post these on the Business page at naplesnews.com every day and will publish these as space allows in the daily Business section and Business Monday in the Naples Daily News. Start watching online daily for these postings!