Aquarium considered for downtown Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda has started a campaign to see if it’s feasible to have an aquarium downtown.
City Council this week kicked in $9,500 to nurture a deal to bring in a Mote Marine aquarium.
Next, Charlotte County Economic Director Tom Patton will ask the Enterprise Charlotte Economic Council and county commission to contribute, according to Mote’s local project coordinator, Tom Kerr of Punta Gorda.
Mote seeks $35,000 in local government support to help accomplish tasks that must be completed before Mote’s board of trustees can commit to developing the aquarium, Kerr said.
The tasks include:
• $5,000 to undertake a three-month architect selection process. Mote is preparing to mail a request for proposals to local architects.
• $5,000 to conduct a petition drive to gauge local support. About 2,000 people have signed the petition to date.
• $25,000 to hire the capital campaign consultant Changing Our World. The consultant would evaluate the project’s potential for drawing donations from corporate sponsors, philanthropic groups and wealthy individuals to fund construction.
• $5,000 to draft a business plan.
A Mote aquarium won’t pay property taxes because it’s a nonprofit organization.
Despite that, the public’s investment should produce a substantial return “not only for the city but also the county as a whole,” City Manager Howard Kunik said Wednesday.
He cited economic impact studies by the Charlotte Harbor Visitors & Convention Bureau and the Charlotte County Economic Development Office.
The bureau estimated the direct and indirect economic surge due at $43 million per year. That’s based on projections the aquarium would draw about 400,000 visitors per year including 25 percent who would stay overnight.
The economic development office also estimated the aquarium would create 60 onsite jobs and another 25 offsite jobs at supply businesses, restaurants and grocery stores.
Combined, the 85 jobs would garner $31 million in payroll over 10 years, according to the development office’s study.
“More than that it will help springboard development on the rest of the former City Marketplace property,” Kunik said.
He pointed out PGI Marketplace, the group that recently acquired the 7-acre former City Marketplace site, is negotiating to sell 1.4 acres to Mote for the aquarium. The remainder of the site would then be ripe for development.
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