Notes from Charlotte County, Florida

PUNTA GORDA IN TOP TEN

DATE LINE: 09/24/2008 - Charlotte County, Florida

By BOB FLISS
Charlotte Sun Herald Business Editor

Punta Gorda has been picked as one of the top 10 "Best Healthy Places to Retire" by U.S. News & World Report, largely on the strength of its affordability and outdoor recreation opportunities.

And no great surprise, local business boosters are already working this national recognition into their marketing plans.

"Punta Gorda has a lot that typically draws retirees to Florida. Warm winters, plenty of golf courses, and costs that are lower than many states up north. It also has a slower pace, perhaps to a fault, with little night life and not even a movie theater," U.S. News reported.

The magazine also highlighted Punta Gorda's somewhat unusual mix of waterfront attractions.

"This is no Florida beach town," the story opened. But even without a beach, the boating and fishing are "world class." The prospect of a two-mile walkway along the Peace River was also mentioned.

"Even better, we were the only place in Florida picked," said John Wright, president of the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce.

U.S. News even mentioned a relatively new downtown Punta Gorda business, The Yoga Sanctuary. The exercise studio won "Small Business of the Year" honors at the chamber's annual awards banquet Sept. 19.

The story appears both in the Sept. 29 issue of the magazine and online at www.usnews.com.

"We know that visitors often turn into homeowners — and taxpayers, and ultimately retirees," said Becky Bovell, executive director of the Charlotte County Visitors Bureau.