After a tough stretch of back-to-back hurricanes, something remarkable is happening in Englewood. The Chamber of Commerce isn’t just seeing signs of recovery; they say the community has real confidence and a sense that it’s building for the long haul. Not just patching things up, but actually becoming stronger than before.
Looking at the late 2025 and early 2026 outlook, the “Englewood Strong” spirit has taken hold. Hurricanes Helene and Milton, coming after Ian, dealt a hard blow with flooding, storm surge, and serious damage. Plenty of buildings didn’t make it. But the community responded fast, working to get businesses going, to recover beaches, to jumpstart the local economy.
Much of this new confidence comes from seeing real, concrete progress. The Chamber acted right away, starting a fund to help people affected by the hurricane. That fund put over $167,000 straight into the hands of people who needed help: families, small business owners, folks facing repairs and displacement.
Chamber Executive Director Doug Izzo credits the community’s generosity, along with support from groups like Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande, with making recovery possible.
All that work paid off. The local business community bounced back quickly. Sure, Englewood’s barrier islands took a beating, but the mainland kept going. Many shops and restaurants at Manasota Key are open once again, welcoming customers and tourists.
Looking ahead to 2026, there’s a lot to feel good about. The local economy has real momentum; investment is coming in, and restaurants are busy again. Single-family building permits have even returned to pre-hurricane levels, a big sign that rebuilding isn’t stalling out.
“We’re back—better than ever—and we’re ready for visitors,” the Chamber announced, stressing that tourism isn’t just welcome; it’s crucial to fixing up beaches and parks.
The long-term outlook looks solid. Help kept pouring in from groups like World Central Kitchen and Rotary International, and the Chamber’s Hurricane Relief Fund hasn’t let up. They’re still connecting people with trustworthy local contractors to make sure repairs get done right.
Izzo summed it up this way: “This shows our community’s faith in itself. Our rebound isn’t just a blip—it’s a sign of real momentum for the future.”
