Could Immokalee become a center for innovative solutions to alternative energy production and creative uses of our nation's waste stream? 

A Wisconsin-based company thinks it just might. 

The Growth Design Corporation, based in Milwaukee but far-ranging in pursuits and interests, met with Immokalee's planners February 15th and suggested the community could be place where pioneering steps are taken efforts as diverse as indoor organic tomato production to the conversion of organice waster into bio-methane gas or fertilizer. 

"We have access to technology that can turn plastic (waste) into above-crude grade (oil) for less than $10 a barrel," said Growth Design's Byron Tweeten, a third-generation Iowa farmer, business man and part-time Naples resident. "It can also produce a synthetic fiber that Wal-Mart is very interested in." 

Growth Design's interest in renewable and sustainable energy resources has grown out of the creation of its Center for Environmental Stewardship, the result of its work over many years with faith-based organizations who are now coming to recongize the responsibility humankind has in caring for and sustaining the Earth's resources. 

Tweeten and his Growth Design team have been quietly meeting with a number of groups in Southwest Florida, including Collier County commissioners and senior county staff, engaging the community in the possibility of investing in a public-private partnership to build, among other installations, waste-to-energy plants. 

Locating such installations in Immokalee makes sense because of the community's relatively inexpensive land, young and energetic workforce and a wide range of economic incentives. 

The attraction of Immokalee to innovative solutions to today's major problems is just one of the many reasons why Immokalee is "Florida in the 21st Century." 

 All businesses struggle in the beginning but IMMBIZ wants to help new and growing Immokalee businesses take advantage of U.S. government policies inteneded to give businesses a boost. 

That's why IMMBIZ, the Immokalee Business Development Center, offered a workshop Saturday, February 18, to help small business learn how to qualify for government contracts awarded under Section 3 of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) project guidelines. 

Section 3 of the HUD policies require government contracts be given, where ever possible, to businesses owned by low-income and struggle business owners and business owners in a community where HUD is providing funds for projects. 

Call 239-867-4121 for more information or emai: RosemaryDillon@Immokalee.biz. 

Click here to read more about Section 3 of the HUD policies. 

IMMBIZ also recently signed an agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide training and assistance to small business owners. 

 SPECIAL FROM THE NAPLES DAILY NEWS: 

 For the first time in years and years, Immokalee will have a single vote in the Florida House of Representatives and U.S. Rep Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, returns as Immokalee's man in Washington, D.C. 

The Florida Legislature approved Feb. 9 with a vote of the Florida Senate a final - maybe - map of Florida reapportioned congressional and state house districts. 

The caveat, “maybe,” keeps slipping into the conversation because no sooner had the final vote been taken than lawsuits and rumors of lawsuits also began swirling. The Legislature’s redistricting plan must pass muster by the Florida Supreme Court, the U.S. Justice Department and must survive lawsuits to be filed a number of groups who will say the state lawmakers did not comply with requirements of the Fair Districts constitutional amendments approved overwhelmingly by Florida voters in 2010. 

The Legislature is required by law to redraw district lines every 10 years, two years after the decennial census, which in 2010 gave Florida two additional congressional districts. 

Under the redistricting plan approved in Tallahassee for the next 10 years, Immokalee will become part of an expanded congressional district now represented by Congressman Diaz-Balart, who served Immokalee and eastern Collier County from 2002 to 2010, when he moved to another district based mostly in Hialeah and Doral. 

With the new plan, Diaz-Balart’s current district is expanded to reach eastern Collier County, Immokalee and extended into Hendry County. 

“We are excited," said Diaz-Balart. "I am very happy to be returning to Immokalee. I’ve continued to keep in touch with Immokalee and Everglades City and I’m thrilled to be returned as your congressman.” 

The new plan also combines Immokalee, eastern Collier and much of Hendry County, including LaBelle and Clewiston, into a single district in the Florida House of Representatives now represented by State Rep. Matt Hudson, R-Naples. 

For at least 20 years, Immokalee was split between the seat now held by Hudson and a district now represented by State Rep. Denise Grimsley, R-Sebring, and before her State Rep. Joe Spratt of LaBelle. Grimsley, ending her statutorily limited 8 years in the state house will seek election to the Florida Senate in a district that will stretch from Lakeland to Clewiston, from Port Charlotte over to I-95 on the east coast. 

Immokalee will continue to be included in an expansive Florida Senate district now held by State Sen. Larcenia Bullard, D-Miami. That district will continue to stretch from the Florida Keys to Hendry County. 

Maps of the new districts are available here in Google Maps and other media. NOTE: don't be confused by district numbers as cited on the maps. The district numbers may change, slightly.