Did you know? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Florida has 8,436 miles of coastline. According to the Office for Coastal Management, approximately 15 million people live in coastal portions of the state out of the total population of 19.6 million in Florida. Florida’s coral reefs provide millions of dollars in protection to buildings and the local economy every year—almost $600 million to the peninsula and over $75 million to the Florida Keys every year. As a leading Florida based contractor for over 20 years, we are passionate about protecting our beaches, reefs, oceans, and precious marine life. Our ecosystem is extremely valuable in so many ways.
On March 7, our staff and crews participated in a beach cleanup at South Beach on Marco Island. It was a fantastic opportunity to partner with the City of Marco Island Beach & Coastal Resources Advisory Committee (BchCRAC) and the Marco Island Sail & Power Squadron! Each month, volunteers, community members and businesses walk the beach from South Beach to Tigertail Beach, picking up trash and debris.
“At Venture, we believe that actively getting involved in the community is integral. Beach clean-ups are an amazing opportunity to witness first-hand the effects of plastic pollution. There’s a big difference between seeing photos of it online and witnessing it in real life. We are committed to reducing waste and eliminating use of single-use plastics whenever possible,” says Stephen Shanton, CEO and president, Venture Construction Group of Florida.
The BchCRAC mission is to keep the City Council updated on current conditions of Marco Island’s approximately 7 miles of Gulf beaches; advise them on environmental matters relating to the beach; recommend future services to maintain the high quality of the beach for residents, visitors and the valued natural resources. BchCRAC’s mission is to raise public awareness of beach issues, rules and projects. The Marco Island Beach Steward program is part of the solution for regular monitoring and educational outreach. Learn more and get involved! Check out the Marco Island Beach Cleanup calendar!
