After months of construction, facility maintenance company Lane Valente Industries opened its southern headquarters at Northup Drive Commerce Park near Punta Gorda Airport.
LVI, in partnership with the Charlotte County Economic Development Office, will host a grand opening and tenant open house from 1 to 4 p.m. April 24 at 8228-8238 Northup Drive.
The presence of LVI in Punta Gorda was a major accomplishment for county Economic Development Director Kay Tracy and her team, who have been instrumental in recruiting new businesses to establish roots or to expand within the county.
Daniel Martindale, vice president of national programs for LVI, said the building’s other tenants — Prestige Aluminum Fabrication LLC, Iron City Rods and Customs., Commercial Appliance Parts & Service LLC and On-Site Boat Repair — also will be part of the open house and job fair.
LVI provides construction services, remodels, design services, energy services and facility maintenance services for companies with single and multiple locations and has a presence in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Founder George Lane started the company more than three decades ago from his garage in Long Island, New York. As the company continued growing, it purchased a 10-acre parcel on the east side Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park in August 2022 for $1.53 million. It built two 21,000-square-foot and 14,000-square-foot industrial flex buildings that are now fully leased, Martindale said.
“The goal was to facilitate growth and bring the fabrication group and office team under one roof,” he said.
LVI formerly rented space in Fort Myers, but the firm was outgrowing its facility while rent was increasing. The company opted to build its own headquarters and other buildings that could be rented.
The Punta Gorda location will be LVI’s second largest office, with the largest being its corporate headquarters in Smithtown, New York.
One of LVI’s long-term clients, Bonita Springs-headquartered Herc Rentals, was the first to secure a lease at the Punta Gorda commercial park.
“They opted for a build-to-suit, 14,000-square-foot building situated on a 4-acre parcel. In June of 2024, just eight months after we broke ground, they were able to move into the new space. We have not only been able to support our client’s needs, but the move also demonstrates LVI’s commitment to fostering strong, long-term partnerships,” Martindale said.
Features of the new facility include solar-powered parking lot lighting, a dedicated 300kVA transformer to support direct current fast chargers and a half-mile walking path overlooking a lake. Additionally, the site houses a specialized training facility for the traffic division and provides 6,000 square feet of office space.
LVI plans to hire 30 employees in the next year, Martindale said.
