Charlotte County plans news business venture for past criminals

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla.- People with past criminal records will be given the opportunity to become entrepreneurs.

Punta Gorda and Charlotte County plan to open a community garden, but this type of garden won’t be a typical one.

Employees of the community garden will be those who have trouble finding a job, like past criminals. Employees will grow vegetables and fruit, then sell them. Any money made and food that wasn’t sold, they will get to keep.

The City of Punta Gorda has $45,000 to fund the project. The city will manage the community garden for three years.

“It would help the community and those who have been in trouble before like ex-felons who can’t be hired,” said Pastor Isaac Thomas of the St. Mary Primitive Baptist Church.

The proposed location of the garden is across from the Charlotte High School. Pastor Thomas says these past criminals will now be given a second chance of pursuing a career.

“We don’t look at them as felons or criminals, I look at them as people who’ve made mistakes like you and I,” said Thomas.