In the news

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Greater Fort Myers Chamber has named its finalists for the 2023 Chamber Awards, which will be held on Thursday, July 27 at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center in downtown Fort Myers. Recognizing members for their outstanding contributions to the greater Fort Myers community, the program will feature an award ceremony to…

ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and private nonprofit organizations in Florida with economic losses due to Hurricane Ian that occurred from Sept. 23 through Nov. 4, 2022, to apply for working capital disaster loans before the June 29 deadline. Small businesses,…

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Park Royal Hospital has added 12 new beds, increasing access to treatment programs for those who are struggling with mental health concerns and substance use disorders. The facility’s expansion is a response to community needs that stem from the devastation of last year’s Hurricane Ian, a natural disaster that left many…

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced it is accepting proposals for $75 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund for projects that focus on rapidly developing a highly skilled workforce and on infrastructure initiatives that attract businesses, create jobs, and promote economic growth. Since Governor DeSantis took office in…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —  Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill (HB) 1209 to support rural development and economic opportunity by expanding opportunities for rural communities to be awarded funding through the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF). RIF is a grant program funded through the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) which supports rural communities that are planning, preparing,…

Dr. Michael V. Martin, outgoing president of Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) will step in as interim president and CEO of Collaboratory on July 1, 2023. Martin served as the institution’s fourth president since July 1, 2017. Before joining FGCU, Martin served as Chancellor Emeritus and Senior Fellow at Colorado State University. Prior to this,…

Mark Odell, PTAC Specialist at Florida Gulf Coast University announces that its June 22nd webinar at 1pm will feature Laura Maas, Deputy Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s HUBZone Program. HUBZone program The HUBZone program fuels small business growth in historically underutilized business zones with a goal of awarding at least 3% of federal…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —  Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of a $25 million bridge loan to Lee County through the Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program. The program, created in a Special Legislative Session earlier this year, is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to support government operations that may have been…

FORT MYERS, Fla., (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Oncology Network, LLC (AON) announced that six research papers, co-authored by AON physicians and the vice president of pharmacy operations, were accepted and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2023 Annual Meeting, which was held on June 2 and ended on June 6. The following abstracts…

Fort Myers, FL – Today, Goodwill Industries of SWFL in partnership with Civic Nation announced a new initiative to close the digital divide in SWFL. The new initiative aims to build awareness about the $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program, a long-term federal benefit that will help to lower the cost of broadband service and help…