In the news
SanCap Chamber cuts the ribbon at new Sanibel Captiva Trust Company office
A SanCap Chamber ribbon-cutting on Sanibel Island this week celebrated the opening of a new office location for Sanibel Captiva Trust Company at 2450 Periwinkle Way, a relocation that had been set in motion before Hurricane Ian. “Sanibel Captiva Trust has been a major financial and philanthropic attribute of the community since 2001,” said John…
Read MoreFort Myers Small Business class now accepting applications
Individuals thinking about starting their own business, but need some mentoring, are invited to apply to the Goodwill Southwest Florida MicroEnterprise Institute, scheduled for April 15 – May 23, 2024. The MicroEnterprise Institute is a six-week training program to help emerging entrepreneurs start new ventures and grow small businesses. Graduates complete a comprehensive training course and…
Read MoreLee Commissioners address FEMA National Flood Insurance Program determination
The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 2, discussed the county’s response to the FEMA verbal notification late last week that it would eliminate Community Rating System current discounts on National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premiums. The board voted to grant “any and all tools” needed by County staff to investigate and work…
Read MoreLee Commissioners continue commitment to expanding Burnt Store Road
The Lee Board of County Commissioners continued its commitment to improving Burnt Store Road voting to approve an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation and contribute $2.5 million to advance the design for the widening of the road from Van Buren Parkway north about 5.7 miles. Improvements to Burnt Store Road have been a…
Read MoreFloridaCommerce announces $910 million available to support Floridians recovering from Ian
FloridaCommerce announced more than $910 million in funding is available through four Rebuild Florida programs. Rebuild Florida programs connect eligible Floridians with disaster recovery funding and prioritize the most-impacted communities and the most vulnerable low-income individuals, including the elderly, those with disabilities and families with young children. These programs will help return Hurricane-Ian impacted Floridians…
Read MoreVillage School of Naples launches internship and job shadowing program
The Village School of Naples, an independent school serving students in preschool through 12th grade, has launched an internship and shadowing program offering opportunities for its upper school students to engage in experiential learning beyond the traditional classroom setting and embark on a possible career path. This program connects 11th and 12th grade students with…
Read MoreCRA approves commercial property improvement grants for downtown Fort Myers
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency approved two Commercial Property Improvement Matching Grants for the Downtown Redevelopment Area. In December, the CRA announced that due to a high volume of applications, the 2023-‘24 funding cycle for the Downtown Redevelopment Area was closed. However, the Board of Commissioners approved another $500,000 to add to the Downtown…
Read MoreR.T. Rybak brings Minneapolis Foundation perspective, expertise to Islands’ renewal
The desire to restore Sanibel and Captiva islands to their former splendor remains strong some 18 months into recovery from devastating Hurricane Ian. Realizing that a fresh perspective can inject energy and possibilities into the process, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI), led by CFI’s Economic Revitalization Committee, recently welcomed R.T. Rybak and his…
Read MoreCBIA announces 2024 Leadership, Associate of the Year and Builder of the Year
The Collier Building Industry Association (CBIA) recently announced its 2024 leadership members, and named its Associate and Builder of the Year. According to CBIA Executive Officer Amelia Vasquez, Nick Radick, Knauf-Koenig Group was recognized as Builder of the Year, and Mark Monastiero, UMI The Source, LLC was named Associate of the Year. The 2024 Board of Directors was…
Read MoreRobotics team wins state championship and heads to world championship
Fort Myers based FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics team, Java The Hutts, has advanced to the world championship to be held in Houston, Texas, on April 17 – 20. Java The Hutts won the overall first place Inspire Award which earns the top bid of the four allocated to Florida teams to advance to the…
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