In the news

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…

FORT MYERS, Fla.  –   FutureMakers Coalition at Collaboratory and FGCU are welcoming public input into all aspects of their RFP until June 16th. All comments will become part of the public record and will be used to refine the final RFP before it is released July 1st. Florida Gulf Coast University, together with FutureMakers Coalition…

Fort Myers, FL, – The public is invited to attend an official groundbreaking ceremony for the Big Carlos Pass Bridge replacement at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 15, at the west parking area for Lovers Key State Park, on the south side of the Big Carlos Pass Bridge. The Big Carlos Pass Bridge connects the south…

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 5, creating a singular Department of Commerce in Florida to streamline and modernize Florida’s economic development agencies to meet the needs of today’s businesses. The bill:   Consolidates the responsibilities and resources of Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) into the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), which the bill…