News

Lee County encourages qualifying small businesses to act now to get PPE supplies; distribution site to close at end of week

06/02/2020

Fort Myers, FL, June 1, 2020 – Lee County Government will close its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) distribution site for small businesses at the end of this week and is encouraging qualifying businesses to apply now. Supplies for businesses that employ one to 25 employees will continue to be available all week. Business owners apply online at www.LeeFLcares.com;…

Lee Clerk reopens June 1 with increased safety measures

06/01/2020

FORT MYERS, FLA (May 29, 2020) – Lee County Clerk Linda Doggett has announced her offices will resume in-person court and official records services starting 8 a.m. Monday, June 1 at the Lee County Justice Center and Administration Building in downtown Fort Myers. All other locations will remain closed. “Even though our court and recording…

LeeCARES PPE for Small Businesses Program Overview

05/26/2020

Applications open May 26, 2020 Overview Lee County Government is investing $57.5 million in Human & Business Services to provide immediate assistance for individuals, families and businesses. Funds are available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act federal stimulus package. Lee County has identified $3 million in emergency support that is available…

Collier County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) at work

05/26/2020

The economic challenges of this COVID-19 pandemic era cannot be underestimated.  The unemployment figures for Florida, and the nation, say it all.  As we slowly, very slowly, return to some kind of normalcy, a new normalcy with social distancing and mask-wearing, the carnage of the effects of closing down the economy remain with us.  When…

CareerSource Southwest Florida Reopens Centers

05/25/2020

Fort Myers, Fla. (May 20, 2020) – The work search requirement waiver will expire on May 30, 2020; therefore, we are reopening our career centers effective June 1, 2020 preferably by appointment in order to assist our job seekers with job search requirements and other services. “Even though we have closed our career centers due…

State approves Lee County’s amended minimum standards for vacation rentals

05/22/2020

Fort Myers, FL, May 21, 2020 – The state today approved an amended version of Lee County’s minimum standards regarding out-of-state reservations. Pursuant to Executive Order 20-123 signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 15, and effective immediately, the following amended measures are required as minimum standards for vacation rentals throughout Lee County that are…

Airbnb Issues Safety and Anti-Party Warnings as Lee and Charlotte County Vacation Rentals Reopen

05/22/2020

Airbnb is working to support its Southwest Florida host community following the approval of Lee County and Charlotte County vacation rentals to safely reopen. And we know the reopening comes during a stretch in May that is typically worth celebrating for Floridian families — from Memorial Day weekend festivities to high school and college graduations.  Under typical…

Vantage Construction Services completes work on Florida Wood, Window and Door…

05/21/2020

Ft. Myers, Fla., May 21, 2020: Vantage Construction Services, LLC, a commercial general contractor located in Fort Myers, has completed construction of a new commercial building for Florida Wood Window and Door. The 13,500 square foot facility, located at 5691 Halifax Avenue in Fort Myers, FL, includes a first-floor showroom, warehouse, loading docks, kitchen, and…

The Immokalee Foundation awarded $25,000 Project ALICE grant to support its Career Pathways program

05/20/2020

The Immokalee Foundation has received $25,000 in funding from United Way of Collier and the Keys’ Project ALICE grant program for fiscal year 2020-21 to support the foundation’s groundbreaking initiative, Career Pathways: Empowering Students to Succeed. The United Way grants are awarded to local community impact programs that empower members classified as ALICE (Asset Limited,…

HEROES Act Important, but Short Term Solution for Small Businesses

05/16/2020

On the passage of the HEROES Act in the House today – Executive Director of the Main Street Alliance Amanda Ballantyne had this to say: “It was important for the House to pass the HEROES Act, which included immediate and necessary fixes to the Paycheck Protection Program, an expanded payroll subsidy program through the Employee Retention Tax…