News

Lee County offers update on FEMA National Flood Insurance Program issue

04/09/2024

Lee County received a letter and an attached document from FEMA late Monday related to the National Flood Insurance Program issue. Staff subject matter experts are currently reviewing the information. Lee County Manager Dave Harner and city managers from impacted municipalities – Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, the Town of Fort Myers Beach and the Village…

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Florida continues to lower tax burden for business owners

04/08/2024

FloridaCommerce announced that thanks to Florida’s healthy economy, Florida’s Commercial Lease Sales Tax rate will be reduced from 4.5 percent to 2.0 percent, providing Florida employers with at least an estimated $1 billion in tax relief. Effective June 1, 2024, Florida business owners will have a 2.5 percent tax reduction. This reduction is a result…

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SanCap Chamber cuts the ribbon at new Sanibel Captiva Trust Company office

04/05/2024

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…

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Fort Myers Small Business class now accepting applications

04/05/2024

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…

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Lee Commissioners address FEMA National Flood Insurance Program determination

04/03/2024

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…

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Lee Commissioners continue commitment to expanding Burnt Store Road

04/03/2024

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…

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FloridaCommerce announces $910 million available to support Floridians recovering from Ian

04/03/2024

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…

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Village School of Naples launches internship and job shadowing program

04/01/2024

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…

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CRA approves commercial property improvement grants for downtown Fort Myers

04/01/2024

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…

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R.T. Rybak brings Minneapolis Foundation perspective, expertise to Islands’ renewal

03/27/2024

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…

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