News

Shell Factory & Nature Park announces details for final closing weekend

09/27/2024

The Shell Factory & Nature Park announces details for its final closing weekend on Sept. 27-29. Weather permitting, the park will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday through Sunday, with Nature Park admission, options for dining and discounts at the Gift Shop. The 4.5-acre Nature Park will be open for guests to…

Eikenberg lauds Everglades restoration momentum, chamber support

09/27/2024

Eric Eikenberg, The Everglades Foundation chief executive officer, gushed optimism for the long-running Everglades restoration project as speaker at the Sep. 18 SanCap Chamber business luncheon held at The Community House on Sanibel Island. “When I’m standing here at the chamber lunch in September 2030, we’re going to have champagne on every table….,” he projected completion…

FutureMakers Coalition hosts Annual Champions Meeting

09/24/2024

The 2024 Annual FutureMakers Coalition Champions Meeting was held at Collaboratory on Thursday, Sept. 12 with more than 100 CEO and C-Suite executives representing regional business leaders and educators. FutureMakers Coalition aims to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce by increasing the proportion of skilled working age adults with college degrees, workforce certificates, industry certifications and other…

USPS decides to keep processing operations in Fort Myers

09/20/2024

The United States Postal Service has announced plans to retain certain local mail originating processing operations at the Fort Myers postal facility in Fort Myers. This decision to leave those operations in Fort Myers is made possible due to a proposed operational strategy aimed at increasing efficiency, improving service quality, and saving USPS an additional…

Lee Commissioners award more than $89.25 million in grants

09/18/2024

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award $89.25 million to eight affordable housing development proposals funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery allocation to Lee County. The proposals were recommended for funding by the CDBG-DR Affordable Housing Development Evaluation Committee. The funded projects will provide…

Event registration is now open for 2024 Industry Appreciation Awards

09/18/2024

Registration is now open for the 32nd Industry Appreciation Awards. The event will take place on Friday, Oct. 25, at Caloosa Sound Convention Center in Fort Myers. Hosted by the Horizon Council, Horizon Foundation and Lee County Economic Development Office, the awards program will recognize 27 companies as finalists across nine award categories, including Large…

Edison Awards nominations open

09/16/2024

Winning an Edison Award doesn’t just mean a fancy trophy on the shelf. You’ll be joining an elite group of innovators, getting your name out there with global recognition, and tapping into some serious market visibility. Plus, you’ll have the media buzzing, gain some major marketing cred and, of course, be part of the Edison…

Suncoast Credit Union opens student-run branch at Sallie Jones Elementary School

09/16/2024

Suncoast Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of its 24th student-run branch at Sallie Jones Elementary School in Punta Gorda last week. On the first day alone, a record-breaking 70 student accounts were opened, highlighting the school community’s strong enthusiasm for financial literacy and engagement with this initiative. Sallie Jones Elementary School welcomed the new…

Shell Factory & Nature Park announces plans to permanently close, sell property

09/16/2024

After 86 years of serving the community as a family-friendly, entertainment destination, the Shell Factory & Nature Park is announcing its plans to close. The park’s final days of operation will be the weekends of Sept. 20-22 and Sept. 27-29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., after which all operations will close to the public.…

Joint Fort Myers Beach council and local planning agency meeting postponed indefinitely

09/12/2024

The joint meeting between the Town Council of Fort Myers Beach and the Local Planning Agency to discuss the Comp Plan and Land Development Code, that was proposed at the Sept. 9, Town Council Meeting is being postponed indefinitely. Town staff would like to hold at least two public hearings to hear from our residents…