The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fort Myers has approved two rebates for major developments. One is a home ownership project in Dunbar; the other a downtown hotel.

Ecological Laboratories Inc. in Cape Coral, went from microscopic status to statewide success, making Florida’s Top 10 Manufacturing Employers list for 2025. FloridaMakes, a statewide partnership, selects 10 manufacturing employers that create thriving workplaces with connected cultures and abundant growth opportunities.

Collier County is a major step closer to getting a second Costco wholesale facility. County commissioners Tuesday approved a Costco at Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Collier Boulevard in East Naples.

Publix is allowing shoppers to open carry firearms in its Florida stores.The super market chain’s move comes after an appeals court decision in September overturned a 1987 law banning open carry. Attorney General James Uthmeier embraced the open-carry decision by a panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal as “the law of the state.”

Farmers affected by tariffs could be receiving a federal payout. President Trump announced his plan on Truth Social, stating; “We’ve made so much money on tariffs, that we are going to take a small portion of that money, and help our farmers.”Many of them rely on imports like fertilizer ingredients, machinery, fuel and pesticides, in order to grow crops. The 10% blanket tariff on imported goods has increased costs while damaging the trade relationships farmers rely on to export their products.

Florida is set to increase its minimum wage by one dollar. This is part of a constitutional amendment voters passed in 2020 that will see the minimum wage increase over the course of several years.

The infusion of cash will help create skilled workers to meet a demand in the United States

The struggles for Florida’s citrus industry continue to hit new lows. A report from the Department of Agriculture revealed that just over 14.5 million boxes were produced during the'25 growing season

Starbucks said Thursday it's closing hundreds of U.S. and Canadian stores and laying off 900 nonretail employees so it can focus resources on its turnaround plan. The Seattle coffee giant wouldn't say exactly how many stores it's closing. But the company expects to end its fiscal year this Sunday with 434 fewer stores than it had at the end of June. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said in a letter Thursday that the company is closing stores that don't have a path to financial stability or have physical spaces that don't meet customers' expectations. Starbucks said employees will be offered transfers to other locations if possible.

Collier County's tourism promoters are getting an extra $5 million to try to bring in more visitors.