Moore About Business

Steve Shimp, Chair of Lee County’s Independent Sales Surtax Oversight Committee, or ISSOC, recently gave an update on the half penny sales tax that was passed as a referendum in 2018. The half penny sales tax was meant to fund the acquisition, construction, renovation, equipping and financing of public school facilities and technology for ten years.

Business reporter Karen Moore discussed workforce development and company relocations to Southwest Florida with Lee County Economic Development director John Talmage.

Dave Gammon, director of the Charlotte County Economic Development Office, spoke to a group of business professionals about the surge in growth of commercial development throughout the county.

Fort Myers Beach community members and strategic partners attended a planning meeting held by town officials and the FEMA Community Assistance Team.

Gerald Hendry, managing partner of the real estate appraisal firm Maxwell, Hendry and Simmons in Fort Myers, recently used a Halloween analogy regarding the scary and the sweet sides of commercial real estate in Southwest Florida.

Collier County includes some of the most affluent communities in the country. With that status brings many challenges to the building industry. Recently, a panel of construction industry experts shared their thoughts with a local audience of business professionals.

You can look at the economic impact of Hurricane Ian from a variety of perspectives. Recently, Lee County Manager Dave Harner and Collier County Manager Amy Patterson shared their views with an audience of local business leaders at The Chamber of Southwest Florida.

Jeff Mielke, Executive Director of Lee County Sports Development, recently talked to local business community leaders about the impact of sports tourism on the local economy. He started with a comparison of this year’s statistics to 2022, which he said was heading towards a record year.

Local community leaders recently shared where things are now and what the future holds for Southwest Florida’s barrier islands.

It’s a global movement geared towards business owners that’s been around for a decade, and it’s coming to Southwest Florida. Karen Moore attended her first F.U. Night and fills us in on what it’s all about.