Demographics for the Southwest Region can be found at Business Florida's interactive map of Florida. |
Southwest Florida Resources:
Universities/Colleges
• Edison State College
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• Hodges University
Airports
• Charlotte County Airport
• Naples Municipal Airport
• Southwest Florida
International Airport |
Encompassing nearly 4,000 square miles and just three counties — Charlotte, Lee and Collier — Florida’s Southwest is one of the state’s fastest growing and most prosperous regions.
Over the last 20 years, Lee County has nearly doubled its population — the number of residents rose by close to 20,000 in 2007 alone — and Lee’s Cape Coral/Fort Myers MSA was the 3rd fastest growing metro area in the U.S. between 2000 and 2006. Furthermore, a University of Florida study reports that Collier jobs pay the highest wages of any of Florida’s 67 counties, and the Naples-Marco Island MSA ranks No. 4 nationally for personal income.
New Focus: While this region’s 100 miles of sandy coastal beaches, fishing, golf, tennis and other recreational opportunities continue to draw residents seeking a laid-back lifestyle, economic developers are increasingly turning their focus to recruiting, retaining and expanding life sciences, computer technology and other targeted high-impact industry sectors.
“There is a need to attract high-paying industries to diversify the regional economy,” says Dr. Richard Pegnetter, founding dean of the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University in Lee County.
#2 Cape Coral-Fort Myers
America’s Fastest-Growing Large Metro 2008 — Forbes
#10 Naples-Marco Island
America’s Fastest-Growing Small Metro 2008 — Forbes
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With that in mind, a Southwest Florida chapter of BioFlorida — the statewide non-profit bioscience organization aimed at growing the life sciences industry in Florida — was formed in 2008.
In addition, some 159 technology leaders representing 94 business, science and academic organizations attended a launch meeting for the Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership in May 2008. The purpose of the partnership is to “broaden the economic base, deepen the local talent pool, attract new value-added businesses and help make our area the next hot spot,” says architect Ken Barnhill, who was instrumental in the group’s formation.
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