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Southwest: Diversifying in Paradise
Innovative approaches to development, incentives and hiring yield positive results.
LEE COUNTY
Taking a positive approach: Lee County has earned a spot on the CNNMoney.com list of the “Top 25 Best Counties in America” in which to land a job. The ranking is based on factors such as job growth rate over an 8-year period, affordable commercial real estate, low corporate taxes and attractive tax incentives. From 2000 to 2008, Lee County achieved a job growth rate of 56.5%. “Even in these tough economic times, Lee County has not taken the position of hunkering down and circling the wagons,” says Lee County Commission Chairman Ray Judah. “We have been very assertive, positive and progressive on a number of fronts.”
Cape Coral: More Developments » A global marketing firm, Axcion, moved to Cape Coral from Arkansas in February 2009 after buying local company Alvion LLC. Axcion, which received city incentive funding, has about 30 employees, including 19 previous Alvion staffers. » Acology Rx Compounding expanded to a larger Cape Coral retail site in April 2009 with help from the city of Cape Coral Economic Development Office. » Turbine Generator Maintenance Inc. moved its headquarters to larger office space in Cape Coral early in 2009. |
- Gartner Inc., a top information technology research and advisory company, plans to add 200 employees to its existing 346-member staff and build a new $13.5-million, 70,000-square-foot building in Gateway, north of Southwest Florida International Airport (one of the top U.S. airports in terms of growth) and east of Interstate 75. In return, Gartner will receive more than $350,000 in FIRST funds along with state and other county incentives.
- Paramount Transportation Logistics announced in June 2009 it will move its headquarters and service center to Fort Myers and hire 100 employees in the process in exchange for $360,000 from the FIRST fund as well as state incentives.
- Cancer test lab NeoGenomics in June 2009 announced plans to expand its corporate headquarters by 75 employees by 2012, thus doubling its workforce with new jobs that will pay annual salaries of $60,000 or more. Incentives include a state/county Qualified Tax Incentive worth $300,000, plus $315,000 from the county’s Job Opportunity Program.
Growing concern: LYNX Services, announced in late 2008 that it will add up to 100
Into the pool: The ity of Cape Coral is spending $50,000 on a feasibility study for building an aquatic center and hotel. Officials from Texas-based National Swimming Center Corp. and sanctioning body USA Swimming hope to get $10 million from Lee County, plus land and $5 million from Cape Coral to help underwrite the $30-million project. Backers are aiming for completion in time to host the swim trials that will precede the 2012 Olympic Games.
