Local and State Incentives

Lee County officials have demonstrated their commitment to economic development by creating and awarding business incentives worth millions of dollars to more than a dozen companies over the past few years. Financial resources are essential to every business, which is why Lee County created the performance-based programs to attract and grow high-value business projects and promote broad-based prosperity in our community.

These programs could be available to companies that do business within particular high-impact industries and sectors that want to make a capital investment, generate a return and create new jobs here in Lee County.

This assistance is provided on a case-by-case basis, with job creation, quality of wages and capital investment as determining factors. Naturally, our state and local tax climate are also considered incentives to investing in the county.

Along with our world-class beaches and beautiful weather, Lee County has been rated the #1 Spot for Mid-Sized Economic Development (Expansion Management) and the 4th Best Business Climate in the U.S. (Inc. Magazine). So if you could do business anywhere, why would you do business anywhere else?

In addition to the county, local municipalities and the state of Florida offer a variety of incentives designed to help entrepreneurs and businesses locate and/or expand in Lee County.  Some of these are listed below.

Programs

Assistance

Amount of Funding
 

LEE COUNTY PROGRAMS

    
Lee County FIRST Performance Incentive Cash award for targeted industries paying 125% of county average and creating 75 new jobs over three years to attract and grow high value business projects.
 
Lee County Job Opportunity Program (LCJOP) for targeted industry jobs Cash Incentive Up to $6,000 per FT job created.
 
Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (IDRB)

 

 Low rate financing $3M to $10M for manufacturers (tax exempt)
 
Enterprise Zone State tax refunds and credits; local job incentive Varies depending on wages and sales taxes paid
 

CAPE CORAL PROGRAMS

    
Economic Incentive Reserve Fund Cash Incentive Up to $2,000 per full-time jobs created for certain expansions or locations with wages above the average wage; create at least 5 new full-time jobs; 75% new, current or planned Cape Coral residents.
 
Impact Fee Deferral Program Impact fee deferral Defer certain impact fees for target sectors up to 10 years; commercial & industrial shell buildings are eligible.
 
Road Impact Fee Waiver Waiver Suspends road impact fees for any business moving into an existing building; cost savings could be significant; in effect until 9-1-12
 

FLORIDA PROGRAMS

    
Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund Program (QTI) Tax refund $3,000 per FT job created in targeted markets; increased award for higher wages (15% above average wage)
 
Incumbent Worker Training Grant Existing companies and employees; No minimum wage requirement; Grant goes directly to company; no restrictions on type of training, 50/50
 
Quick-Response Training Grant Grant For new or expanding businesses, 50/50
 
Enterprise Bond Low rate financing $500,000 to $2.5m pooled industrial revenue bonds for manufacturers (tax exempt)
 
Economic Development Transportation Fund Grants for road improvements Up to $2 million to local municipality

 

For more information about available incentive programs, contact the Fort Myers Regional Partnership at 800.493.4396.