[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6389959,"mediaKeyId","2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c","parentId",2112889,"title","Fort Myers staff outline Spin micromobility pilot, demo rides planned","audioSeconds",183,"startMs",5834000,"endMs",6017000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c&start=5834&end=6017","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c/thumbnail_5834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6389959/Fort-Myers-City/Lee-County/Florida/Fort-Myers-staff-outline-Spin-micromobility-pilot-demo-rides-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389959-abf1cb23c50f3ba850907fac7a3d798a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445431&Signature=e5a~iOB-f9pz-4dKXzN2mxMwKJw60HR~1xT2sHjX8-6CLXQ7scnNYsQvar5f-3Hdxy1YL-nlYqjlrKbOFVDNwddtRp1U8qRWvBLZGmOvZVaSPMgtfrtb29BcVSk6bHdu6H8UNTiEIbF6n4e7AlUCVVpdGsC9mwvKsHdlINr1ltTPry0D2Ii2IxzITJeafNcAY94wj0B0DY3Ieimp5CUGAQ0czn4MCwXDmjrRA34ZdIt0fsacya53ylJVIC3ybSCthwrW6e03fXkYbJ8Y87oXd6IMG-9oBBYYfcbQr2BTRH9lCO83~iL5GZtgHY6G870K~vnVbHSFlLLYWi2WC7Vzkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fort Myers, FL","date","2025-01-10T00:00:00Z","article","City staff updated the Economic Development Advisory Board on Jan. 10 that the city is moving forward with a one‑year micromobility pilot with Spin and planned demonstration rides for council, staff and the public.

Staff described the pilot as a downtown‑focused deployment with geofencing to regulate vehicle speeds by location and time; examples cited: 15 mph in some corridors, automatic reductions to 8 mph in congested areas, and system geofences that can stop operations in no‑ride zones. Staff said Spin expects an initial fleet in the low hundreds of vehicles distributed across downtown and that the operator will run outreach and voluntary training events ahead of full rollout.

Nut graf: The vendor will bring equipment for public demo rides, staff said, and the board was invited to attend. The pilot is intended to test market demand and vehicle mix (stand‑up vs. sit‑down scooters and seated models) and runs for one year under a contracted arrangement.

Board members asked about liability, sidewalk use and enforcement; staff said users register through the app and accept terms and that enforcement would be handled by usual partners (police bicycle enforcement downtown). Staff emphasized demos and public education to encourage adoption and safe use.

Ending: Staff said demo rides and outreach will be scheduled in February and that the program will be monitored and adjusted in response to usage data and community feedback; no formal city budget action was taken at the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fort Myers Economic Development Advisory Board Meeting 01/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff said Spin will run a one‑year micromobility pilot in downtown Fort Myers with demo rides planned in February; the vendor will use geofencing to vary speeds and no city financial commitment was approved at the meeting.","taxTitle","Fort Myers City, Lee County, Florida","taxId",4535,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389963,"City says Fort Myers has joined Film Florida; staff reports inquiries from national production firms",271,3172000,3443000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c&start=3172&end=3443","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c/thumbnail_3172000.jpg","/articles/6389963/Fort-Myers-City/Lee-County/Florida/City-says-Fort-Myers-has-joined-Film-Florida-staff-reports-inquiries-from-national-production-firms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389963-71211001c83e611d61acd25f71286469/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445431&Signature=VU8IhUoxCveuVDBzkUr~9xRPy8SSXeUZHQcjBCmwsQoFcbRkTBvXoWf0chsR3i8wmoPPCjsmbHLG7KWvp0n-QyaYjkgXbyQt2cfnPUTg1~5Zcw-pV~fWxslsx-p6MOLBcFanbZzf5ZVhW3oa0PXG7CdJbBpk26GKbzJwXuCHIknYmfuMquK~HsHIC6w2Lp9xB8GGyW1WWgOh22empi8OxeagEq4LTwB-vmHuNQoMSZdNXT6Ypp66tbhky2CcJKvudTiASODCQyJdFfATuyZS2Jj1j56xGGofZPTj8~u3ngWBtvrhkt8PJLYv2~jYIzEqm4IvL0aDjutBfF1XldIE3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff reported at the Jan. 10 Economic Development Advisory Board meeting that Fort Myers has joined Film Florida to better market local sites to producers and scouts.

The staff update said Film Florida provides site‑location tools and that a production inquiry from a national advertiser (DEWALT Tools) followed after the city joined the statewide group; staff said DEWALT contacted the city and that staff connected them with local contractors that have active construction sites. The update also said a California‑based studio operator has expressed interest in a smaller, modern studio footprint downtown and planned an in‑person site visit later in January.

Nut graf: The city is taking a low‑cost approach to cultivating film activity — membership in Film Florida and outreach to local contractors and property owners — while the communications team will correct a dead link on the Film Florida listing that the statewide group identified as a problem.

Staff asked the board to help by reviewing city pages and providing a single‑page entry that Film Florida can link to; staff said a civic website migration (new fortmyers.gov addresses and an upcoming ERP/Oracle conversion) requires coordination with IT and communications before new pages are posted. No financial incentives for film production were proposed during the meeting.

Ending: Staff said they will continue outreach to Film Florida and to production contacts; board members offered to help promote location tours and local production opportunities.

","City staff told the EDAB that Fort Myers recently joined Film Florida and that the city has fielded production interest including a possible DEWALT commercial and a California company exploring a downtown studio; staff also flagged a dead link on the Film Florida listing that the city will correct.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389968,"EDAB schedules April workshop on incentives, hears Enterprise Center and land‑use constraints",2578,1528000,4106000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c&start=1528&end=4106","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c/thumbnail_1528000.jpg","/articles/6389968/Fort-Myers-City/Lee-County/Florida/EDAB-schedules-April-workshop-on-incentives-hears-Enterprise-Center-and-landuse-constraints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389968-4ee6665e2868945a67ba15e04d5e4bf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445431&Signature=bCGHDDWyfXRrfyXM3aUeh-YsBbUKJevfPoWYmmQojh8X8sdGoOikqdJbzfq12quGmqhlm5BcnqJK~qMsCsBr~~eHQ21q~hUfTO53cokWfHslv9sqh7V0AarAxYG8It2MFkvY3xB6Ns242UvPY489MpeMd4F4AFB7PHzhR9Fq8jqnZM5UelJzy6Xu~4o9QGxb7DGmzUFm-fP~~xFK6A-KZfIK-diZ5oDuOiNFPOCO5nMxIiFuO4ECSjesiDg-jORoXcYIb4ShkmxIVulFt4jh67PqOVdJKMoX8Rl4KbDlr4owq7hUwwgzBHhvVOuxZueUQG8sFZ4B0UboiliRQFN3GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Fort Myers Economic Development Advisory Board voted to reserve its April meeting for a workshop on incentives and possible development investments after a lengthy Jan. 10 discussion about incentives, available industrial space and constraints tied to federal grant agreements.

\"We have to correct that right now\" was how a staff member described the Enterprise Center's current restrictions, explaining the property’s occupancy rules trace back to an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant. The staff member said the EDA agreement limits tenants to Enterprise Center participants and that a formal release from the EDA would be required to permit nonparticipating commercial tenants.

Nut graf: Board members used the discussion to explore proactive economic‑development tools — expedited permitting, targeted fee waivers or an investment-style deal‑closing fund — and agreed to devote their April meeting to drafting recommendations to present to city council.

Board members and staff said the market has little vacant industrial product of the scale Midwest Food Bank and others are seeking; staff reported most new activity has been redevelopment rather than greenfield industrial supply. During the discussion members proposed several tools used by other municipalities: a limited deal‑closing fund to underwrite feasibility or environmental studies, performance bonds or staged fee waivers tied to job‑creation milestones, and pre‑permitting targeted city parcels so prospective tenants face lower startup lead time.

The board approved the motion to reserve April for a workshop by voice vote. During the discussion the board also acknowledged EDA‑grant timing constraints on altering Enterprise Center tenant rules and noted that correcting the restriction could require EDA release or waiting until the EDA agreement expires (staff estimated the agreement runs until about the end of 2026). No binding funding commitments were made at the meeting.

Ending: The board passed the April‑workshop motion and asked staff to invite relevant department directors and outside brokers to a future joint session to develop concrete, council‑level recommendations.

","The Economic Development Advisory Board voted to reserve its April meeting for a workshop on possible city incentives and development 'investments' after extended discussion of Enterprise Center tenant rules (EDA grant conditions), limited available industrial property and strategies such as fee waivers and deal‑closing funds.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6389973,"Midwest Food Bank outlines growth, space needs during Fort Myers EDAB meeting",1086,322000,1408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c&start=322&end=1408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112889-9f19d895ef52c8ec4219dda96b109a4c/thumbnail_322000.jpg","/articles/6389973/Fort-Myers-City/Lee-County/Florida/Midwest-Food-Bank-outlines-growth-space-needs-during-Fort-Myers-EDAB-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6389973-5a8d9fb568f0bf7f461d6e1cd6b37189/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445431&Signature=b3YJQdpAYDkHrFG2ooCgJucs4NlYdxRqsoNDB1JSxxNqlv852cIHw7q6CAGn9oWjJERCSzCeeF7d~R-~8qAwJBZkT1n2hoJaJqkVm67ZQGshsXp-il5voObWk7pckp6YBbiTmuTNNKYdvVzOCnbnHuloytGBuNx770lE-uG~tjov4DRTWSKMRrGdssahdbhdJpAfHB45bGkIYxH-VAabQE2VozIvLjwrC8Fmnye1wI2ExlTkxGHBnWejmma-sge2JlMVyj31L0yz1vVVWasbXjgtWx-vBJN6d1jrTLscttmNIrH0rfZaZs3aWRHXM~dbTqRJqG2zeMwiPRyFOznD3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Scott Bus, a representative of Midwest Food Bank, told the City of Fort Myers Economic Development Advisory Board on Jan. 10 that the nonprofit has expanded sharply and needs more warehouse space to meet local demand.

\"Every dollar donated, we turn into $34,\" Bus said during the presentation, adding that Midwest Food Bank distributed $60,000,000 worth of food in Southwest Florida in 2024 and served an increased volume compared with $44,000,000 in 2023. \"We're bursting at the seams,\" he said of the organization's current 10,000‑square‑foot warehouse in Billy Creek Plaza.

The presentation outlined how Midwest Food Bank collects donated product from manufacturers and distributors — naming Kellogg's, Nestlé, Amazon, Coca‑Cola and others — and distributes it at no cost to nonprofit partner agencies such as Community Cooperative, St. Matthew's House and the Salvation Army. Bus described programs that include pantry pickups for partner agencies, disaster response and \"Hope Packs\" backpacks for children to provide weekend food.

Nut graf: The board heard that Midwest Food Bank has a heavy reliance on donated product and volunteers and faces an operational limit in its current facility; board members discussed possible ways to raise the group's profile and locate larger or donated space within the city.

Board members and staff noted the organization is largely volunteer run — Bus said about six employees support an operation that logged roughly 2,000 volunteers last year — and that local partners receive a large share of the bank's Southwest Florida distributions. The board discussed outreach to local companies and property owners; Bus said Midwest has tried to acquire the adjacent building owned by Heinz but that Heinz has not offered to sell. He told the board Heinz’s local plant does donate product.

Several board members suggested city assistance with publicity and introductions to potential property donors or sellers. Board members and staff asked whether donated warehouse space could be tax‑deductible; Bus answered that donated funds and typical donations are tax‑deductible but noted he was not a tax advisor.

Bus described the nonprofit’s disaster role, saying Midwest delivered roughly $16,000,000 in food in the month after Hurricane Ian and serves as a first responder for the Salvation Army in the region. He also described international relief efforts, including a program that ships shelf‑stable \"Tender Mercies\" meals to Haiti.

Ending: Board members said they would consider publicity ideas, a site tour and outreach to potential donors; no formal city action on funding or property acquisition was taken during the meeting.

","Midwest Food Bank representative Scott Bus told the City of Fort Myers Economic Development Advisory Board the charity distributed $60,000,000 in food in Southwest Florida in 2024, is operating from a 10,000 sq ft warehouse and is \"bursting at the seams,\" and asked for help raising awareness and identifying space.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fort Myers staff outline Spin micromobility pilot, demo rides planned

City says Fort Myers has joined Film Florida; staff reports inquiries from national production firms

EDAB schedules April workshop on incentives, hears Enterprise Center and land‑use constraints

Midwest Food Bank outlines growth, space needs during Fort Myers EDAB meeting