Fort Myers advisory board backs hiring lead‑generation contractor after ChatGPT 'Summarizer' demo

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Fort Myers City Economic Development Advisory Board voted Oct. 2 to back pursuing a paid lead‑generation contractor to help the city recruit businesses, and members said they will urge city council to consider the contract as part of upcoming budget and workshop discussions.

The board’s decision followed a live demonstration by Dwayne, a board member who presented a ChatGPT‑based tool he described as a “Summarizer” that pulls together past meeting audio and public information into searchable summaries and timelines. The demonstration was intended to help the advisory board prioritize initiatives and to identify business‑recruitment targets.

Dwayne, presenting the tool to the board, said: “It’s not magic, it’s ChatGPT,” and walked members through example queries that compared previous discussion threads with the City of Fort Myers’ strategic goals. He said the Summarizer uses transcribed meeting audio and can query external public websites when instructed; he also said he disabled any setting that would allow the board’s private files to be used for AI training. “If you go into ChatGPT and type, you can use this tool,” he added.

Why it matters: Economic development staff and board members said Fort Myers is often not top of mind for national site selectors and companies scouting expansion, and that a contractor focused on targeted outreach could produce the volume of leads the city’s small staff cannot. The board framed the decision as a tactical step that complements longer‑term strategic work on identity and planning.

Steve Weathers, the city’s Economic Development Director, outlined the office’s current resources and what a contractor would replace or supplement. He said the department’s budget is roughly $300,000 annually, travel funding around $10,000 and that prototype marketing pieces can cost $15,000–$25,000. He described two vendor examples discussed with staff: a retail‑focused firm that proposed approximately $50,000 per year and another lead‑generation approach priced near $75,000 for a fixed term.

Board members debated scope: Lee Ford emphasized that “economic development encompasses nearly everything that involves life and quality of life,” arguing infrastructure and workforce supports affect whether an employer locates in Fort Myers. Others said the advisory board’s most effective role is strategic—defining vision and priorities—and that staff or contractors should do the day‑to‑day outreach.

Dwayne proposed that the board formally recommend the city fund a one‑year lead‑generation contractor to provide a high volume of targeted leads and measure results; he said a contractor’s fixed cost and time horizon would make ROI easier to assess compared with hiring additional permanent staff. The motion to support pursuing a lead‑generation process for the Economic Development Director passed on a voice vote.

Next steps: Weathers said he would send the board an updated vendor proposal and cost estimate to the clerk for distribution. Board members were asked to read the materials, speak with their council liaisons and return with recommendations; if council approves a contract or workshop, legal would review terms and the mayor and city manager would sign any agreement.

The meeting also included discussion about the board’s long‑term identity and priorities (a framework the presenter called the “four R’s” — retirees, retail, real estate/development and recreation) and a brief announcement that a Miami‑based gelato‑pop manufacturer, Gelatis, has purchased a Fort Myers building and expects to open by year end.

The advisory board did not finalize a funding commitment; it voted to support the concept and to forward materials and a recommendation to the city council for further review. The board adjourned after a brief wrap‑up.

Quoted sources in this article are from the Oct. 2, 2025 Fort Myers Economic Development Advisory Board meeting.