Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Economic-development staff eyes local manufacturing, seeks advisory-board support for seawall firm
Summary
City economic-development staff said they have been talking with Kind Designs about bringing manufacturing to the Fort Myers region and asked whether the Environmental Advisory Board would consider an endorsement before the company appears before City Council.
Steve Weathers, the City of Fort Myers economic development director, told the Environmental Advisory Board that his office has been working with Kind Designs and is exploring introductions with local partners and grant resources to support local manufacturing.
Weathers said staff have spoken with local organizations (Calusa Waterkeepers, FGCU Water School) and are prepared to help the company with grant applications and investor outreach. “What I'm looking, to you all, for is really maybe at some point, kind of an endorsement or support because at some point, we'll go to city council,” he said. He added the company has been raising capital and that economic-development staff see jobs and investment potential in hosting local manufacturing.
Board members discussed due diligence and asked that staff assemble end-user references and permitting examples from municipalities that have used the product before considering any formal endorsement or recommendation to council. The board agreed staff will circulate contact information and compiled references for review ahead of the next meeting; no formal endorsement was voted on at this meeting.
