Month: April 2026

Discover Fort Myers, Florida’s Innovation Through Collaboration Initiative
Fort Myers winter resident Thomas Edison once declared, “There is only one Fort Myers, and 90 million people will find this out.” That notion is thought to have inspired the city’s expansion back in 1925. And that same observation holds true today, a century later – only the number of people (and companies) who have “found out” is exponentially larger. And so are the opportunities.

Cited by U.S. News & World Report as among the fastest growing cities in the country, Fort Myers is focused on Innovation Through Collaboration, where bold ideas evolve into new possibilities and partnerships drive opportunity.

When Thomas Edison chose Fort Myers as his winter retreat and lab in 1885, he wasn’t just looking for warm weather. He saw potential – a city where ideas could flourish, where experimentation was welcome, and where collaboration with other great minds, including Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, could lead to progress. Today, that same spirit of innovation through collaboration fuels Fort Myers’ evolution.

But innovation isn’t just something the city simply celebrates – it’s a vision Fort Myers actively cultivates as it emerges as a partner for businesses seeking a business-friendly location with an amazing quality of life.

What have the following companies “found out” about Fort Myers, as Edison proclaimed, that your company could soon discover with its own lightbulb moment?

• Amazon is making a significant investment in Fort Myers with plans to build a state-of-the-art, 650,000-square-foot robotics fulfillment center. This facility will feature Amazon’s latest robotics technology, enhancing efficiency in picking, packing and shipping. This development underscores Fort Myers’ growing prominence as a location of technological innovation.
• Fort Myers-based Aviation Precision Technology, a global leader in aviation component repair and manufacturing, is leveraging the city’s expanding tech infrastructure and skilled workforce. On the horizon is a partnership with the Lee County School District to launch a high school training program for jet engine repair, boosting workforce development paths in aerospace and advanced manufacturing – positioning Fort Myers as a location where technology, talent, and business success take flight.
• Local company EmCyte is transforming regenerative medicine with cutting-edge technology. Specializing in Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and stem cell therapies, it develops systems enhancing healing in orthopedics, sports medicine, and wound care. A leader in minimally invasive treatments, EmCyte is shaping patient care while positioning the region as a biomedical hub.
• With headquarters in Southwest Florida, Arthrex, a worldwide leader in orthopedic surgical instruments, is set to significantly enhance its presence with a state-of-the-art, 1-million-square-foot logistics facility, adjacent to the Southwest Florida International Airport. The new center underscores Arthrex’s commitment to innovation and regional growth.

Building on this momentum, Fort Myers offers something truly unique: a host of innovative opportunities centered on the four pillars of its economy: retirement, real estate, recreation and retail.

• Retirement: Senior Living’s Smart Future – With one of the country’s fastest-growing senior populations, Fort Myers is a prime hub for medical device R&D and manufacturing, as well as innovative pharmaceutical trials.
• Real Estate: A Property Innovation Playground – Technology designed to improve real estate development, sales and management presents a natural opportunity for collaboration. A Fort Myers-based initiative could bring AI-driven real estate tools, smart home developments, and climate-resilient building innovations to the forefront.
• Recreation: Lifestyle Sports Hub – Fort Myers is a hotbed for boating and fishing, golf, tennis, and pickleball, making it a prime testing ground for cutting-edge sports and recreation technology. With a strong local market and a culture of active living, Fort Myers is the perfect launchpad for game-changing partnerships in sports tech and manufacturing.
• Retail: Where Innovation Meets Customer Experience – Retail is changing fast, and Fort Myers’ thriving commercial landscape offers an ideal testing ground for e-commerce logistics, AI-powered inventory management and customer experience technology.

Edison’s Ingenuity… Reignited
With Florida’s tax climate rated as the fourth-best in the nation, Fort Myers offers business advantages and burgeoning opportunities for firms looking for an attractive alternative to the congestion and high costs of larger metro areas.

For companies seeking a dynamic city where innovation and collaboration spark opportunity, Fort Myers is a place where Edison’s ingenuity is not just remembered – it’s reignited in a city that’s open for business and wired for success.

To learn more about doing business in the City of Fort Myers, contact Economic Development Director Steve Weathers at sweathers@fortmyers.gov, or call 239-321-7912.

Southwest Florida has long been known for its natural beauty. White sand beaches, blue skies, and a lifestyle that draws millions each year. But what’s happening beneath the surface tells a far more powerful story. This region is not just growing. It is evolving into a place where business, government, and innovation are intentionally aligned to shape the future of the economy.

The Edison Awards have brought global attention to Southwest Florida in 2026, and the spotlight reveals something remarkable. Of the seven Florida-based companies recognized, five are headquartered right here in our community:

• EmCyte Corporation
• ADDMAN
• E2companies
• Arthrex
• Digital ShortCutz

These companies are advancing breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, advanced manufacturing, energy infrastructure, surgical technology, and AI-powered systems. That level of representation is not accidental. It reflects a region that has been intentionally building the conditions for innovation to thrive.

Strong innovation economies are built through coordination and long-term vision. They require alignment between the public and private sectors, access to capital, and a commitment to supporting business growth and diversification. That is where the Horizon Foundation plays a critical role. As a private, investor-supported nonprofit, the Horizon Foundation brings together business leaders, government partners, and community stakeholders to strengthen Lee County’s economic ecosystem. Through collaboration with the Horizon Council and the Lee County Economic Development Office, the Foundation
supports the retention and expansion of existing companies, attracts new and diversified employers, encourages long-term economic sustainability, and connects businesses with the resources they need to grow. This coordinated effort is what turns growth into sustained momentum.

In 2025 alone, the Horizon Foundation invested $550,000 into Lee County’s economic future, supporting workforce opportunities, strengthening business resilience, and helping position the region as a destination for forward-thinking companies. The spirit of innovation here is not new. The awards themselves are named after Thomas Edison, who spent his winters in Fort Myers alongside Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone. Today, that legacy continues through a new generation of companies and leaders who are building what
comes next.

Well-known innovation hubs were not created overnight. They were built through collaboration, investment, and leadership aligned around shared growth. Southwest Florida is doing the same. The 2026 Edison Awards may serve as a global introduction, but the real story is what happens next. This is a region where businesses can scale, ideas can thrive, and opportunity continues to expand. The Horizon Foundation invites business leaders and investors to be part of shaping a stronger, more innovative regional economy.