Selling Southwest Florida

business. It acts as a training ground for the workforce, as well as an

incentive for research and development facilities to locate nearby.

The university was one component that convinced ASG to stay

in Naples. The software company already occupies 62,000 square feet and is

building another 90,000 square feet in the Commons near Naples Bay. ASG’s Allen

is a veteran of the Collier County high-tech industry, having sold software

from Naples as far back as 1976. Finding qualified workers was a problem,

forcing him to recruit outside of Southwest Florida. Now with FGCU providing

training in technology fields, there is a “good supply of talent,” he says.

Second only to FGCU in importance in luring companies to the

area is the growth of Southwest Florida International Airport. The airport’s

$356 million expansion was a deciding factor for Source Interlink. Gillis says

the company initially believed Florida’s east coast was better equipped to

handle its travel needs, but that reservation was put to rest when he learned

of the planned expansion.

Gillis is seeing a different Southwest Florida business

environment than Allen, who has been around long enough to remember when Page

Field was the primary airport. When Allen first tried to do business here in

the ’70s, the infrastructure was atrocious, he says. But he has few problems

now. Telecommunications, transportation and power supply now meet all his

needs. “You have everything you need to run a high-tech company here,” he says.

Lee County Economic Development Office

Mission: Create high-skilled and high-paying jobs in Lee

County. Targets stable, fast-growth industries that offer quality jobs and

benefits. Works with the Horizon Council, a public-private organization that

advises Lee County, and the Horizon Foundation, which raises private funds for

economic development.

Funding: Lee County government.

2002 Operating Budget: $1.4 million

Executive Director: Janet Watermeier

Employees: 15

Address: 2180 W. First St., Suite 306, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Phone: 338-3161, (800) 330-3161

Fax: 338-3227

Web site: www.leecountybusiness.com

Economic Development Council of Collier County

Mission: Economic diversification through high-wage job

retention and creation.

Funding: Collier County government and private businesses.

The county matches the funds raised by the members.

2002 Operating budget: $922,000

President: Susan Pareigis

Employees: Seven

Address: 3050 N. Horseshoe Drive, Suite 120, Naples, FL

34104

Phone: 263-8989, (866) 362-7537

Fax: 263-6021

Web site: www.eNaplesFlorida.com