TOP JOB SPOT
>>Forbes.com has ranked the Cape Coral-Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area as the top community in the nation for job growth in 2007 (www.forbes.com/2008/01/30/economy-cities-alabama-biz-cx_bw_0130econcities.html). Among the factors contributing to the ranking were the cost of labor, energy, taxes and the education level of the local workforce, according to the report.

BANK DIVIDEND
>>The TIB Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: TIBB) board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable on April 10 to TIB Financial stockholders of record as of March 31.

WINE FEST PROCEEDS
>>Naples Children and Education Foundation will distribute grants totaling $17.3 million to Collier County children’s charities. The money was raised at the Naples Winter Wine Festival (www.napleswinefestival.com) in late January. Of that total, $6.5 million will be presented to 24 area children’s charities and $10.8 million will be accepted by representatives heading up three long-term initiatives for Immokalee children.

ONLINE TRAVEL TOOLS
>>New tools for travelers and visitors to Southwest Florida International Airport’s Web site, www.flylcpa.com, are now available to assist with making travel arrangements. In partnership with Innovata LLC, an Atlanta-based software services company, the Lee County Port Authority added Innovata’s SRS Route Map services, with links to Internet timetable displays and reservation systems to the airport’s Web site. The SRS Route Map displays destinations served by direct and connecting flights, as well as the airlines that operate those routes. The maps are automatically updated from schedule data contained in the SRS database.

BEST PLACES TO WORK
>>The Economic Development Council of Collier County (EDC) and Express Personnel Services invite Collier County businesses to participate in the third annual Best Places to Work program. The winners will be determined by an in-depth analysis provided by Personnel Dynamics Consulting, which will use 37 different measurements. This Best Places to Work program allows businesses the opportunity to better understand how to attract and retain employees. The cost to participate is $75. Applications are available on the EDC’s Web site, www.enaplesflorida.com, or by calling 263-8989, ext. 105. The deadline to apply and to complete the survey is Saturday.

MEDICAL CARE FUNDING
>>The Lee Memorial Health System Foundation has allocated more than $1,096,000 to “provide excellence in medical care, treatment and technology to the Southwest Florida community.” The recipients include the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at HealthPark, $125,364 for six infant incubators and $167,889 toward the purchase of a NICU ambulance; Cape Coral Hospital, $25,000 in construction costs for its Level II NICU, $298,886 to reopen its Special Care Nursery and $220,762 for equipment needed to open an additional 15 pediatric beds; and the Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care Playground received $41,910 for its children’s play area expansion.

MARKETING SEMINAR
>>Learn “Marketing Techniques for Small Businesses in a Soft Economy” from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday during a workshop presented by the Florida Gulf Coast University Small Business Development Center. The program will be held at the Collier County Economic Development Council office, 3050 N. Horseshoe Drive, Suite 120, Naples. The cost is $20. Online registration and a seminar description are available at cli.fgcu.edu/sbdc.