Florida is the 18th most expensive state to start a business, according to a study released by Simplify LLC, an independent publication providing guides and resources for small business owners. Simplify used the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve of St. Louis, Tax Foundation and the Energy Information Administration. The rankings were determined by analyzing nine key factors in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., including taxes, labor costs, commercial rent and utilities, regulations and lending. Florida faces a labor force participation of 58.3%, ranking 44th, and a regulatory environment with a total of 170,321 regulations, ranking 41st. Other costs are average electricity bills at $748.95 (34th), a $125 LLC fee (31st), an average wage of $66,435 (31st) and a 5.5% corporate tax rate (23rd). Florida’s Small Business Administration lending of $12.1 million per 100,000 residents ranks third. The study shows the cheapest states to start a business are Utah, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Nebraska, Kansas, Nevada and North Dakota. 

Cape Coral’s efforts to upgrade Jaycee Park have hit financial hurdles, particularly with the company contracted to manage concessions and food trucks, The Reef Cape Coral LLC. In August, the Cape Coral City Council approved a public-private proposal with Fortress Secured LLC to handle construction. The plan includes The Reef operating the concessions and food court, as well as owning and operating four food trucks. City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner sent a notice of default to The Reef Cape Coral, demanding payment of more than $1.4 million. If the payment is not made, the city may terminate the agreement to manage the concession area and food truck court. Michael Amato from The Reef explained that the delay is due to a banking issue and mentioned submitting a new funding proposal to the city. Cape Coral City Council plans to meet next month to discuss the Jaycee Park situation further, WINK News reports. 

Rush Inn Bar & Grille opened its doors at Miromar Outlets on March 23, expanding from its roots in the Cleveland area. Established in 1981 by Kenneth Rush in the Lakewood suburb of Cleveland, the menu features shareable appetizers, specialty entrees, burgers, wings, wraps and build-your-own pizzas. Located adjacent to Old Navy, Rush Inn Bar & Grille is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. weekends. 

CWS at Daniels Inc. purchased 2.4 acres of commercial land at 13500 Riverside Center Court, off Daniels Parkway, in south Fort Myers from Bayside Pet Resort at Fort Myers LLC for $1.3 million. Gary Tasman and Lane Boy of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida represented the seller.

Lee County Board of Commissioners voted last week to approve a Supplemental Task Authorization of about $748,000 to the contract with AECOM Technical Services Inc. to provide Construction Engineering and Inspection services for the Orange River Boulevard sidewalk and water main replacement project. The project will add a sidewalk along Orange River Boulevard from Palm Beach Boulevard beyond Palm Lane. Construction is expected to begin late this year.

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce will host its annual meeting, awards ceremony and Carnival from 5 to 8 p.m. April 4 at Margaritaville Beach Resort, 251 Crescent St. The awards ceremony will recognize contributions made over the last year to the Fort Myers Beach community. In addition, the chamber will install its new board members. The festivities continue with live entertainment and silent auction prizes. Tickets are $60. To purchase tickets, click here.  

The Real Estate Investment Society’s luncheon April 8 will feature a discussion of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners’ 2025 priorities. The discussion will be led by District 1 Commissioner and Chair Kevin Ruane. The meeting will begin at 11:45 a.m. in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve’s Clubhouse on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. Admission is $30 for members and $45 for guests. Reservations are required by 5 p.m. April 4. To register, click here. 

Boys & Girls Club of Collier County named Martha Perez as events and corporate relations manager. Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt P.A. welcomed Michael Green as a senior associate in the firm’s workers’ compensation department. Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium announced four new trustees with terms beginning in 2025, including Laurie Chouinard, Jason Halliburton, Brad Shingleton, and Josh Stewart.

Neighborhood Health Clinic raised $1.7 million for patient services at its Celebration of Hope and Healing. Each year, supporters gather for an evening to raise funds that enable the nonprofit to continue providing comprehensive health care, counseling and education for low-income, working but uninsured adults in Collier County. With 94 cents of every donated dollar spent directly on patient care, a significant portion of the clinic’s operating budget is dedicated to sustaining life-saving services. 

Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee received a $12,000 grant from Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church. This funding will support the installation of new air conditioners, ensuring a safer, healthier and more comfortable learning environment for the children and families the center serves. Pathways Early Education Center bridges the opportunity gap by providing early learning programs tailored to the needs of children in Immokalee.

The May issue of Gulfshore Business will include our biannual Guide to Business & Commercial Banking special advertising section. Choosing a bank is a critical decision for every business, as it has a large impact on the daily operations and overall financial standing of the company. Banks can assist businesses with products and services that are specifically designed for their needs, such as deposit accounts, lines of credit, merchant services, payment and transaction processing, commercial loans, global trade services, treasury services and investment banking. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to promote your Southwest Florida-based financial institution and its various products and services to the more than 55,000 monthly readers of Gulfshore Business. For advertising inquiries, contact Associate Publisher Chris Renstrom at 239-498-8517 or chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.