The Naples area residential real estate market saw a 40% spike in inventory and a 12% increase in overall closed sales in January, according to data from the Naples Area Board of Realtors. There were 6,808 pieces of inventory last month, including 2,233 new listings, a 23% increase from January 2023. There was a total of 551 overall closed sales and 933 overall pending sales, an 8% year-over-year decrease. Homes spent an average of 92 days on the market with a median closed price of $659,000.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the creation of the Florida State Department of Governmental Efficiency task force to eliminate waste within state government and save taxpayers money. Designed in the same vein as the Trump Administration’s DOGE, headed by tech billionaire Elon Musk, DeSantis said the Florida version will eliminate redundant boards and commissions, review state university and college operations and spending, utilize artificial intelligence to examine state agencies further to uncover hidden waste and audit the spending habits of local entities. Musk’s DOGE already has fired thousands of probational and full-time federal employees in the Small Business Administration, Department of Defense, Department of Education and other government agencies. The task force will serve a one-year term, which will sunset following the completion of the term, DeSantis said.

Angel investors from Southwest Florida invested in Trinity Guardion, a company that makes reusable bed barriers for hospitals. Members of Tamiami Angel Fund V invested $354,000 in Trinity Guardion. The company created the Soteria Bed Barrier to protect hospital beds and mattresses from patient soiling, helping to reduce contamination, extend the life of mattresses and cut room turnaround time. The Soteria Bed Barrier received Food and Drug Administration clearance in late 2022. The company recently expanded its offering with the launch of the Soteria Neonatal Mattress Barrier, a microbiological barrier and disinfecting service designed specifically for neonatal care using a newly developed first-in-kind Radio-frequency identification tracking system. Capital raised from Tamiami Angel Funds and other investors will be used to build the sales force, boost marketing and increase production.

Boston-based developer Wilder announced the grand opening of Bluemercury, LoveSac, J. McLaughlin, VIO Med Spa and J. Jill as the first tenants in the expansion project at Daniels Marketplace in south Fort Myers. Additional brands, including Fidelity Investments, are set to open soon, with more tenants to be announced. Bluemercury, a luxury beauty retailer, offers skin care, makeup, hair care, fragrance and bath and body products. LoveSac is a modern furniture brand recognized for its innovative and adaptable designs, particularly its signature Sactionals. J. McLaughlin is a brand known for its classic American sportswear with a modern twist. VIO Med Spa specializes in noninvasive aesthetic treatments. Anchored by Whole Foods Market, Daniels Marketplace has 131,500 square feet of space, with the recent 25,000-square-foot expansion at the northeast corner of the existing center, near the Six Mile Cypress Parkway entrance and adjacent to Keke’s Breakfast Cafe, including public green spaces designed for community activities and leisure.

The Club at Olde Cypress in North Naples launched its multimillion-dollar clubhouse renovation, club owner Stock Development announced. Scheduled for completion by the end of the year, the project includes the expansion of The Bar, Members’ Grille Room and Main Dining Room. The redesigned space will feature a wraparound bar with increased seating. The renovation also will introduce a new outdoor bar and terrace, complemented by a full-service kitchen featuring a pizza oven for artisan-baked creations. Expanded alfresco and covered dining options allow for views of the golf course and surrounding preserves. New spaces include a multipurpose gathering space, a wine-tasting room, a golf simulator room, a club room and three bocce ball courts.

The Club at Olde Cypress in North Naples launched its multimillion-dollar clubhouse renovation, club owner Stock Development announced. Scheduled for completion by the end of the year, the project includes the expansion of The Bar, Members’ Grille Room and Main Dining Room. The redesigned space will feature a wraparound bar with increased seating. The renovation also will introduce a new outdoor bar and terrace, complemented by a full-service kitchen featuring a pizza oven for artisan-baked creations. Expanded alfresco and covered dining options allow for views of the golf course and surrounding preserves. New spaces include a multipurpose gathering space, a wine-tasting room, a golf simulator room, a club room and three bocce ball courts.

Overnight lane closures began on Collier Boulevard at the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge in both directions and will last through March 12, Florida Department of Transportation officials said. Maintenance work will take place nightly from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., including drilling and fiber cable installation on the bridge. The bridge will remain open during the scheduled work, but motorist may experience slow-moving traffic and delays. To avoid potential congestion, motorists can seek alternate routes, such as County Road 92 or San Marco Road.

Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. will continue its Wisdom of Women series with two March seminars covering investment, financial and estate planning. The Sanibel event takes place at 9:30 a.m. March 12 at the Sanibel Community House. The Fort Myers program is at 4 p.m. March 13 at the Trust Company’s Bell Tower office in south Fort Myers. Each presentation will touch on the basics of investing and financial planning, including retirement, long-term care, caregiving, creditor protection, titling of trusts, inheritance, estate tax and more. Case studies will be shared on scenarios that commonly impact women of any age, including suddenly single, cash windfall and midlife planning. The seminars will be led by female members of the Trust Company team, including Bell Tower office President Megan Marquardt. To register, contact Frances Steger at fsteger@sancaptrustco.com or 239-472-8300.

The Lykos Group added Kyle Malay as assistant superintendent. Horizon Foundation finalized its leadership team for 2025, which includes President Guido Minaya, Vice President Ryan Carter, Immediate Past President Mark Stevens, Treasurer Sandy Stilwell Youngquist and Secretary Fred Edman. The 2025 board of directors includes John Talmage, Robbie Roepstorff, Holly Smith, Bill Morris, Matt Price, Chris Spiro and Helen Edenfield.

Preferred Travel & Company announced that ticket sales to its 2025 Luxury Travel Show resulted in a $20,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. The funds will help the nonprofit organization provide its after-school and out-of-school programming. With locations in Naples and Immokalee, Boys & Girls Club provides young people with opportunities to engage in programs that help them achieve academic success, take charge of their health by building healthy habits that will stick with them throughout their lives and foster the skills they need to become leaders in their communities.

Preferred Travel & Company announced that ticket sales to its 2025 Luxury Travel Show resulted in a $20,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. The funds will help the nonprofit organization provide its after-school and out-of-school programming. With locations in Naples and Immokalee, Boys & Girls Club provides young people with opportunities to engage in programs that help them achieve academic success, take charge of their health by building healthy habits that will stick with them throughout their lives and foster the skills they need to become leaders in their communities.

Preferred Travel & Company announced that ticket sales to its 2025 Luxury Travel Show resulted in a $20,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County. The funds will help the nonprofit organization provide its after-school and out-of-school programming. With locations in Naples and Immokalee, Boys & Girls Club provides young people with opportunities to engage in programs that help them achieve academic success, take charge of their health by building healthy habits that will stick with them throughout their lives and foster the skills they need to become leaders in their communities.

Suffolk hosted a charity clay shoot Feb. 8 at Bermont Shooting Club, inviting employees and subcontractors to participate and raise $57,965 to support the development of the Golisano Children’s Hospital Surgery Center. The surgery center will relocate 80% of outpatient procedures currently performed at HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers, freeing up space for urgent and complex pediatric surgeries in neurology and trauma care, among others. Designed as a dedicated hub for specialized pediatric surgical care, the center will provide a calm, secure environment where children and their families feel welcome and supported.

The April issue of Gulfshore Business will feature our annual Who's Who in Commercial Contractors special advertising section. Building and remodeling are critical components of Southwest Florida’s business economy and accomplished commercial contractors are essential to jobs being done well, on time and on budget. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to promote your Southwest Florida commercial contracting company and its various services to the more than 55,000 monthly readers of Gulfshore Business. For advertising inquiries, please contact Associate Publisher Chris Renstrom at 239-498-8517 or chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.

The April issue of Gulfshore Business will feature our annual Who's Who in Commercial Contractors special advertising section. Building and remodeling are critical components of Southwest Florida’s business economy and accomplished commercial contractors are essential to jobs being done well, on time and on budget. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to promote your Southwest Florida commercial contracting company and its various services to the more than 55,000 monthly readers of Gulfshore Business. For advertising inquiries, please contact Associate Publisher Chris Renstrom at 239-498-8517 or chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.

The April issue of Gulfshore Business will feature our annual Who's Who in Commercial Contractors special advertising section. Building and remodeling are critical components of Southwest Florida’s business economy and accomplished commercial contractors are essential to jobs being done well, on time and on budget. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to promote your Southwest Florida commercial contracting company and its various services to the more than 55,000 monthly readers of Gulfshore Business. For advertising inquiries, please contact Associate Publisher Chris Renstrom at 239-498-8517 or chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.

The April issue of Gulfshore Business will feature our annual Who's Who in Commercial Contractors special advertising section. Building and remodeling are critical components of Southwest Florida’s business economy and accomplished commercial contractors are essential to jobs being done well, on time and on budget. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to promote your Southwest Florida commercial contracting company and its various services to the more than 55,000 monthly readers of Gulfshore Business. For advertising inquiries, please contact Associate Publisher Chris Renstrom at 239-498-8517 or chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.

The April issue of Gulfshore Business will feature our annual Who's Who in Commercial Contractors special advertising section. Building and remodeling are critical components of Southwest Florida’s business economy and accomplished commercial contractors are essential to jobs being done well, on time and on budget. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to promote your Southwest Florida commercial contracting company and its various services to the more than 55,000 monthly readers of Gulfshore Business. For advertising inquiries, please contact Associate Publisher Chris Renstrom at 239-498-8517 or chris.renstrom@gulfshorebusiness.com.