Businesses grow cautious

FORT MYERS — A recent quarterly survey of about 100 Lee County business executives revealed a decline in their expectation of an improving economy compared with a similar survey in the spring.

The percentage of Lee County executives who expect a moderately better economy over the next year fell from 71% in the spring to 57% in July, according to a survey conducted by Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers for local economic development organizations.

Still, 39% of Lee County executives say their company plans to hire more employees over the next year. Just 4% expect to cut employment.

One obstacle to growth appears to be from the costs associated with implementation of Obamacare. The survey showed that 58% of executives say the health care law will have a moderate or substantial impact on their business operations and costs. The remainder are unclear of the impact (27%) or say the law will have little effect on their business (15%).