How to work with the government

The role of government in economic development is a hot issue in both national and local elections, so it's timely that one group will tackle the issue broadly at a symposium next month in Fort Myers.

Speakers scheduled to discuss the issues of public-private partnerships Sept. 14 at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers include former Miami-Dade County manager and now Becker & Poliakoff Chief Operating Officer George Burgess.

Other notable panelists include State Rep. Trudi Williams, who owns TKW Consulting Engineers in Fort Myers, and Chris Hodgkins, vice president of the Miami Access Tunnel, the organization building a tunnel that will link the Port of Miami with Interstate 95.

Developers and municipalities face issues such as financing, tax incentives, legal hurdles and communications challenges as they seek to work together. The Real Estate Investment Society in Fort Myers is organizing the workshop.