Lee County chasing Fortune 500 HQ

FORT MYERS — The Lee County Commission approved spending $4 million in incentives to attract the headquarters of an undisclosed Fortune 500 company codenamed “Project A.”

“This opportunity with Project A is a game changer,” says Jim Moore, executive director of the Fort Myers Regional Partnership, Lee County's economic development office.

The undisclosed company plans to employ 700 people and build a $69 million, 300,000-square-foot building. The average wage will be $102,000, excluding benefits.

“The company is a flagship name in their industry and will be immediately recognizable when the company makes its location announcement anticipated in early May,” the partnership says in a statement.

“The use of incentives is one of our most powerful tools in stimulating and diversifying the economy, creating jobs and expanding businesses,” says Moore. “Incentives awarded to businesses are based on meeting performance criteria benchmarks throughout the duration of their agreements with the state and local governments and each agreement contains important provisions to protect taxpayer funds.”