Home > Eligibility
Print Friendly
Is Your Company Eligible?
Designed to promote the development of
high-value business projects in Lee County, the FIRST Initiative incentive
program is performance-based and specific. Eligible companies must:
1. Be Considering Location and/or Expansion
Companies should submit an application before making a
decision to locate or expand in Lee County.
Each company will be required to
demonstrate the material difference that this incentive will make in the
decision to locate or expand.
The incentive must be an inducement for the company to
locate or expand in Lee County.
2. Submit an Application
Contact the Fort Myers Regional Partnership for assistance with your application process.
3. Belong to One of Our Target Industries
Eligible companies will operate within a target industry or a designated
high-impact sector. You may contact the
Fort Myers Regional Partnership for the list or click here to down load the list of
qualified industries and sectors.
4. Create 75 New Jobs in Lee County
Within three years of location or expansion, grant recipients will be required to
create at least 75 new, full-time equivalent jobs. To be eligible, these
jobs must pay an average wage of at least 125% of the Lee County
private-sector annual average wage. This wage requirement will be determined
as of application approval date, using the
State of Florida Incentives
Average Wage Requirements.
5. Make a Capital Investment
Over the three years following location or expansion, grant
recipients are expected to make a cumulative capital investment in an amount
equal to or greater than the Lee County FIRST incentive award.
6. Generate a Return
Companies receiving the FIRST grant are expected to,
over the 10 years following their location or expansion, generate a 10:1
return on investment to county revenues.
Apply Now
For more information or personal assistance with
this process, please contact the Fort Myers Regional Partnership team.