From the Archives: RSW – Four-plus decades of growth in Southwest Florida

From the Archives: RSW – Four-plus decades of growth in Southwest Florida

Naples Daily News

The following information comes from a May 2023 article by Mark H. Bickel in the News-Press, on the 40th anniversary of RSW.

If the Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples-area had a front door for the world, Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) would be it.

It was May 14, 1983, when certified operations began at the 3,500-acre site southeast of Fort Myers, marking the beginning of a new era in aviation for the region.

RSW has continued to grow in the last four decades and that includes the number of passengers traveling to and from Southwest Florida.

May 14, 1983

The current airport opened at a cost of $90 million. It featured a 350,000-square-foot terminal and 14 gates. There were 3,600 parking spaces.

The airlines serving RSW when it opened? Nine domestic – Continental, Delta, Eastern, Finair Express, Northwest, Ozark, Pan Am, Republic, United. There were seven nonstop destinations: Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, Miami, Sarasota, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

Get the full history with photos on naplesnews.com.

Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Naples billionaires named among America’s self-made elite by Forbes

Laura Layden | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Forbes has named the 250 greatest living self-made Americans.

Among the elite group: A few Naples residents, who also happen to be billionaires.

The new list is the latest installment of the Forbes 250 initiative — a year-long project launched in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

The Self-Made 250 List spotlights Americans whose journeys began with a “profound disadvantage” and whose success stories are defined by “resilience, reinvention and ambition.” Listees include well-known celebrities and icons such as Oprah Winfrey, Lebron James and Dolly Parton.

Locals on the list include long-time Naples resident Shahid Khan, ranked at No. 21.

Khan, 74, owns auto parts supplier Flex-N-Gate and the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. According to Forbes, he immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan with $500 in his pocket, before building his industrial and sports empire that includes the Fulham Football Club.

Per Forbes, the business mogul is also the richest man in Naples — and Southwest Florida. He sat at No. 193 on the 2026 World’s Billionaires list by Forbes, retaining his position as one of the top 200 wealthiest people on the planet.

Who else is on the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Ready to explore the most exceptional properties of Southwest Florida? Contact me today to begin your journey. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Naples No. 1 for women-owned businesses among small U.S. metros

Naples No. 1 for women-owned businesses among small U.S. metros

Mark H. Bickel | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Women who own small businesses in Naples have something to brag about.

According to a study by Coworking Cafe. a listing service for flex workspace solutions, Naples-Marco Island ranks No. 1 among the top small U.S. metros for women-owned businesses.

The study was released in March in honor of International Women’s Month.

“We’re celebrating the women who don’t just break glass ceilings, they build the foundations beneath them,” the website said.

According to Coworking Cafe, female entrepreneurs represent one of the most dynamic forces reshaping the American economy.

Women-owned businesses now account for nearly 23% of all U.S. firms, and with business formation rates surging in unexpected corners of the country, the geography of women’s entrepreneurship is shifting quickly.

By the numbers: Naples businesses owned by women

  • Ranks #1 among small U.S. metros
  • 18.2% self-employment (#1 for this metric)
  • 2,409 business formations per 100K (#2)
  • 46.4% GDP growth since 2019 (#4)

Read what the Co-Working Cafe study said about Naples on naplesnews.com.

Are you seeking a home in the Bonita Springs – Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

No small wonder: Naples Botanical Garden endures in Southwest Florida

No small wonder: Naples Botanical Garden endures in Southwest Florida

Dave Osborn | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

It’s been a hidden respite in Southwest Florida for years.

Naples Botanical Garden sits on 170 acres and is made up of smaller, separate gardens that represent various natural habitats and ecosystems.

And Naples Botanical Garden ― about three miles from downtown Naples ― features exhibits throughout the year. Here’s what to know about the Garden, as it’s known.

Garden becomes magical during holidays
It’s an end-of-the-year treat many await. The Johnsonville Night Lights in the Garden creates a colorful world at night, where visitors can walk through the meticulously created wonderland.

Night Lights runs Nov. 28-Jan. 4, and is closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.

Ticket prices vary and gradually increase as the holidays approach.

Read the full article with photos on naplesnews.com.

There’s so much to enjoy in the Naples, Florida area. Be close to the fun with a home in the area. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

$170-million project: Osteopathic medical school coming to Collier, opening 2028

$170-million project: Osteopathic medical school coming to Collier, opening 2028

Liz Freeman | Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News

Naples Comprehensive Health is working on plans with a Florida company for an osteopathic medical school in Collier County.

The estimated $170-million project that is targeted to open in the fall of 2028 will be built in East Naples near the corner of Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Collier Boulevard.

It is a five-acre site that is “shovel-ready” for the building of just under 110,000 square feet.

Bay College of Osteopathic Medicine LLC is looking for a “sister school” to complement its recently completed Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine, according to county documents.

The Collier County Commission on Nov. 10 unanimously approved $6 million in economic development funds over 10 years for the initiative.

The project is expected to have a $1.7 billion to $2 billion overall economic impact in the region over 25 years, according county officials.

NCH in a statement said that the academic partner would oversee day-to-day operations, construction and faculty.

The Naples College of Osteopathic Medicine will accommodate 400 students on campus and is expected to graduate its first class in 2032, according to Dr. Robert Hasty, dean of the Orlando osteopathic school.

The project will go a long way toward addressing a physician shortage that is ongoing in the region, similarly to a physician shortage statewide and nationally, officials say.

Read the full article on naplesnews.com.

Are you looking for a home in the vibrant Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.