Business News

Facing foreclosure? A new grassroots cooperative in Collier County has formed to save your home. It’s a joint effort between Legal Aid Service of Collier County and the Collier County Bar Association. Full story »

The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce has a new chief operating officer and chief financial officer. James L. Goehler was named to the posts Monday, Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Reagan announced. Full story »

MIVA Inc., a Fort Myers-based online marketer, reported a net loss of $5.1 million or negative $0.16 a share in the first quarter of 2008. In last year’s first quarter, MIVA lost $11.5 million or negative $0.36 per share. Full story »

In November, when Marc Joseph celebrated his 40th birthday, he began looking for his mid-life crisis car — a Corvette, maybe a Viper. His wife, Geri, approved. But, as luck would have it, fate intervened. His father, Louis, who had beat cancer, was in HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers with a heart ailment that ultimately took his life in April after surgery at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Full story »

These days, Gianluca Corso’s pizza dough is like gold. Corso and other Southwest Florida restaurateurs are watching food costs skyrocket and struggling with an ever-more-difficult balancing act: How to keep menu prices reasonable, and still make enough to stay in business. “Flour is the new gold, for me, because we pay so much for it,” said Corso. Full story »

Twigs, leaves and fruit arrive at the door like castaways. Most of the time they’re hand delivered. Sometimes, they come by mail. Technicians never know when to expect the samples, which have arrived steadily at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center off State Road 29 near Immokalee since its testing lab for the greening disease opened a few months ago. Full story »

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High gas prices and a weak economy aren’t going to keep tourists away from Southwest Florida this summer. In fact, more state residents are likely to vacation here as they look to cut their travel costs. With the dollar so weak, international travel has become out-of-reach for many Americans. That could help boost summer tourism in this region, too. Full story »

New development in Collier and Lee counties has flattened out after a long decline, but officials remain hesitant to say the market for new construction is on the way up. Both Collier and Lee, like other coastal counties on Florida’s west coast, have reported a fair amount of “bouncing around” with new construction, making it anyone’s guess where the market will go from here. Lee County government issued the same number of permits for single-family homes in April as it issued in March -- 47. Single-family home permits issued last month in Collier were at 56, more than half the levels seen in April 2007.
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Recent deed transactions from the Collier County Clerk of Courts office. Full story »

Businesses and educational institutions in Southwest Florida have partnered to create a virtual business incubator and accelerator. Full story »

Oil prices surged past $125 per barrel Friday on the eve of the U.S. driving season as a weakening U.S. dollar drove investors to snap up commodities. Full story »

Recent deed transactions from the Collier County Clerk of Courts office. Full story »

Bonita Springs is the champ for gas prices, with one station still below $3.60. Full story »