Cape helps area top Milken list

Lee County first nationwide in job creation
11,000 move to the cape each year

It's common knowledge that the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area is experiencing tremendous population growth, and that the real estate market remains as hot as ever.

But to think that this former retirement destination has now emerged as the No. 1 ranked metropolitan area in the country for job creation?

"The Milken Institute index of Best Performing Cities: Where America's Jobs are Created and Sustained," ranked the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area at the top of the list for 2004

Cape helps area top Milken list [News-Press]

New home permits surge

Lee County, Cape Coral report almost record numbers

Lee County's new-home construction industry has weathered the summer's storms from the looks of near-record housing permit figures released Monday.

"I think the new home construction industry was not that affected except that it's increasing prices," said Michael Reitmann, executive vice president of the Lee Building Industry Association. "We've never seen a dramatic effect because the people in the new-home business are not in the repair business."

New home permits surge [News-Press]