SEPTEMBER 2026
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 9
Home to almost 1,500 manufacturers employing more than 15,000 workers, manufacturing in Southwest Florida is alive and well. From power boats to cutting-edge medical devices and world-class chocolates, these dynamic businesses create value and jobs within the region. The manufacturing sector continues to attract investments and grow at an accelerated rate.
AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGES
$64,477
MANUFACTURING IN SWFL
15,854
The number of employees currently working in SWFL's manufacturing industry a s of 2025.
• -1.29% 2025 over 2024
:J
• Fluid management solutions
• Printing and Signage
• Medical supplies
• Machine tool Manufacturing
• LED Lighting
• Wire products
• Fluid management solutions
• Lubricants
• Hurricane protection
• Concrete
• Aerospace products
• Landscaping supplies
• Tooling
• Chocolates
• Boat li�s
• Private Label cosmetic manufacturing
• Mining equipment
• Shipping and Containers
• Medical Devices • 3D/Additive Printing
/ Industrial Production Managers @ +1.7% YOY*
$105,408
Cl
• Medical equipment
• Railroad equipment
$125,540
CAREERS & SALARIES I00K
WHAT'S BEING MADE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?
• Boats
ALL INDUSTRIES
SOK
Industrial Engineers +1.17%YOY
$ 54,42 0
ro Cl
Machinists +6.77%YOY
60K
@
ro
40K
$55,523
I
Welders +6.93%YOY
• Frozen Foods • Building Supplies windows/ doors
200
• Custom stainless steel equipment
*YOY:2025 versus 2024
300
400
500
600
700
800
Number of Employees
Sources: FloridaCommerce: Bureau of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
supplied by: CareerSource SWFL
SRMA
SRMA marks 45 years of manufacturing in Southwest Florida
Drive past the low-slung buildings along the region’s industrial corridors and you would never guess what happens inside. Behind those unremarkable walls, Southwest Floridians are machining aerospace parts, assembling medical devices, welding marine components and building products that ship around the world. It is some of the most important work in our economy, and most people never see it. The Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association has spent 45 years making sure that work does not go unnoticed. Since 1981, through booms and recessions, hurricanes and a technological revolution that has remade the factory floor, SRMA has stood behind the manufacturers of our five-county region. As the nation marks Manufacturing Month this October, we are celebrating a milestone of our own — and inviting the community to take a closer look at an industry hiding in plain sight. That phrase is more than a turn of speech. Inside those buildings are some of the best careers our region has to offer. Modern manufacturing is high-tech, high-skill and high-paying — a world of robotics, precision machining and advanced quality systems that looks nothing like the assembly lines of a generation ago. Nationally, manufacturers are
working to fill an estimated 3.8 million jobs over the coming decade, and Southwest Florida is no exception. For a student, a returning veteran, or someone ready for a fresh start, these are good jobs just down the road — and through apprenticeships and PHIL WRIGHTworkforce programs, SRMA GRANT connects local talent to them. The stakes reach well beyond any single paycheck. Manufacturing is regional infrastructure, as essential as roads or power lines. Every manufacturing job supports others up and down the supply chain, and every product shipped out of the region brings dollars back in. These companies generate wages, strengthen the tax base and provide the economic resilience that helped our region weather recent storms. It is why Florida has set an ambitious goal to become a top-10 global economy for manufacturing and supply chain — and why the momentum building right here matters far beyond our county lines. If there is a single reason SRMA has endured for 45 years, it is this: manufacturers are stronger
together than apart. When companies share what they have learned, solve problems as a group, and speak with one voice, everyone gains. That synergy saves our members time and money, sharpens their advocacy, and turns dozens of individual businesses into one community — one that, through our partnership with FloridaMakes, can also tap no-cost business assessments, grant funding, and expert consulting to grow and compete. So this Manufacturing Month, take a closer look at what is made here and who makes it. Visit a plant. Thank a manufacturer. Point a young person toward the trades. For four and a half decades, manufacturing has quietly powered Southwest Florida — and with your support, the best is yet to come. Phil Wright-Grant is Executive Director of Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association. Contact him at (813) 944-9444 or phil@srma.net. To learn more about SRMA or how to get involved, visit srma.net.
Page 10
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
SEPTEMBER 2026
HENDRY COUNTY
Manufacturing in Hendry: A rural region finding its industrial footing Hendry County, tucked into Florida’s agricultural heartland between Lake Okeechobee and the Gulf Coast, has long been defined by farming. Sugarcane, citrus, and cattle built the local economy, and agriculture still employs more residents than any other sector. But over the past decade, manufacturing has quietly emerged as a growth story, drawing new investment even as it remains a modest slice of the overall economic picture. A Small but Rising Sector Manufacturing currently accounts for a relatively small share of Hendry County’s employment base, a few dozen establishments and about 400 people are employed in the sector. It is dwarfed by agriculture, construction and retail trade. Yet manufacturing’s contribution to the county’s GDP has been climbing steadily, trailing agriculture, retail and health care. Ideal Location Hendry County is an ideal location for manufacturers since it is situated within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of more than 90 million consumers across South Florida. The county sits at the intersection of US 27 and State Road 80, both four- and six-lane divided highways connecting to the I-4 corridor and both the southeast and southwest coasts. That connectivity, combined
with land and labor costs well below those in Miami-Dade or coastal Southwest Florida, is an attraction to manufacturers looking to expand or relocate. Hendry County offers manufacturers a genuine choice of setting. The City of LaBelle combines small-town charm KEITHA DANIELS with well-developed infrastructure, ideal for companies that want a close-knit community feel. Clewiston, meanwhile, is already home to multinational enterprises, proving that world-class manufacturing operations thrive here today. Regional Approach Hendry County, for many is considered a part of SWFL; however, we are actually classified by the State as South-Central Florida. Hendry belongs to a group of counties designated by the Governor as Rural Areas of Opportunity and the South-Central zone is known as the Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity (FHERO). Through this designation, local industrial properties are granted Foreign Trade Zone status under FTZ 215. For manufacturers who import components or export finished goods, that designation can mean
significant savings on duties and streamlined customs processes. The broader “Florida Heartland” manufacturing base spanning South Central Florida encompasses more than 150 manufacturers from small fabrication shops to larger processing facilities which operate across several counties. Regional employers range from fertilizer producers turning out well over 100,000 tons annually to specialized metal and industrial fabrication firms. Looking Ahead With over 1,000 acres across three industrial sites being designed to accommodate both large and small manufacturing operations, businesses looking to expand will have more options to fit their needs. Interested in exploring a manufacturing site in Hendry County? Contact the Hendry County Economic Development Council to learn how these incentives can apply to your project. Keitha Daniels is the Director for the Hendry County Economic Development Council. She has worked for the Board of County Commissioners over the past eight years with a focus in economic development. To contact her, email keitha@hendryedc.com or call (863) 675-6007.
Manufacturing Manufacturing inLeeCounty inLeeCounty
Lee County’s manufacturing sector continues to expand and adapt to the industry’s technological advancements, offering more career opportunities.
Visit LeeCountyBusiness.com to learn how the Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO) can assist with business expansion and retention for all manufacturing needs. The Lee County EDO is also a proud partner of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA).
Your #1 Business Resource 2201 Second Street, Suite 500 Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-533-6800 EDO@LeeGov.com
Interactive Development Activity Map
Regional Economic Indicators
Business Expansion & Retention
Site Selection
SEPTEMBER 2026
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
Page 11
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Charlotte: Florida’s competitive edge for advanced manufacturing
Manufacturers have more choices than ever. The communities winning today’s projects aren’t the ones with the biggest incentive packages, they’re the ones that reduce risk, speed time to market, and prove they’ve planned for growth before it arrives. That’s why Charlotte County is earning a second look from manufacturers, aviation companies and site selectors alike. A decade ago, this was a community known for quality of life. Today it’s one of Florida’s emerging industrial and aviation hubs, built by intentional leadership and infrastructure investment made years ahead of demand. Location that delivers. Positioned along Interstate 75 between Tampa and South Florida, Charlotte County connects manufacturers to Florida’s major markets, the Southeast freight network and nearby ports and airports for domestic and global trade, without the congestion of larger metros. Planning before growth hits. The Charlotte Interactive Growth Model, built with Metro Forecasting Models, evaluates 353 Traffic Analysis Zones to forecast where growth will happen and where infrastructure needs to go first. The results speak for themselves: over 50,000 new residents and 26,000 housing units since 2020, including 7,545 units completed since January 2025 alone, with more industrial land now recommended because it strengthens the tax base while easing demand on public services.
An industrial ecosystem taking shape. The 4,300-acre Punta Gorda Interstate Airport Park (formerly Enterprise Charlotte Airport Park) is the county’s industrial and aviation anchor. Cheney Brothers built a regional distribution center here with over 500 jobs. FedEx established KAY TRACY a major distribution facility with over 400 jobs and is currently turning dirt on an additional facility. Vesta Aircoil, Lane Valente Industries, Franklin Water Treatment, ABC Supply and Dakota Premium Hardwoods have all recently expanded operations in the park. Move-in-ready spec buildings let manufacturers skip years of design and permitting, cutting project timelines dramatically. Aviation driving what’s next. Punta Gorda Airport generates roughly $1.7 billion in annual economic output and supports over 11,000 of jobs, reported by FDOT’s 2022 Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study. NAS MRO is now advancing engineering for a planned maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at the airport that will support 200 new jobs, while the proposed Industrial Park Connector will link the park directly to airport facilities, speeding freight movement for every business in between.
Talent built for industry. Charlotte County Public Schools, Charlotte Technical College, Florida SouthWestern State College, and Florida Gulf Coast University have built an employer-shaped pipeline of credentials, internships and hands-on adult (and youth) training programs in aviation maintenance, advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation and cybersecurity, so graduates contribute from day one, not months in. Partnership over paperwork. Local leadership treats site selection as a shared project, not a transaction, reducing uncertainty for investments meant to last decades. A place people want to stay. Coastal living, a growing housing supply, “A”-rated school district and infrastructure that keeps pace with population growth make recruiting and retaining talent easier here than almost anywhere else in Florida. Manufacturing hubs aren’t built overnight. Charlotte County has spent decades preparing, and the results are converging now. For manufacturers seeking Southeast access, available sites, and a workforce ready on day one, this is no longer a community to watch. It’s a community ready to compete. Kay Tracy is Economic Development Director for Charlotte County Economic Development. Contact (941) 7644944 or Kay.Tracy@charlottecountyfl.gov. Learn more at Cleared4TakeOff.com.
COLLIER COUNTY
Manufacturing is Collier’s steadiest job so let’s give it room to grow Last year in these pages, I made the case for manufacturing’s economic weight in Collier County. The picture remains strong: a sector approaching $1 billion in gross regional product and roughly 6,000 jobs, with continued growth projected. But the more urgent question is no longer what manufacturing contributes. It is what we must do to keep that growth here rather than watch it locate somewhere else. Collier’s economy is defined by industries visitors can see. Hospitality and construction are essential, and the Greater
Naples Chamber will always champion them. But both move with the seasons and with the weather. Manufacturing does not. A machine KRISTINA PARK shop, a medical device firm or a cable assembler runs in August as steadily as in February and pays wages that let
GROWTH See page 13 ®
Don’t forget to post your virtual and in-person B2B events to SWFL’s most comprehensive B2B events calendar
WHERE MANUFACTURING & INNOVATION SOAR LEARN MORE AT CLEARED4TAKEOFF.COM
swfloridabusinesstoday. com/calendar
Page 12
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
SEPTEMBER 2026
SRMA MEMBER
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SEPTEMBER 2026
Southwest Florida BUSINESS TODAY ®
SRMA MEMBER
Geis has experience in most light and heavy manufacturing industries .
Geis Companies set up to serve the SWFL community Manufacturing jobs in Lee County have grown 29% since 2018, double the rate of all jobs, and local manufacturers generate nearly $1.18 billion annually. Statewide employment tops 434,000, with Florida projected third nationally by 2032. Those trends need space. GEIS BUILDS SPACE. Geis Companies, with nearly 60 years of Northeast Ohio expertise, opened its Bonita Springs office eight years ago and is a trusted partner for manufacturers and distributors, delivering industrial and commercial facilities for lease or sale. Work with AXI, WinSupply, Lehman Pipe and IPEX, plus Chromalloy and Princeton Tool, showcases spaces built for efficiency and growth. As dedicated members of the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association (SRMA), Geis engages with a vibrant network of Southwest Florida’s 1,176 manufacturers, supporting over 13,500 local jobs. SRMA’s platform of workforce development, advocacy and networking events strengthens our ability to connect with regional businesses, helping them explore growth through facility expansions, space re-purposing or new construction. By leveraging SRMA’s resources, we deliver tailored solutions that save
clients time and money while aligning with industry best practices and market trends. Leading our efforts in Southwest Florida is JEFF Jeffrey Martin, MARTIN a 30-year Geis veteran with an engineering background and over 700 commercial and industrial projects to his name. His creative team tackles complex challenges, ensuring each project meets clients’ strategic goals. Our complimentary pre-construction services provide free assessments to evaluate feasibility and optimize plans—all it takes is a phone call to get started. With SRMA’s support and our proven expertise, Geis Companies is poised to help Southwest Florida manufacturers thrive. As Chief Operating Officer of Geis Construction, with more than 30 years with the company, Jeff Martin directs his teams of dedicated design and construction professionals that design and build each company project. Contact him at (216) 218-3508 or email at jm@geisco.net.
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GROWTH PAGE 11 employees live in the county where they work. Every manufacturing job we add is ballast in an economy that has learned, repeatedly, what volatility costs. Sustaining that growth depends on three things, and none of them solve themselves. The first is talent. Nearly 28% of our working-age population is within 10 years of retirement, a higher share than the nation carries. That is not a distant problem. It is a five-year problem. Through partnerships with the Southwest Regional Manufacturers Association, FutureMakers Coalition, Future Ready Collier and our high-quality educational institutions, we are building visible pathways from the classroom to the plant floor. Progress here is measured in credentials earned and positions filled, not in meetings held. The second is space. Manufacturers need industrial land, appropriate zoning, and buildings they can afford to occupy. In a county where land is scarce and prices reflect it, this is a policy question as much as a market one. Preserving and expanding capacity for industrial use is a decision our community makes deliberately or loses by default.
Page 13
The third is visibility. Too many parents, students and decision-makers still picture manufacturing as it looked 40 years ago. The reality is a far better story: clean facilities, advanced technology and high-skill, high-wage careers without significant student debt. Changing that perception is a shared responsibility and it starts with our doors being open. That is where SRMA members come in. Host a school tour. Take on an intern or apprentice. Serve on a curriculum advisory board. Tell your growth story to the elected officials who shape land use and workforce policy. These asks are modest individually. Collectively, they are what moves an industry from steady to strategic. The Greater Naples Chamber will continue to advocate for the policies, partnerships and training capacity this sector requires. Manufacturing has proven it belongs in Collier County’s long-term economic strategy. Our job now is to make sure the county is built to support and hold it. Kristina Park is president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber, representing more than 1,000 members working to strengthen the local economy and business community. Contact (239) 2626376.