Lee County's business landscape is surging into 2026, anchored by massive development projects, international recognition for local companies, and record-breaking permit activity that signals sustained economic confidence in Southwest Florida.
Kingston: 11,000 Homes Rising from Farmland
The most ambitious development project in Lee County history is taking shape in the southeast corner of the county. Kingston, a master-planned community of more than 11,000 homes, has broken ground on former King Ranch farmland near the Corkscrew Road corridor. Developer Cameratta Companies has partnered with national builders including Lennar, Pulte Homes, Neal Communities, and Taylor Morrison for the first phase, with Kolter Homes joining Phase 2.
Model homes are expected by the end of March, with the first homeowner keys turning by fall 2026. The community will feature 32 pickleball courts (12 indoor), basketball courts, and an indoor sports complex. Cameratta estimates spending roughly 00 million on environmental restoration, including a panther crossing under Corkscrew Road to protect Florida's endangered wildlife.
Five SWFL Companies Earn Edison Awards
Five Southwest Florida businesses have been named among the distinguished companies to be honored as global innovators at the 2026 Edison Awards, an international competition recognizing excellence in new product and service development. The awards ceremony culminates in April, putting Lee County's growing innovation economy on the world stage.
Estero Permits Hit 22 Million
The Village of Estero issued an estimated 22.1 million in residential and commercial building permits during 2025, marking the second-highest annual total since the village incorporated in 2014. Only the 98.3 million recorded in 2024 was higher, reflecting sustained developer confidence in the southern Lee County corridor.
Seven Islands Moves Forward
Cape Coral's long-awaited Seven Islands project is advancing toward reality after the city council met with developers to discuss the 48-acre development along Old Burnt Store Road. The project, featuring seven man-made islands, has been in the works for nearly a decade. Mayor John Gunter called the meeting "a key milestone" in bringing the vision to fruition.
Property Fraud Prevention
Lee County Clerk and Comptroller Kevin Karnes completed a first-in-Florida property fraud prevention pilot program, demonstrating the county's leadership in protecting homeowners from title fraud schemes that have proliferated across the state.
