If you've driven down U.S. 41, tried to secure a dinner reservation during peak season, or navigated the bustling...
Growth Articles
Where do Residents think the Village of Estero should Prioritize Its Efforts?
The Engage Estero Survey (March 2026) Executive Summary The Engage Estero survey, conducted in March 2026, gathered...
Why is our infrastructure lagging behind residential and commercial development?
Introduction Many planners and researchers would say that Southwest Florida (SWFL) shows a larger-than-average...
November RERI analysis
November RERI AnalysisHere’s the November RERI (Regional Economic Research Institute) story in plain language for our Engage Estero audience—what’s moving, what’s slowing, and what it means for residents. First, a quick reset on expectations: September is always the...
Village of Estero’s 2025–2026 Budget
Village of Estero’s 2025–2026 BudgetProtecting Property Values While Planning for Growth Engage Estero’s Perspective: Every fall, the Village of Estero undertakes one of its most vital tasks: preparing, presenting, and approving the annual budget. For property...
What the Latest Regional Economic Research Institute Report Reveals About Estero and Southwest Florida
What the Latest Regional Economic Research Institute Report Reveals About Estero and Southwest FloridaEach month, the Regional Economic Research Institute (RERI) at Florida Gulf Coast University publishes a report on our local economy. The August 2025 edition provides...
What Is Resilience? Why Should Greater Estero Be Concerned?
What Is Resilience? Why Should Greater Estero Be Concerned?What Is Being Done and What More Should Be Considered to Secure Our Future? Introduction Compared to the 1980s, there are now twice as many days with temperatures over 50 °C and in more locations around...
Real Estate Shifts in Estero – What the Latest Numbers Mean to You
Real Estate Shifts in EsteroWhat the latest numbers mean to you. If you’ve been watching the local housing market, you’ve noticed some changes, and the latest report from FGCU’s Regional Economic Research Institute confirms it: The real estate “winds” are...
Government Lite and the Village’s Use of the Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) Contracting
Government Lite and the Village's Use of the Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) ContractingIn 2013, as Estero prepared to become a municipality, many felt the Village should be run differently than others in Southwest Florida. According to its website, the Village of...
Engage Estero’s 2nd Greater Estero Community Report 2025 Adapt or Perish
Engage Estero's 2nd 2025Greater Estero Community ReportAdapt or Perish (Written by Allan Bowditch, President, Engage Estero) PDF Version Introduction During a...
Summary of the State of the Region Event Hosted by SWFL Inc. June 4, 2025
Summary of the State of the Region Event Hosted by SWFL Inc. June 4, 2025The SWFL Inc. State of the Region event provided valuable insights for Estero residents, highlighting the community's resilience, adaptation, and cherished experiences centered around the sun,...
Key Economic Trends in Southwest Florida
Key Economic Trends in Southwest FloridaThe following summary from Engage Estero is based on the May 2025 Regional Economic Indicators report from Florida Gulf Coast University's Regional Economic Research Institute. The report highlights several economic trends in...