Tourism, manufacturing co-exist in business paradise

Collier County’s economy has grown stronger than ever over the past several years, experiencing significant growth in population and business starts. Just a few miles away from world renowned beaches and tourist hubs, manufacturers in the county are aiding this economic growth— producing everything from luxury leather products to lifesaving medical devices and essential consumer goods.

The manufacturing operations in Collier County employ 4,987 workers and collectively contributed $859.2 million to our local economy in 2021, a $59.2 million increase from 2019. Average earnings per job within this sector in the county are $80,174; this is high above the average earnings per job of all collective industries in the county of $70,481. Across the board, manufacturing operations are increasing key metrics that gauge economic health including employment, capital investment, and wages.

However, local manufacturers are not insulated to labor force challenges. In the past year there were over 1,000 unique job postings for manufacturing positions. Given this, our community is working to fill employment gaps through investing in workforce training, including Immo- kalee Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Excellence (CME). section of Collier Boulevard and Interstate 75) and the Arthrex Commerce Park in Ave Maria, as future advanced manufacturing hubs.

This will ensure that our community will have suitable space for existing and new manufacturers to establish and scale their operations in Collier County so they can continue to drive economic growth.

Melanie Schmees

The most recent updates at the CME include the purchase of three additional robotic arms through a generous donation from Collier Community Foundation, which allows the Center to offer students a simulation of a fully automated facility—from raw materials to packing. The Center is also offering new trainings including a CNC production specialist program, and dual enrollment offerings for Naples High School students. Recently, the Center received an apprenticeship grant to form a manufacturing apprenticeship program, starting with machining and advanced manufacturing.

Given this favorable growth, there is a focus within the community on what the future of manufacturing might look like in Collier County. This vision considers our economic development zones which include Golden Gate City, Immokalee, Activity Center No. 9 (spanning the inter-