The international airport, I-75, and FGCU have driven the area’s growth and its identity. Estero is one of the top three cities in Florida for fastest job growth, recently luring Hertz to relocate their world headquarters from New Jersey because of its diverse community appeal, work force availability, accessibility, and favorable corporate tax environment.
A strong education system in Southwest Florida exists with multiple higher learning institutions, strong public and private school systems, and several technical vocational schools. Lee County has implemented a School Choice program that divides the district into three zones and WildBlue lies within the highest-rated South Zone. Universities and colleges include Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), Florida Southwestern State College (FSW), Hodges, Keiser, and Nova Universities, Ave Maria University, Rasmussen College, and Southern Technical College.