Good news for the development and job market in Fort Myers and the community of Gateway as the Fort Myers Regional Partnership (Lee County’s Economic Development Office) announced today that the county and State of Florida have approved additional financial incentives for Gartner, Inc.to support its expansion in Fort Myers, Florida.

The approval of this project is in addition to the original incentives awarded in April 2009 with the creation of an additional 200 net new jobs in the professional, scientific, and technical industry. The enhanced overall value-added economic impact for Lee County is $181.9M for a six-year period. Gartner currently employs 350 in Fort Myers at it’s Gateway location and will be expanding into a new 120,000 sq. ft. build-to-suit facility being constructed by McGarvey Development Company in Gateway. The construction is taking place directly across from the current Gartner office.

As part of the project, Gartner will receive $500,000 from the Quick Action Closing Fund from the State of Florida. Gartner will also receive a Qualified Tax Incentive (QTI) from the State of Florida and Lee County worth $1,200,000. Of the $1.2M, QTI incentives, $960,000 or 80 percent comes from the State and the remaining 20 percent, or $240,000, match comes from the Lee County incentive program. “This enhanced economic impact and growth by Gartner also provides the conditional approval of $1M in FIRST incentives with the creation of what is now 400 new jobs,” stated Jim Moore, executive director of the Fort Myers Regional Partnership, Lee County’s Economic Development Office. “Gartner is an integral part of our business community and we support their commitment and thought leadership in the information technology arena. That directly impacts our residents, as well as their worldwide customer base.”

“Gartner is honored to have Lee County and the State of Florida as our strategic partners, sharing in our vision for economic growth and expansion. We look forward to adding new talent to our existing workforce in the local area,” said Gartner spokesman Lew Schwartz.