THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS COMING UP WITH RENOURISHED BEACHES AND MORE HOTELS.

LEE COUNTY SAW A BOOM IN SPRING TOURISM AND WITH CHANGES TO AMENITIES AN AIRPORT SERVICES LEE COUNTY IS LOOKING TO ATTRACT EVEN MORE VISITORS TO THE AREA.

MORE PEOPLE ARE PASSING THROUGH.

BUT ARE THEY STAYING FOR THE LONG HAUL?

A LOOK INTO THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AND TURNING A CLASSROOM INTO AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY.

MEET THE ENTREPRENEUR WHO IS USING HER PRESCHOOL AS A PLATFORM TO ASSIST MORE THAN JUST ITS STUDENTS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

A SURGE IN SPRING TOURISM CONFIRMS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REMAINS A TOP DESTINATION FOR TRAVELERS.

THE LEE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE REPORTS BED TAXES COLLECTED IN APRIL SHOWED EARNINGS OF OVER 9 MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S ABOUT A 12% INCREASE FROM APRIL OF LAST YEAR.

MARCH OF 2026.

SAW RECORD-BREAKING NUMBERS FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WITH MORE THAN ONE AND-A-HALF MILLION TRAVELERS THAT MAKES IT THE BUSIEST SINGLE MONTH IN THE AIRPORT'S 43 YEAR.

HISTORY.

>> FOR MORE ON HOW THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS BENEFITING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

WE ARE JOINED BY PAMELA JOHNSON.

SHE IS THE NEW DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE LEE COUNTY VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY THAT JONATHAN NYCE FOR HAVING ME.

JENNIFER, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

NOW WE HAVE SEEN SUCH A HUGE GROWTH IN TOURISM.

I BELIEVE OUR STATE.

THE LAST REPORTS WERE 140 MILLION VISITORS.

WE HAD TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA LAST YEAR ALONE AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG RECIPIENT OF THOSE TOURISTS.

AND YOU REALLY FOCUS ON LEE COUNTY.

HOW IS THE LEE COUNTY BENEFITING FROM THE TOURISTS THAT ARE THAT ARE COMING INTO THE SUNSHINE STATE.

YES, YOU KNOW, JENNIFER >> TOURISM IS REALLY SUCH AN ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND FOR OUR AREA IN PARTICULAR.

WE'RE SO BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL STATE THAT PEOPLE WANT TO TRAVEL TO END IN VACATION IS HERE AND MAKE MEMORIES WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES.

AND AS FAR AS HOW WE'VE BENEFITED, WE JUST CAME OFF OF OUR SEASON.

AS YOU KNOW, OUR PEAK SEASON AND WE DID VERY, VERY WELL OVER A MILLION VISITORS BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH, WHICH, OF COURSE, TRANSLATES THOSE VISITORS TURNED TO TRANSLATE INTO JUST AN ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE.

IN TERMS OF THAT IMPACT, THEY LEFT OUR COMMUNITY WITH FROM THEIR SPENDING, WHETHER IT BE HOTELS, VACATION RENTALS AND A SHOPPING GROCERY STORES OF EATING OUT AT RESTAURANTS, ACTIVITIES.

ALL OF THAT BENEFITS, OUR ARC, OUR COMMUNITY IN THE BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WOULD YOU FIND IT IS THE BIG MOTIVATING FACTOR AND I'M SURE THERE'S NOT ONE PIECE TO THIS PUZZLE OF WHY WE ARE SUCH AN ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION.

BUT WHAT IS YOUR DATA SHOW?

YEAH, I DATA SHOWS PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY COMING HERE.

FIRST AND FOREMOST FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL SANDY BEACHES.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL THAT THEY DO WHEN THEY'RE HERE, THEY DID.

THEY'RE MORE INCLINED TO MAYBE SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AT THE BEACHES, BUT ALSO DO OTHER THINGS WHILE THEY'RE HERE, THEY MIGHT COME DOWNTOWN TO DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE QUAINTNESS OF OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA WITH THE RESTAURANTS AND THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON OUR WALK, MUSIC WALK.

ALSO OTHER AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY LIKE BONITA SPRINGS IS REALLY, REALLY GROWING THEIR DOWNTOWN AREA.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO DO WHEN YOU'RE HERE, YOU TOUCHED ON THE BEACHES, FORT MYERS BEACH IN LEE COUNTY IS UNDER YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

>> CAN YOU GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH APPEAR THE FORT MYERS BEACH PIER IS.

>> ICONIC AND MANY TOURISTS LOVE TO COME TO THE BEACH TO SEE IT.

AND SINCE IT WAS DESTROYED AFTER IAN THIS PROJECT HAS REALLY TAKEN CENTER-STAGE, IT'S MOVING FORWARD WITH THE LATEST ON THAT.

YEAH.

AND YOU SAID IT IS ICONIC.

I MEAN, WE THAT SO MANY IMAGES THAT THAT IS OUR.

>> THAT AND THE SANIBEL LIGHTHOUSE OR JUST THE ICONIC PLACES.

AND SO IT'S IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, GET THAT THAT PIER WE BUILT IN TERMS OF WHAT THE LATEST IS.

I THINK THE COUNTY IS RATED IS READY TO GO.

WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND AND PEOPLE SHOULD ALSO KNOW THAT AND WHEN WHEN THE WHEN THE PAIR IS BUILT BACK, ITS GOING TO BE LONGER WHITER, A REALLY GREAT DESTINATION AMENITY.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

GOING FORWARD TO.

>> AND YOU CAN'T REALLY UNDERESTIMATE HOW ICONIC THAT PERIODS.

I KNOW WHEN I'VE BEEN DOWN AT THE BEACH, I'VE SPOKEN TO INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS WHO SAID I LOVE COMING TO THE PIER.

WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO REBUILD AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS.

HAVE YOU YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON THAT?

ABSOLUTELY.

YET INTERNATIONAL IS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE DO.

>> SO WHERE WE'RE AT, WE'RE GOING AFTER THE DOMESTIC VISITOR.

WE'RE ALSO GOING AFTER THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS.

>> THE INTERNATIONAL VISITOR TENDS TO STAY LONGER AND SPEND MORE.

SO IT'S A REALLY A BIG PART OF OUR MARKETING EFFORT.

SO WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT STRONG HOLD OF A INTERNATIONAL GUESTS.

AND I BELIEVE REPORTS SHOW WE HAD OVER.

>> I THINK IT WAS IT WAS 11 MILLION TRAVELERS THROUGH RSW LAST YEAR.

YES, HONEST W IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT CORNERSTONE THAT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, ALL OF THESE THAT'S AMAZING.

WE WORK THROUGH WEEK.

WE CAN'T DO IT THAT WAY.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AIRPORT >> AS RSW THAT THAT IT'S AMAZING.

THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS THAT THAT COME THROUGH AND OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GOING THROUGH AN EXPANSION.

AND I THINK IT'S THAT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE PRETTY CLEAR IN 2028.

29 TIME FRAME.

BUT IT'S GOING TO ALLOW FOR MORE GATE.

A NEW RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, LARGER.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT WILL AND HOPEFULLY WITH THAT MIGHT COME EVEN EXPANDED AIR SERVICE.

BECAUSE REALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT JENNIFER AIR SERVICE WHERE THOSE PLANES FLY TO AND FROM REALLY AFFECT ALL OF US HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IT IN AFFECTS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

AND IF THEY HAVE FOLKS WHO NEED TO GET ON A PLANE IN HEAD WEST AND AND AND ULTIMATELY TO HEAD TO WE RSW IS IS REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE BETTER CONNECTIVITY TO THE WEST COAST OF THE USA THAT THAT WILL LEAD ON 2 POINTS BEYOND AND AND ALSO A LOT OF PEOPLE ALWAYS SETH, WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET ANOTHER?

WHEN ARE WE GONNA GET A FLIGHT TO THE UK AND I I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS AT RSW ARE REALLY WORKING THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN EXPECT ANTICIPATE RATHER 26 IN EXPANSION PROCESS IS IS DONE WELL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JENNIFER.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP, BUILDING A PRESCHOOL THAT BETTORS THE COMMUNITY.

WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOL THAT IS EARNING RECOGNITION FOR INSPIRING GROWTH BEYOND ITS STUDENTS.

FLORIDA REALTORS REPORT THE HOUSING MARKET POSTED ITS 8TH STRAIGHT MONTH OF YEAR-OVER-YEAR CLOSED SALES GAINS, FLORIDA REALTORS ALSO REPORTED NEW PENDING SALES OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES JUMPED 8% YEAR-OVER-YEAR IN APRIL THAT APRIL GAME WAS MORE THAN DOUBLE THE INCREASES SEEN IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE RECENT NUMBERS GIVING US A SNAPSHOT OF THE CURRENT REAL ESTATE MARKET.

>> FOR THE LATEST UPDATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY BROKER DENNY GRIMES.

DENNY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> HEY, AS WE MOVE INTO WHAT MIGHT BE CALL THE SLOWER SUMMER MONTHS FOR HOME SALES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, IT APPEARS WE'RE STILL IN A BUYER'S MARKET, BUT THERE SEEM TO BE SIGNS WE COULD BE MOVING TO A MORE BALANCED MARKET.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE MARKET?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY SLOWER SUMMER MARKET, WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD A SLOW SUMMER MARK.

AND SOMETIMES THE INTERNET, IT'S KINDA LEVEL, BUT THINGS OFF.

NOW, WE MAY NEED TO BE QUITE AS BUSY AS OUR SEASON, BUT THE MARKET IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

IF THIS IS SLOW, I CAN TAKE SOME MORE OF IT BECAUSE THE MARKET IS REALLY STARTING TO IMPROVE.

AND I HAVE SOME NUMBERS TO KIND OF BACK THAT UP.

YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO TALK IN TERMS OF A LOT OF TALKS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF SALES AND CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF SALES AND THE CHANGE IN THE MEAN SALES PRICE.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS THESE 2 BITS OF INFORMATION ARE HISTORICAL BEST LIKE THAT.

YOU'VE ALREADY READ ABOUT THE GAME THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME REAL TIME INFORMATION THAT GIVES US A SENSE OR A DIRECTION OF WHERE THE MARKETS MOVIE AND THAT BASICALLY IS CALLED.

SUPPLY OR MONTHS OF INVENTORY.

AND THE MONTHS OF INVENTORY BASICALLY.

WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF MARKET URINE.

AND SO THERE'S SEVERAL CATEGORIES.

JENNIFER.

IF THE MARKET WEEK LEFT LIKE THE COVID MARKET, WE HAD REALLY NOTHING FOR SALE IN AND THEY SAY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 0 AND 5 MONTHS OF INVENTORY, WHICH MEANS IF NOT ANOTHER NEW HOME OR CONDO CAME ON THE MARKET.

EVERYTHING CAN BE SOLD INSIDE OF 5 MONTHS.

THAT'S CALLED A SELLERS MARKET.

THEN YOU GO 5 TO 7 MARKETS.

IT'S KIND OF A BALANCE AND THE MARKER WE'VE BEEN IN FOR THE LAST ALMOST 3 YEARS IS A BUYER'S MARKET WHERE WE HAD A TON OF THAN THE TORSO WERE OVER 7 MONTHS WERE.

BUT THAT'S CHANGING AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT A MORE OF THE POINTS THAT I DID COME UP FOR AIR.

IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO THEN ASK YOUR QUESTION, IS AND THIS IS A GOOD INFORMATION FOR THE CONSUMER OUT THERE BECAUSE IF I THINK ABOUT BUYING OR SELLING AND THEY WANT TO HIRE AN AGENT, THEY SHOULD ASK THAT THE AGENT ABOUT INVENTORY AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH INVENTORY BECAUSE IT IS THE BAROMETER OF REAL ESTATE JUST LIKE AS WE APPROACH HURRICANE SEASON, WE WATCH THE CHANGE IN BAROMETRIC PRESSURE.

THAT KIND OF SIGNALS.

THERE COULD BE A WEATHER PATTERN COMING OUR WAY.

OUR INVENTORY IS THE SAME.

TELL TALE.

AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS INVENTORIES DROPPING, WHICH MEANS BUYERS ADVANTAGE MAY BE LEVELING OFF AND MAKING IT MORE OF A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR THE SELLERS.

>> DENNY, WHY IS THIS MARKET TIGHTENING?

WHY IS THE INVENTORY DECREASING A LITTLE BIT.

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

CAN HAPPEN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS, JENNIFER.

AND I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

YOU'RE IN A MOMENT.

IN FACT, SALES ARE UP FROM JANUARY THROUGH APRIL THIS YEAR, OVER LAST YEAR, UP 11, 12%.

SO THERE ARE MORE THINGS BEING SOLD IN ALL CATEGORIES.

THE OTHER THING AND THERE'S SOME SELLERS OUT THERE THAT ARE REALIZING THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE NUMBERS THEY ONCE HAD DURING COVID.

AND SO WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS JUST DECIDED NOT TO PUT THEIR HOME ON THE MARKET ARE TAKING IT OFF THE MARKET, WHICH CREATES LESS AND THEN TAUREAN.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE INVENTORY NUMBERS OF THE 3 COUNTIES I UP HERE BASICALLY LAST YEAR.

YOU'LL SEE THAT VERSUS THIS YEAR.

INVENTORY IS DOWN AND WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON IS IS THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN THERE.

THAT INVENTORY IS DOWN IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES, CONDOS AND HIGH RISES, WHICH MEANS THAT THE THE THE MARKET IS IMPROVING BACK TOWARDS EQUILIBRIUM AND THE BUYERS HAVE HAD THE ADVANTAGE THE LAST 2 AND A HALF 3 YEARS NOW IT'S BECOMING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

THAT'S COLLIER COUNTY LEE COUNTY'S THE SAME THING.

AND IF YOU REALLY LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THE SEGMENT AND MARKET LOOK AT THE CHANGE BASICALLY IN HIGH-RISE CONDOS IN LEE COUNTY TREMENDOUS CHANGE DOWN 9 MONTHS.

SO IT IS BECOMING MORE OF A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD THERE.

AND OF COURSE, OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE NORTH, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A HIGH-RISE MARKET.

YOU CAN SEE THE SAME TREND THERE AND IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY.

SO BUYERS THAT HAVE THE SITTING ON THEIR HANDS WAITING FOR BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE SITUATION.

I THINK THEY MISSED THE BOAT >> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S THE MEDIAN PRICE OF THE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES RIGHT NOW IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> YOU'RE IN MY MIND.

I ACTUALLY HAVE INFORMATION AS I MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO, SALES ARE UP ALMOST 11 12%.

ALL 3 COUNTIES.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS.

GOOD NEWS FOR LENDERS.

GOOD NEWS FOR SELLERS AND BUYERS ARE LOSING EITHER.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING HERE, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE.

LEE COUNTY AND CHARLOTTE COUNTY ARE KIND OF ALMOST THE SAME IN OUR MEDIAN.

THERE HASN'T BEEN MUCH OF A CHANGE OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

NOW, COLLIER COUNTY ARE YET COLLIER COUNTY IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

THEIR MEDIAN SALES PRICE IN APRIL, JUST LAST MONTH WAS $900,000.

THAT'S THE BEST.

IT'S BEEN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE 2005.

AND THEIR ON ANOTHER STRONGER PUSH AND WITH A HIGHER PRICE RANGE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THOSE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HOMES AND ETCETERA THAT ARE SELLING DOWN THERE.

SO FOR SALE AND 30 40 MILLION DOLLAR HOMES IS PULLING THAT MEDIAN SALES PRICE UP.

SO THE MARKET IS A LITTLE HEALTHIER PRICE WISE IN COLLIER COUNTY THAT IT IS IN CHARLOTTE AND LEE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EXPERTISE TODAY.

DENNY, THANKS.

>> YOU CAN STAY AHEAD OF THAT.

CHANGING FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET.

>> BY CHECKING OUT OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

>> ECONOMIST OFTEN SAY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ECONOMY EVERY YEAR.

THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER AT FGCU NAMES.

ONE OWNER AS THE DISTINGUISHED ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AS WGCUS MIKE WALCHER REPORTS.

THE MOST RECENT AWARD GOES TO A WOMAN WHOSE VISION IS FOCUSED ON HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN.

THEIR PARENTS AND WOMEN LOOKING FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES >> IT IS.

>> 785 CHILDREN UP TO 5 YEARS OF AGE, SPEND THEIR DAYS AT OPEN DOORS.

PRESCHOOLS IN LEE COUNTY.

IT'S A RESULT OF RACHEL MCENTIRE'S HARD WORK.

SHE IS THIS YEAR'S TOP ENTREPRENEUR >> IT MAKES ME FEEL A LITTLE TEARY RIGHT NOW.

EVEN THINKING ABOUT IT, I THINK JUST DEEP GRATITUDE.

DEEP GRATITUDE FOR, YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE FOR SELECTING ME OUT OF WE HAD 100 NOMINEES.

>> ABOUT 21 YEARS AGO, MCINTYRE SAYS SHE SPOTTED A NEED FOR EARLY LEARNING AND VOLUNTARY PRE KINDERGARTEN IN THIS AREA.

SHE OPENED A PLACE WITH A STAFF OF ONE HERSELF.

NOW SHE EMPLOYS 160 PEOPLE.

>> I FEEL LIKE WE'RE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE ECONOMY.

I MEAN, WE WE SUPPORT EMPLOYERS BY PROVIDING A PLACE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO PUT THEIR CHILDREN SAFELY WHILE THEY WORK.

>> OPEN DOORS HAS 5, 3, AND AFTER SCHOOL LOCATIONS OF LEE COUNTY AND ONE IN DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE NEAR WHERE MACINTYRE GREW UP.

THE PRESCHOOLS ARE TOP NOTCH GOLD SHIELD ACCREDITED.

THAT'S RARE IN FLORIDA, ACCORDING TO MCINTYRE AND OPEN DOORS AS ONE HONORS AND THE GREAT PLACE TO WORK COMPETITIONS.

>> BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR, I THINK JUST MEANS BEING ALL AND I REALLY LIVE AND BREATHE.

WHAT WE'VE DONE.

I I THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

>> THE STATE CERTIFIES THAT ALL TEACHERS HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST 45 HOURS OF TRAINING AND TEACHERS MUST TAKE REFRESHERS EVERY 6 MONTHS.

MACINTYRE LIKES TO PROMOTE FROM WITH THEM.

>> SHE GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND SHE GIVES OPPORTUNITY TO ALL THE TEACHERS.

TUITION IS $13,000 A YEAR.

>> AND OPEN DOORS HELPS MANY PARENTS GET GRAHAM FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.

JAMES JONES HAS ENROLLED HIS SON LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AT THE ESTERO LOCATION.

>> THE VISIONS GREAT.

THE MY SON'S LEARNING IS GOING WAY UP ALL THE COLORING.

ALL THE, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING LETTERS, NUMBERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE FAMILY IS NIGHT, YOU KNOW, DROPPING YOUR KIDS OFF TO A BUNCH OF STRANGERS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR KID.

THEY SPOIL THE HECK OUT OF MY KIDS HERE.

THEY LOVE THEM.

>> ALL THE WAY.

EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON HOW THE CHILDREN LEARN AND GROW.

AND MCINTYRE PROMISES TO NEVER LOSE TRACK OF THAT KEY.

>> HAVING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5 ARE SUCH A GIFT.

>> AND AND THEY ARE THEY'RE GENIUSES.

THEY'RE BRILLIANT EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOMS.

THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY SOLVE, THE THINGS THAT THEY COME UP WITH.

>> ARE THEY'RE JUST INCREDIBLE AND INSPIRATIONAL.

WE WANT TO PRESERVE THAT MCINTYRE SAYS SHE PLANS TO EXPAND OPEN DOORS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA AND BEYOND.

WE SAID WE WANT TO EMPOWER 10,000 WOMEN BY.

>> PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT.

>> AND I ALSO PROVIDING CHILDCARE SO THAT MOTHERS CAN GO INTO THE WORKFORCE AND BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND ALL OF THOSE WAYS.

AND SO WE WANT TO EXPAND TO HAVE 100 CENTERS BY 2035.

AND WE SAY SHOOT FOR THE MOON AND MAYBE WILL LAND AMONG THE STARS.

>> BIG DREAMS.

BUT THIS ENTREPRENEUR IS DETERMINED TO MAKE THEM COME TRUE.

FOR WGCU NEWS, I'M MIKE WALCHER.

>> HERE'S SOME MORE INFORMATION ON EDUCATION FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS ESTIMATES THAT ALMOST 60% OF 5 YEAR-OLDS IN THE U.S.

ARE ENROLLED IN PRESCHOOL.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH OUR COVERAGE ON EDUCATION ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BY SIMPLY LOGGING ONTO WGCU DOT ORG.

AND COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, AS MORE AND MORE FLORIDIANS REPORT DEALING WITH A MENTAL CRISIS, WE HEAR FROM A COLLIER COUNTY ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES FREE CARE IN SERVICES TO ANYONE IN NEED.

IN FLORIDA.

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT NEARLY ONE AND-A-HALF MILLION PEOPLE ARE LIVING WITH UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS.

THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS IS FLORIDA RANKS NEAR THE VERY BOTTOM IN THE COUNTRY FOR ACCESS TO CARE AS PART OF OUR LOOK INTO MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT AN AGENCY IN COLLIER COUNTY HELPING TO PROVIDE FREE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

>> FOR MORE, I'M JOINED BY BETH HATCH.

SHE'S THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR NAMI COLLIER.

MS.

HATCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF NAMI COLLIER?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO NAMI COLLIER AS THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR U.S.

OVER 650 AFFILIATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

BUT WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE HERE IN COLLIER COUNTY TO HAVE A MUCH LARGER AFFILIATE WHERE WE HAVE AND MUCH MORE ARE PARTICIPATION MODEL.

WE HAVE A 2 STORY BUILDING AND WE SERVE FROM CHILDREN, INFANTS AND TODDLERS ALL THE WAY TO SENIORS AND VETERANS AND AND MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.

SO WE'RE ALL TAKING ACTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH BECAUSE MENTAL HEALTH IS SO IMPORTANT IT TOUCHES ONE IN 4 OF US IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND SO MANY OF THAT, THOSE ONE IN 4, ALSO CAREGIVERS FOR A LOVED ONE.

WE KNOW THAT CAREGIVING TAKES A LOT AND 84 MILLION IN THE U.S.

ARE TAKING CARE OF A LOVED ONE WITH SOME TYPE OF MENTAL ILLNESS OR, YOU KNOW, MEDICAL CONDITION AND THE STATISTICS SAY THAT 32 HOURS ARE ADDED TO A CAREGIVER SCHEDULE EACH WEEK.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE TO AND ANOTHER FULL-TIME JOB.

>> A COLLIER COUNTY TYPICALLY RANKS AS ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WITH HIGH INVESTMENT INCOME AND HIGH MEDIAN HOME VALUE.

SO ONE MIGHT THINK THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES IS JUST NOT AS PREVALENT IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS FLUENT THAT THAT IS A MYTH, CORRECT?

>> IT CERTAINLY IS A MATH.

AS I JUST SAID, THE ONE IN 4 AND THE ONE THING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH THAT DOESN'T DISCRIMINATE ZIP CODES YOU CAN THE THE THE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE MOST NEED OR AND BEAUTIFUL PORT ROYAL AND THE NEEDS ARE THE WE RUN A FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP FOR CAREGIVERS AND THAT IS A COMMON COMMON THING.

NO MATTER WHERE THEY'RE FROM.

THEIR STORIES ARE VERY SIMILAR.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT GROUP IS THAT THEY REALIZE WHILE MY STORY IS SIMILAR TO YOUR STORY AND IT REALLY REALLY HELPS THE JOURNEY SO THAT THEY'D EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE ON THEIR JOURNEY.

AND THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS ARE?

>> THAT YOUR AGENCY UTILIZES TO HELP ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

>> FOR SURE.

A QUICK SYNOPSIS.

WE WE SERVE CHILDREN, AS I MENTIONED, AS YOUNG, AS YOU KNOW, INFANTS AND TODDLERS.

AND WE ARE A HUGE REFERRAL SOURCE FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

CLAIR COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 700 CHILDREN THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN WHAT WE CALL CARE COORDINATION.

AND SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THAT MEANS WE ARE HELPING THE FAMILY STEP-BY-STEP HEALTHCARE HAS A LOT OF BARRIERS.

WE ALL KNOW THAT SO WE CAN REMOVE THOSE BARRIERS AND HELP THEM ALONG THE LINE.

WE HAVE A WHOLE CLINICAL TEAM BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT EARLY INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GET KEEP THE CHILDREN IN, GET THEM DIAGNOSED.

IF THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND THEN WE STAY WITH THEM.

THE REALLY GREAT THING IS THAT EVERY PROGRAM AT NAMI IS NO COST.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO GET THEM AND GET THEM AND THEN STAY WITH THEM.

THERE'S NO LIMIT ON THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR ADULTS, YOUNG ADULTS AND SENIORS AND VETERANS.

WE HAVE A DAILY ADULT PROGRAM.

WE WORK ON LIFE SKILLS.

WE'LL LOOK AT SUPPORT OF EMPLOYMENT.

WE LOOK AT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

WE REALLY ARE THAT WRAP-AROUND CARE.

AND AGAIN, MOVING ALONG THE KENYA CONTINUUM OF CARE AND HELPING THEM THE DAY PROGRAM FOR OUR ADULTS.

PEOPLE SAY YOU PUT EVERYBODY TOGETHER ALL AGES.

YES, BECAUSE THE WORLD IS ALTOGETHER AND THEY LEARN FROM EACH OTHER IN 8TH ARRIVE WITH EACH OTHER AS AS YOUNGER ADULTS, YOUNGER ADULTS, THEY NEED TO LEARN LIFE SKILLS.

AND AS WE GET OLDER AS A SENIOR, WE NEED TO RE-LEARN THEM.

SO WE JUST HAVE A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT WE JUST REALLY ARE THAT HAND HOLDER THAT COMPASS THROUGH LIFE AND MENTAL HEALTH CAN BE HARD BECAUSE THERE'S NOT JUST A QUICK FIX.

IT CAN TEAR FAMILIES APART AND MANY TIMES SO MANY THAT WE SERVE DO NOT HAVE SOMEONE TO ADVOCATE WITH THEM OR BE WITH THEM.

I WOULD SAY IT'S A FLORIDA THING, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY COMMONLY BECOME THAT FAMILY.

>> AND WHAT IS THE HOPE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION ULTIMATELY?

>> THE HOPE IS JUST REALLY, TRULY THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING ALONE.

THERE'S A 13 YEAR GAP.

AND FORTUNATELY THAT THAT STAT IS JUST STAGGERING.

BUT A 13 YEAR GAP AND PEOPLE'S SHOWING SIGNS OF MENTAL AND THEN GETTING TREATMENT.

WE HAVE TO CHANGE THAT.

AND AND SO BECAUSE THAT AFFECTS PHYSICAL HEALTH, AS WE SAID, WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE.

WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE STIGMA.

IF SOMEONE HAS DIABETES OR CANCER, YOU KNOW, WE'RE THE FIRST ONES TO SAY WHO'S GOING TO GO TO THE APPOINTMENT WITH YOU?

WE NEED TO NOT BE AND MAKE IT MORE OF A COMMON STATEMENT.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT IT MORE AND DON'T BE AFRAID.

LISTENING IS SO IMPORTANT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE YOUR PHD AND MENTAL HEALTH TO SEE HOW SOMEONE'S DOING BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT LIFE IS THROWING AT SOMEONE ON A DAILY BASIS AND LIFE IS HARD SOMETIMES.

SO MANY COVERED UP REALLY GOOD.

SO WHEN WE SAY, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE YOU?

WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING OKAY.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

>> THANK YOU.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> NOW IF YOU ARE DEALING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO THE SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE BY CALLING OR TEXTING 9, 8, 8, COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM.

PROVIDING RELIEF TO SANDWICH CAREGIVERS AS MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISING CHILDREN WHILE ALSO CARING FOR AGING PARENTS.

WE TALK WITH SENATOR RICK SCOTT ABOUT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO EASE THAT BURDEN.

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MAKE SURE YOU HAD TO WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE NEXT TIME FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.