Priority Marketing’s February 2026 Client Headlines Report recaps news stories you should read, watch or hear before the month ends.
Each month, the firm’s award-winning Public Relations Team combs through hundreds of local, national and international news headlines featuring stories about clients. This includes newspapers, magazines, television, radio, blogs, social media and websites.
Our Client Headlines Report summarizes some of the many important stories that were published or aired in February 2026.
BOOKMARK IT: Client News Feed
Development breathes new life into Cape Coral’s economy
Bimini Square, a mixed-use concept from Crown Development, commemorated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together project partners, community leaders and supporters for a first look at the residences. An economic driver for Cape Coral, the five-story, upscale community blends 198 units of boutique living with health care services, waterfront dining and a marina.
Cape Coral Breeze: Bimini Square brings revitalization to the South Cape
Cape Coral Breeze: Bimini Square ribbon-cutting marks new era
Gulfshore Business: Cape Coral’s $125M Bimini Square marks official opening
FOX4: Bimini Square development officially opens in downtown Cape Coral
WINK: Bimini Square debuts in Cape Coral, promising vibrant downtown lifestyle
Gulf Coast News: ‘An urban, walkable, livable downtown’: A look into the future of south Cape Coral
Gulf Coast News: New waterfront restaurant adds boat slips, jobs to Cape Coral
Florida Weekly: Cape Coral’s Bimini Square celebrates grand opening
The News-Press: Bimini Square makes its official debut on six acres
The News-Press: New restaurants, food trucks and breweries in Southwest Florida
Construction underway for new housing community
The Southwest Florida Housing Foundation, the nonprofit development art of The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, broke ground on The Arwyn, a 230-unit family housing community that will replace the former Horizons Apartments. The reimagined community is inspired by a shared commitment to creating a brighter future for residents, shaped by the voices of the people who call this area home. The Arwyn will feature a 4,396-square-foot clubhouse, community gardens, covered pavilions with grilling areas, a spacious dog park and in-unit washers and dryers, all designed to support connection, convenience and everyday quality of life.
WINK: Hundreds of new affordable housing units to be built, offers hope to working families in Lee County
FOX4: NFL star turned developer tackles Fort Myers affordable housing crisis
Gulfshore Business: Fort Myers breaks ground on 230-unit Arwyn
Gulfshore Business: $20M approved for 230-unit Fort Myers housing project
Marching toward a goal of ending hunger
WINK Feeds Families launched its first March to a Million Meals campaign in 2021 to benefit Harry Chapin Food Bank. The media organization and nonprofit reached the 1 million meal goal in each of its first five years, and 2026 was no different as the community again stepped up to provide meals for neighbors experiencing hunger. WINK mentioned the campaign during nearly every newscast throughout the month while producing a series of stories about the state of hunger in Southwest Florida.
Jan. 29: Southwest Florida hunger rises; community urged to support March to a Million Meals
Jan. 31: Copperleaf Community’s Hunger Walk supports Southwest Florida families in need
Feb. 1: Help Southwest Florida families: March to a Million campaign begins
Feb. 2: Harry Chapin Food Bank sees surge in demand amid rising need
Feb. 3: Why you can trust the Harry Chapin Food Bank
Feb. 4: Copperleaf Country Club raises $80,000 for March to a Million Meals
Feb. 5: Fort Myers community relies on Harry Chapin for weekly food delivers
Feb. 5: Charlotte County pantry feeds 2,000 weekly
Feb. 9: Preventing food waste is a top priority for the Harry Chapin Food Bank of SWFL
Feb. 10: Golf tournament earns more than $14,000, works to drive out hunger in SWFL
Feb. 11: Fort Myers church pantry provides food and diapers for struggling families
Feb. 12: Harry Chapin Food Bank assists struggling families in Southwest Florida
Feb. 13: Formerly homeless volunteer gives back at Cape Coral food bank
Feb. 16: Fort Myers food pantry sees rising demand, helps 5,000 in a month
Feb. 19: Harry Chapin Food Bank aids struggling families in Southwest Florida
Feb. 20: Harry Chapin is seeing more first timers in line at food distributions
Believing… and then doing
The School District of Lee County launched a new teacher recruitment initiative in April 2025 – Project Believe – that had a goal of reducing the number of vacancies from 575 to zero. Mission accomplished. The District announced that all 575 baseline vacancies were filled as of Jan. 23. That stability in the classroom is expected to boost student achievement in the coming years.
North Fort Myers Neighbor: School District says it has met goal of filling teacher vacancies
WINK: Lee County schools fills 575 openings, boosting education stability
Gulfshore Business: Lee schools close 575 teaching vacancies
Counting coins: Nickels, dimes and quarters add up
A few times each year, Sunshine Ace Hardware customers are asked if they want to round up their purchase to support Children’s Miracle Network. The 2025 Holiday Round Up pushed the retailer’s cumulative fundraising total over six years above $500K – $544,541 to be exact – to support pediatric health care through Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg.
Naples Daily News: Naples-based Sunshine Ace Hardware raises nearly $57,000 over holidays
Naples Daily News: Now you know: Sunshine Ace Hardware eclipses $500K in donations
Gulfshore Business: Sunshine Ace tops $500K for Children’s Miracle Network
Hardware Retailing: Sunshine Ace Hardware surpasses $500,000 in donations to Children’s Miracle Network
Florida Weekly: Nickels, dimes and quarters provide $500K of support for pediatric care
Captiva resort shines as backdrop for photoshoot
South Seas is still being reimagined following Hurricane Ian in 2022, but the nation is capturing glimpses of what makes the resort a first-class vacation destination. Sports Illustrated recently returned to South Seas for a third time to shoot images for its annual swimsuit issue (photographers and models also visited the resort in 1981 and 2015). The feature is bringing national attention to South Seas and Captiva while elevating Southwest Florida’s economic profile.
Sports Illustrated: South Seas Sets the Standard for Barefoot Luxury on Captiva Island
Sports Illustrated: The New Era of NFL WAGs
The News-Press: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot on Florida Island features NFL WAGs
The News-Press: 6 NFL wives, girlfriends featured in SI Swimsuit issue shot in Florida
Naples Daily News: Covers for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot at South Seas Resort
WINK: Captiva’s South Seas to feature in Sports Illustrated’s May issue
Investors Hangout: South Seas Resort Chosen for Iconic Sports Illustrated Feature
The Nelson Report: South Seas’ Rebirth: SI Swimsuit Shoot Signals Captiva’s Comeback
Awards and honors: Client recognitions
Priority Marketing helps clients share the good news when they win awards, accolades or have other exciting updates to share. Below are recent items that caught our PR team’s attention:
Premier Mobile Health Services’ Founder and CEO Nadine “Deanie” Singh was inducted into the Dunbar Festival Committee’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame.
Naples Illustrated released its 2026 Naples 100, which lists outstanding leaders in Collier County who make a lasting impact in Southwest Florida. Congratulations to our incredible clients featured in the publication: Michael Benson (Benson Blackburn), Kathy Bigham (Bigham Jewelers), Kendall Carlin (Conservancy of Southwest Florida), Karen Conley (Charity for Change), Beth Hatch (NAMI Collier County), Richard Leber (Harry Chapin Food Bank), Glenn Midnet (Design West), Chris Rozansky (Naples Airport Authority), Jamie Ulmer (Healthcare Network) and Michael Wynn (Sunshine Ace Hardware).
New faces in new places: Promotions and appointments
Priority Marketing congratulates individuals who were recently hired, promoted or awarded additional responsibilities by its client partners, including:
Southwest Florida Proton hired Joe Kascmar as director of operations
Curran Young Construction added Ellie Poeder as market development associate.
Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson and English, P.A. announced the admission of Jason T. Smith as a shareholder.
Del Mar in Naples welcomed David LaMarca as the new general manager.
Bruce Green Law Firm added Aglaë S. Van den Bergh, Esq., as an as of counsel.
Naples Airport Authority hired Navy veteran Brad Fagan as director of communications.
Do you need a Public Relations Team to help tell your story? Please give us a call today at 239-267-2638 or send an email to LetsTalk@PriorityMarketing.com.