Priority Marketing’s August 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 below summarizes some of the many important stories that were published or aired in August 2026.
BOOKMARK IT: Client News Feed
Fort Myers welcomes sweet addition to culinary scene
Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant celebrated a milestone moment marking its relocation from Sanibel to Fort Myers following Hurricane Ian. A proud member of the regional business community, Sweet Melissa’s welcomed local leaders and chamber members to experience the chef-driven, farm-to-table dining destination firsthand. Guests sampled bites from the restaurant’s seasonal menu before a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Sanibel Captiva Islander: Sweet Melissa’s celebrates with ribbon-cutting
Florida Weekly: Society: Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant ribbon cutting ceremony
Santiva Chronicle: Sweet Melissa’s Marks New Chapter in Fort Myers With Chamber Ribbon-Cutting
Gulf Coast News: ‘Gulfcoasting’ at Sweet Melissa’s with Chef Melissa Donahue for Sizzle Dining
Local business prepare residents for height of hurricane season
August and September are peak periods during the Atlantic hurricane season, and several Priority Marketing clients stand ready to help the community get back on its feet after a storm. Preparation is incredibly important, and representatives from Sunset Air & Home Services, Lloyd Roofing and Sunshine Ace Hardware were recently on television and in print offering helpful tips to local residents and businesses.
Gulf Coast News: 4 tips to prepare your home’s AC for hurricane season in Florida
Naples Press: Double-check weak spots in your storm prep
Gulf Coast News: Select hurricane supplies are now tax-free year-round in Florida
Books, balls and bracelets bring awareness to nonprofit
A.N.A.’s Friends is among a surge of local nonprofits driving impact across the community. In recent weeks, CEO Jessica Kaestner has published a children’s book, visited a TV station and radio station for back-to-back interviews, lent her voice to draw support to vital charitable causes and partnered with a pair of youth-led nonprofits – Athletes Activating Champions & Empowerment for a pickleball clinic and Kidz Care 4 Kidz for a bracelet-making fundraiser. The media push resulted in additional awareness to A.N.A.’s Friends mission of supporting local children who have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Gulf Coast News: Fort Myers nonprofits host pickleball day for kids and teens
WGCU: A.N.A.’s Friends helps kids and foster families through difficult times
WGCU: Supporting children in foster care
Florida Weekly: Local Southwest Florida girls turn creative talents into donations for A.N.A.’s Friends
Cape Coral Breeze: A.N.A.’s Friends CEO publishes book chronicling experiences of children in foster care
A multi-agency collaboration at Collaboratory
The merger between the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce added a new partner with the organization’s recent move to Collaboratory in Fort Myers, where community leaders, chamber members, nonprofit partners and business professionals gathered for a ribbon-cutting to commemorate a new chapter focused on strengthening partnerships and expanding opportunities throughout Southwest Florida.
Business Observer: Greater Fort Myers Chamber opens new HQ
Gulfshore Business: Greater Fort Myers Chamber moves headquarters downtown
The News-Press: Collaboratory welcomes Fort Myers, Sanibel business networks
The News-Press: Fort Myers, Sanibel chambers of commerce move downtown at Collaboratory
Florida Weekly: Greater Fort Myers Chamber celebrates new headquarters at Collaboratory
SWFL proves it’s ‘One in a Million’
This spring, United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades announced it had a $1.6 million shortfall in its annual campaign. After launching its “One in a Million” campaign, generous donors, businesses, partner agencies, community supporters and foundations – including an impressive $250,000 gift from Lee Health through the Lee Health Foundation – stepped up to fund critical programs and services that serve thousands of local individuals and families.
WGCU: ‘One in a Million’ campaign helps local United Way close funding gap
Pine Island Eagle: United Way reaches its fundraising goal
Gulfshore Business: United Way reaches $11.5M annual campaign goal
Cape Coral Breeze: United Way reaches goal
Educators, students return to the classroom
Nearly 200,000 students returned to school in August across Southwest Florida as public, private and charter schools began the 2026-27 academic year. Among those with successful openings were The School District of Lee County, which educates more students than Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties combined, earned media coverage for its partnership with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that is using citations from drivers illegally passing stopped school buses to fund new transportation software. Meanwhile, Nova Classical STEM Academy opened its doors and became the first school in the world to integrate a Classical education foundation with STEM-enriched, project-based learning.
WINK: Lee County school bus camera citations funding new student routing software
The News-Press: What will be different Lee County schools this year?
Gulf Coast News: 686 drivers issued citations for passing stopped buses in Lee County during first school week
SWFL Family Magazine: Why public school has worked for our family
Florida Weekly: Nova Classical STEM Academy welcomes first students of inaugural school year
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:
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2026 Chamber Awards, recognizing two Priority Marketing clients as winners: Bay Street Yard was Small Business of the Year and Robbie Roepstorff of Edison National Bank won the Community Impact Award. Additionally, finalists included Gina Dengler and Crystal Maldonado of Collaboratory, Dr. Arie Dosoretz of Advocate Radiation Oncology, Florida Trust Wealth Management, Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach, Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County and Madison Mitchell of United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades.
Lykes Bros. Inc. was recognized as the 2025-26 South Region Alpha Landowner of the Year by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement.
Airports Council International – North America awarded Naples Airport Authority its distinguished Airport Workforce Development Accreditation.
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau honored Shawn Farrell, general manager at South Seas, as Best Tourism Boss at its 26th annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards.
Curran Young Construction won the Florida Home Builders Association’s Grand Aurora Award for Best Commercial Project for the Beach House at South Seas on Captiva Island.
Lloyd Roofing climbed 10 spots to No. 46 nationally in Roofing Contractor’s 2026 list of the Top 100 Roofing Contractors in America.
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:
Lee BIA Builders Care named Phillip Ford as its executive vice president.
Florida Trust Wealth Management added Rowen Goodman, CFP, as vice president, wealth services advisor.
Collaboratory appointed four community members to its board of trustees: David Collins, Leigh Frizzell Hayes, Tracy McMillion and Fred Weinman.
Florida Trust Wealth Management promoted Naples marketing manager Samira Molabecirovic to senior vice president.
Design West promoted JoAnna Palinchak from vice president of operations to president.
Do you need an experienced team of industry leaders to help tell your story? Please give us a call today at 239-267-2638 or send an email to Info@PriorityMarketing.com.