"Celebrate Women 2020" honors champions of women’s suffrage with monthly events

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 17, 2020) – Southwest Florida civic groups and the Fort Myers Mayor’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee (MDIAC) announce the launch of “Celebrate Women 2020.” The year-long observance, inspire...

Ward 1 Community Meeting takes place on January 28

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2020) – Fort Myers City Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown will host a Ward 1 Community Meeting on Tuesday, January 28, at 6:00 p.m. at the IMAG History & Science Center, located at 2000 Cranford Avenue, Fo...

No changes in City of Fort Myers solid waste collection for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday

Read on...

City of Fort Myers hosts American Red Cross Lifeguard Training

FORT MYERS, FL (Jan. 14, 2020) – The City of Fort Myers Aquatics Program is hosting an American Red Cross lifeguard training course starting on Saturday, February 15 at the Golfview Pool, located at 1865 Golfview Ave, Fort Myers. Training takes ...

Ward 6 Community Meeting takes place on January 15

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 9, 2020) – Fort Myers City Councilwoman Gaile Anthony will host a Ward 6 Community Meeting on Wednesday, January 15 at 4:00 p.m. at the Treeline Fire Station meeting room, located at 9700 Treeline Avenue, Fort Mye...

Ward 4 Community Meeting takes place on January 8

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 6, 2020) – Fort Myers City Councilman Kevin Anderson will host a Ward 4 Community Meeting on Wednesday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the FMPD Golf View Substation, 1803 Golf View Avenue, Fort Myers. All are welcome to attend....

Ward 2 Community Meeting CANCELED

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 30, 2019) – The regularly-scheduled Ward 2 community meeting hosted by Fort Myers City Councilman Johnny W. Streets, Jr. that would occur on Thursday, January 2, 2020 is canceled.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, February 6...

Community meeting addresses zoning changes

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 30, 2019) – The City of Fort Myers is hosting a community meeting Thursday, January 2, 2020 to discuss city-initiated rezoning and a future land use map amendment for 2.16 acres on the south side of Lemon Street between Ev...

Complete Count Committee established for 2020 Census

The City of Fort Myers has established a complete count committee (CCC) for the upcoming 2020 Census. The CCC works to raise awareness and encourage participation in the census, and is led by Ms. Geri Ware, who is assisted in the effort by Ms. Patricia Sa...

American Legion partners with city to honor veterans by cleaning headstones

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Nov. 7, 2019) – Local American Legion posts worked together to honor veterans through cleaning veterans’ headstones at Woodlawn and Oak Ridge cemeteries in Fort Myers on Saturday, November 9.

Partnering with the City of Fort Myers, Americ...

Florida Department of Environmental Protection to host monthly educational meetings

FORT MYERS, Fla.  (October 31, 2019) – In an effort to improve its communication with the regulated community, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is hosting free monthly educational meetings. The first meeting tak...

Fort Myers named #1 best place to retire in the United States

FORT MYERS, FL (Oct. 9, 2019) –  U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, has named Fort Myers as the #1 best place to retire in the United States. Topping the 2020 list, Fort Myers had increases...

City Announces Temporary 75% Reduction in Building Permit Fees

The Fort Myers City Council recently voted to cut building permit fees by 75% for one year beginning on October 1st, 2019.

Per Resolution 2019-20, the City shall temporary reduce the current BPI schedule of fees 75% for one year for building permit applica...

Midtown Receives APA Florida Award

The City of Fort Myers Midtown Vision was recognized with an Awards of Merit at the 2019 American Planning Association’s (APA) Florida Conference held in Sandestin, Florida. The city’s Midtown Vision Plan won a Best Practices award, and the Southwest Flor...

Midtown Receives FPZA Award

The City of Fort Myers Midtown Vision was selected for the 2019 Florida Planning & Zoning (FPZA) Award for Outstanding Plan. The City was recognized at FPZA’s annual conference and award banquet held in Key West.

The Midtown Vision Plan: Downtown Fort ...

Complete Count Committee established for 2020 Census

The City of Fort Myers has established a complete count committee (CCC) for the upcoming 2020 Census. The CCC works to raise awareness and encourage participation in the census, and is led by Ms. Geri Ware, who is assisted in the effort by Ms. Patricia Sa...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

Follow Us on Social Media!

Follow us on our social media platforms Facebook and Instagram: @fortmyersfire to see what the Fort Myers Fire Department is doing.

Fire Prevention Month

In October 2019 Fort Myers Fire Department provided 14 school presentations to over 300 children explaining the importance of practicing exit drills in the home and having a plan for escape if a fire was to occur.  Fire crews also canvased 4 neig...

Road Watch Update

Click to view the Road Watch Update for January 8 - January 15, 2020.

Tips on Water Conservation

No one wants to waste a precious natural resource, or have a high water bill. Read below for a few helpful tips on conserving water.

• Turn off faucets. Turn water off as you wash or rinse dishes, wash your hands or face, brush your teeth or shave.
• Use every ...

RecTrac and GolfTrac Systems - Coming Soon

The City of Fort Myers is moving to new management systems for city-owned recreation facilities and its two golf courses.

RecTrac is a fully integrated parks and recreation management software used to increase efficiency and productivity, while providing l...

STARS - Winter Camp

STARS Complex will not have Winter Camp on January 6, 2020 and January 7, 2020. We will open for regular business on Wednesday, January 8th, 2020.

Read More

Billy Bowlegs Park - Youth Soccer

City Walk TIF Agreement Amendment Approved by CRA Board of Commissioners

The Developer, City Walk Fort Myers LLC, a part of Catalyst Asset Management, requested that the 128-key Marriott brand hotel previously proposed in the 2018 TIF rebate application be removed for this current phase of the project. Instead, the hotel site ...

McCollum Hall Update: Financing Secured, Performance Schedule & Consent to Lease Approved

In addition, a new Performance Schedule and a Consent to Lease was approved at the CRA Board of Commissioners meeting on December 11, 2019. The project is on schedule for a December 2020 Grand Opening.

McCollum Redevelopment Associates, LLC, through its pa...

Connecting Dunbar Cultural Landmarks Project / Grant Application Submission Authorized by CRA Board

On December 11, 2019, Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners authorized CRA’s grant application/ project submission to Bloomberg Philanthropies. The CRA will apply for a $25,000 to enhance the safety and pedestrian experien...

Fort Myers CRA Job Creation & Talent Attraction: 17 Candidates, $81,000 Grant Funds

On December 11, 2019, at the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners meeting, new applications for the program participation were accepted from two businesses located in the Downtown redevelopment area. Cigent Technologies, ...

One Allure TIF Agreement Amendment Approved by CRA Board of Commissioners

The Developer, Cedar River at Fort Myers II, LLC, the residential development brand of JAXI CMD, LLC, requested that the construction start date be extended six months, from its original start date of December 31, 2019. At this time, Cedar River has spent...

Michele Hylton-Terry Appointed to FRA Board of Directors

The FRA is the statewide organization that promotes redevelopment in Florida. Their Board of Directors are volunteer leaders who are responsible for the direction of the organization. The Board governs, develops policy, and sets a course for the future. T...

Dunbar Cultural Landmarks Tour App Available

Community members are invited to download the free app onto their smart device and follow the narrated tour of ten cultural stops.  Look for the Florida Stories app on your iPhone through the App Store, or get it on Google Play. Once the app is d...

Antoine Williams Joins CRA as Assistant Director

Antoine is a Fort Myers native, and previous to joining the Fort Myers CRA was employed with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), where his principal focus was on providing leadership in the areas of small business development and retention. In simil...

MLK Royal Palm Gardens Apartments Approved for CRA Rebate

The Royal Palm Gardens Apartments will be a renovation of the Jones Walker Palm Gardens affordable housing community located at 2209 Blount Street, which was originally constructed in 1970. The community consists of ten two-story, garden-style residential...

Downtown Hampton Inn Hotel Approved for CRA Rebate

Developers Hos Management/HBH FTM HOTEL LLC will build the Hampton Inn by Hilton Fort Myers at 2017 McGregor Boulevard, a building site they already own. The project will incorporate Hampton Inn’s prototype contemporary, confident design scheme that refle...

MLK St. Peter Claver Place Apartments Approved for CRA Rebate Approved for CRA Rebate

The 214-unit affordable-housing apartment complex will be built in two phases, with Phase I consisting of 120 two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments in two- and three-story buildings, along with a community building. Known as St. Peter Claver Place, it ...

Silver Hills Apartments/Edwards Co. & Silver Hills Dev, Inc., Approved for CRA Rebate

Silver Hills at Fort Myers will be built at 2220 West First Street on a large 4.46-acre vacant parcel bounded on the south by West First Street, on the north by the Caloosahatchee River, and on the east by Altamont Avenue. The development will feature two...

Cheryl Thornton Earns FRA-RP Designation

The FRA’s Redevelopment Professional designation is granted through their Redevelopment Academy, which provides a program of classes that promote a high level of knowledge and professionalism in the field of redevelopment. The goals of the academy are as ...

Michele Hylton-Terry Presented with 2019 Economic Development Person of the Year

Mr. Pitts noted that he chose Ms. Hylton-Terry for her unwavering effort in leading the City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency in creating jobs, housing and economic growth in our underserved communities.

“As head of the Fort Myers CRA, Michele ...

The Collaboratory: Propelling Midtown into the Future (Video)

Partnering with SWFL Community Foundation and the City, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency suggested transforming the former 1924 Atlantic Coast Line Railway depot into the cornerstone of Collaboratory’s campus, along with a modern addition and...

West End at City Walk To Begin Construction

The plans for the 318-unit apartment building are finished and are currently in the permit approval process for both the site and the building. Approvals are expected within the next two weeks, after which the required construction fence and liner will be...

MLK Seaboard Waterside Apartments/Greenwald LLC Approved for CRA Rebate

The Seaboard Apartments will be built at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Seaboard Street in Fort Myers in two phases. The development will offer 420 apartments, with a two-story parking garage built into the eight-floor complex. It will be the first pro...

Luminary Hotel Topping Out Ceremony

Community leaders were invited to a Topping Out Ceremony at Harborside Event Center, which included a sneak preview of two model hotel rooms, an introduction of the development team's luminaries, and a ride up to the top for selected leaders. 

Vis...

Downtown Vantage Lofts/DevMar Approved for CRA Rebate

Vantage Lofts will be built west of the Caloosahatchee Bridge on Carson Street, located between First and Second Street. The sixteen-story development will offer 221 luxury loft style apartments with 5,000 square feet of retail space including a 5-story p...

Grand Central Update

The Grand Central Luxury Apartments project, a 282-unit market-rate apartment complex with an estimated value of $50 million, is the first project to use stormwater treatment credits from the Cleveland Avenue Nutrient Bank. The Nutrient Bank is an additio...

New CFM Landscaping Plan for Dr. MLK, Jr. Blvd

J.B. Schuetz, Parks and Beautification Manager with the City of Fort Myers, has been the City’s lead person working with Mr. Diserio. The plans, known as the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Landscape Refresh Plans, have been approved by the City’s Beaut...

Holiday Inn Hotel/HIDEV Group LLC Approved for CRA Rebate

Holiday Inn will be built on the three original city land parcels at 1651 Royal Palm Avenue, 2465 Second Street, and 2466 First Street, located on the northeast corner of Royal Palm Avenue and Second Street. The hotel will offer a restaurant/bar, meeting ...

EFM Spotlight: Alma's Fashion Boutique, Inc.

The monthly East Fort Myers Spotlight feature was developed to support the business community in the East Fort Myers redevelopment area, through using social media and website promotion to focus on various small businesses that may not otherwise have an o...

Frank Amati Joins Fort Myers CRA

As Community Redevelopment Manager, Mr. Amati will prepare, plan, develop reports, complete projects and programs related to Fort Myers’ redevelopment areas.

Mr. Amati had been employed by the City of Fort Myers Community Development Department (CDD) as a ...

FieldEdge Approved to Participate in CRA Job Program

FieldEdge, the company that invented service software for contractors, was approved to participate in Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) Job Creation & Talent Attraction Program. CRA commissioners approved FieldEdge’s application, and t...

Art Stumble 2020 Approved by CRA Board of Commissioners

Art Stumble 2020 will be an artistic mural painting event designed to promote pride in the Fort Myers Dunbar community, as well as a way to support economic growth with aesthetic enhancement. The Art Stumble 2020 block party will be held on April 25, 2020...

EFM Spotlight: La Michoacana Ice Cream Shop

The monthly East Fort Myers Spotlight feature was developed to support the business community in the East Fort Myers redevelopment area, through using social media and website promotion to focus on various small businesses that may not otherwise have an o...

Cheryl Thornton Joins Fort Myers CRA, Receives Promotion

As Fiscal Manager, Ms. Thornton will oversee financial processes such as the CRA’s budgets, financial reports, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) calculations, disbursements, etc.

Prior to joining the CRA, Ms. Thornton was a juvenile case manager for BAYS Flori...

The Truth About Community Redevelopment Agencies

Please click the link below to access the article on redevelopment agencies from Gulfshore Business:

The Truth About Community Redevelopment Agencies article

First Company Approved to Participate in CRA Job Program

CRA commissioners approved Cigent’s application and the firm is eligible to receive up to $8,000 if the new employee is both working and residing in a redevelopment area.

This program will incentivize the creation and retention of full-time employment with...

More Than Just a Garden – Barden Street’s New Community Garden Selected for $13,000 Grant

More than just a garden, this urban initiative will infuse 21st Century agricultural skills and the beautification of a blighted neighborhood with art and culture. This multi-faceted effort combines community development, nutrition, education, entrepreneu...

EFM Spotlight: Andy's Mini Market & Grocery

The monthly East Fort Myers Spotlight feature was developed to support the business community in the East Fort Myers redevelopment area, through using social media and website promotion to focus on various small businesses that may not otherwise have an o...

Cleveland Avenue Medians Completed

The CRA and the City of Fort Myers have worked together to revitalize and improve the look of Cleveland Avenue (U.S. 41)!

The CRA provided a $194,200 funding match for a $100,000 FDOT Beautification Grant for the design, installation, and maintenance of me...

EFM Spotlight: El Caribe Latin Flavor Cuban Restaurant & Bakery

The monthly East Fort Myers Spotlight feature was developed to support the business community in the East Fort Myers redevelopment area, through using social media and website promotion to focus on various small businesses that may not otherwise have an o...

EFM Spotlight: Neenie's House

The monthly East Fort Myers Spotlight feature was developed to support the business community in the East Fort Myers redevelopment area, through using social media and website promotion to focus on various small businesses that may not otherwise have an o...

Sheryl Rea Joins Fort Myers CRA

As Sr. Administrative Assistant, Ms. Rea will manage the CRA office.

She is an accomplished administrative manager, having worked in private corporate sectors as well as in State and County government agencies.

Previous experience in a variety of sectors wi...

New Job Creation & Talent Attraction Program

The City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is proud to announce the new Job Creation & Talent Attraction Program.

Targeted industries eligible for the program include research and development in the physical, engineering, computer or l...

CRA purchases Medical/Fire Rescue Utility Task Vehicle for Fort Myers River District Special Events

At the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) January 23, 2019, Board meeting, commissioners recognized that the River District’s growing special events required improved first responder access in navigating the crowded streets—so the Board appro...

What is AMI, or Advanced metering infrastructure?

As the City continues to upgrade water meters and components we get asked “what is AMI?” AMI is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks, and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers. ...

New WaterSmart Portal feature

With the WaterSmart Portal, you can: 

• View and pay bills
• See how your usage ranks compared to similar households
• View tips on how to save
• Sign up for leak alerts, and more!

 Create an account on the new WaterSmart Portal today! 

Tips on Water Conservation

No one wants to waste a precious natural resource, or have a high water bill. Read below for a few helpful tips on conserving water.

• Turn off faucets. Turn water off as you wash or rinse dishes, wash your hands or face, brush your teeth or shave.
• Use every ...

Work in Progress

As the City of Fort Myers continues with upgrading to the Smart Meter Reading System (AMI), you may see workers present in your area. The upgrade lasts approximately thirty minutes per location, with no additional costs to the customer.

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...

News Headline

This is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. It has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s. It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its l...