WalletHub names Fort Myers as 2019’s 6th Fastest Growing City

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 14, 2019) – Fort Myers is ranked as the 6th fastest-growing city in the United States in 2019, according to the personal finance website WalletHub. Three other Florida cities are included the top 20 rankings.

“Our...

FMFD selected to participate in community risk reduction pilot program

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2019) – The Fort Myers Fire Department (FMFD) was one of 50 departments selected by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to participate in a pilot program to build a digital community risk assessment (CRA) t...

Ward 4 Community Meeting scheduled for October 17 CANCELED

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2019) – The regularly scheduled Ward 4 community meeting hosted by Fort Myers City Councilman Kevin Anderson that would occur on Thursday, October 17 has been canceled. The next meeting will take place on Wedn...

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...

Safety Saturday events continue through October

FORT MYERS, FL (Oct. 4, 2019) – In honor of National Fire Prevention Week October 6-12, the Fort Myers Fire Department will install hundreds of smoke alarms during its Safety Saturday campaign. On Saturdays during October, firefighters ...

Fort Myers Fire Department receives Assistance to Firefighters Grant of $251,000

FORT MYERS, FL (Oct. 4, 2019) – The City of Fort Myers Fire Department is receiving $251,000 to install vehicle exhaust collection units (source capture systems) in each fire station through the Federal Emergency Management Agency ‘s (...

Ward 2 Community Meeting takes place on October 3

FORT MYERS, FL (Oct. 1, 2019) – Fort Myers City Councilman Johnny W. Streets, Jr. will host a Ward 2 Community Meeting on Thursday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. at the Riverside Community Center, located at 3061 East Riverside Drive, Fort Myers.

The me...

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

At the NAACP Freedom Fund Gala on Sept. 21, Master of Ceremonies Lee Pitts presented Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Executive Director Michele Hylton-Terry with the Lee Pitts Live 2019 Economic Development Person of the Year Award.

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...

Downtown Hampton Inn Hotel Approved for CRA Rebate Approved for CRA Rebate

Hampton Inn by Hilton Fort Myers, a four-story, 118-room hotel to be built in the Downtown redevelopment area, was approved for a tax increment rebate of $1.9 million at the Fort Myers CRA Board of Commissioners meeting on September 25.

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

Phase I of St. Peter Claver Place Apartments, to be developed by National Development of America and the Diocese of Venice, was approved for a tax increment rebate of $4 million at the Fort Myers CRA Board of Commissioners meeting on September 25.

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 ...

Downtown Silver Hills Apartments/Edwards Companies & Silver Hills Development, Inc., Approved for CR

Silver Hills at Fort Myers, a two-building, four-to-five-story luxury apartment community to be built in the Downtown redevelopment area, was approved for a tax increment rebate of $12.96 million, at the CRA Board of Commissioners meeting on August 28.

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...

The Collaboratory: Propelling Midtown into the Future (Video)

The Collaboratory is southwest Florida’s first public sphere where people from different backgrounds, interests and areas of expertise exchange ideas—either in person or virtually worldwide through the ultra-high-speed Florida Lambda Rail network.

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 ad...

West End at City Walk To Begin Construction Mid-August

West End at City Walk, the apartment component of West First Street’s City Walk project, is expected to begin construction in mid-August 2019.

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

Seaboard Waterside Apartments, an 8-story, 420-rental unit to be built in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) redevelopment area, was approved for a tax increment rebate of $11.48 million at the CRA Board of Commissioners meeting on July 17.

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 420apartments, with a two-story parking garage built into the eight-floor complex.
It will be the first ...

Luminary Hotel Topping Out Ceremony

Luminary Hotel & Co. celebrated a milestone on June 6, 2019, when its final structural beam was hoisted in place.

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, a luxury rental apartment complex to be built in the Downtown redevelopment area, was approved for an increment rebate of $11.4 million, at the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners meeting on June 26.

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 apartments under construction and appear to be on pace for completion by March 2020. All Retail is completed and open for business.

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

David M. Jones and Associates, Inc., Gregory J. Diserio, RLA, has worked with J.B. Schuetz, Parks and Beautification Manager with the City of Fort Myers, to create a new landscape design for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (State Road 82).

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, a 6-story, 135-room full-service hotel to be built in the Downtown redevelopment area, was approved for a tax increment rebate up to $3,300,000, at the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners meeting on May 22.

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.

This month's East Fort Myers redevelopment area spotlight is Alma's Fashion Boutique, Inc., dress and gown shop, located at 3623 Palm Beach Boulevard. View their video for more details!

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

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is proud to announce that Frank Amati has joined the CRA as Community Redevelopment Manager.

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 ...

Grand Central Apartments Construction In Progress

Exciting work continues along Cleveland Avenue! Here's an aerial view of the Grand Central Apartments project in progress (lower image) - and what the area looked like a year and a half ago (upper image).

The Grand Central apartments are under construction and appear to be on pace for completion by March 2020. All Retail is completed and open for business.

The Grand Central Luxury Apartments project, a 282-unit market rate apartment complex with an estimate...

FieldEdge Approved to Participate in CRA Job Program

FieldEdge, formerly dESCO, was approved to participate in the CRA Job Creation & Talent Attraction Program. FieldEdge is the company that invented service software for contractors.

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’...

EFM Spotlight: La Michoacana Ice Cream Shop

This month's East Fort Myers redevelopment area spotlight is La Michoacana ice cream shop, located at 3629 Palm Beach Boulevard. View their video for more details!

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...

The Truth About Community Redevelopment Agencies

These community-minded entities can be structured differently but have common goals. April 2019 Gulfshore Business article by Lori Johnston.

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

The Truth About Community Redevelopment Agencies article

Cheryl Thornton Joins Fort Myers CRA, Receives Promotion

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is proud to announce that Cheryl Vaughan Thornton, who joined the CRA in September 2018 as Community Redevelopment Manager, and was promoted to the role of Fiscal Manager for the Agency in March 2019.

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...

First Company Approved to Participate in CRA Job Program

The first company approved to participate in Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) Job Creation & Talent Attraction Program is Cigent Technology Inc.

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 $13,000 Grant

On February 27, 2019, CRA commissioners approved a grant for up to $13,000 to complete the $246,000 Barden Street Community Garden Learning Center (BCG), requested by the I Will Mentorship Foundation.

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

This month's East Fort Myers redevelopment area spotlight is Andy's Mini Market & Grocery, located at 3805 Palm Beach Boulevard. View their video for more details!

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...

Grand Central Project Shaping Up!

The Grand Central project on Cleveland Avenue is really shaping up!

The retail properties are all complete and open. The apartments
are under construction and are expected to be completed by February/March 2020.

Grand Central was approved for a CRA tax increment fund (TIF)rebate as well as Cleveland Avenue Stormwater Cr...

Cleveland Avenue Medians Completed

Beautification of the medians and underneath the Colonial Boulevard overpass has been 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

This month's East Fort Myers redevelopment area spotlight is El Caribe Latin Flavor Cuban Restaurant & Bakery, located at 3917 Palm Beach Boulevard. View their video for more details!

Click the picture below to view video:

EFM Spotlight: Neenie's House

This month's East Fort Myers redevelopment area spotlight is Neenie's House, located at 481 Marsh Avenue. View their video for more details!

Click the picture below to view video:

Sheryl Rea Joins Fort Myers CRA

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is proud to announce that Sheryl Rea joined the CRA in January 2019 as Sr. Administrative Assistant.

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 CRA’s program will incentivize the creation and retention of full-time employment within the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Areas by offering a grant payment to companies that create or relocate high wage full-time jobs within an area.

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 to purchase Medical/Fire Rescue Utility Task Vehicle for Fort Myers River District Special Event

CRA Board approved the purchase of a customized Medical/Fire Rescue Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) for $26,000 using Downtown redevelopment area funds, to be used by the Fire Department to better navigate through the River District’s growing 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&mdas...

CRA - McCollum Hall Restoration Presentation - 02/24/2016

CRA - McCollum Hall Restoration Presentation 02/24/2016 from Fort Myers on Vimeo.

Press & Videos

Press     

• Wall Street Journal Fort Myers: In Cities with Low Unemployment, Wages Finally Start to Get Bigger  January 1, 2018
• Business Observer Move Forward: SWFL Community Foundation's Tech Hu...