Clewiston Water Treatment Plant
The Council worked closely with Clewiston to prepare a successful application for assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA). The City received $2 million to support the construction of a reverse osmosis treatment plant which will have the capacity to produce 3 million gallons of water per day once it becomes operational. The plant is being built in an economically distressed area where unemployment is high and per capita incomes are low. The plant will not only benefit the community by providing a much-needed new source of potable water, it will also result in the retention of 2,510 jobs which could have been lost if the area continued to have an inadequate water supply.

Charlotte County UPS Infrastructure Project
The Council provided technical support for Charlotte County’s application to the EDA for funding to construct and install water lines, gravity sewer lines and stormwater retention facilities infrastructure improvements to serve United Parcel Service, Inc. and keep 92 citizens employed there. The EDA is providing $487,000 of the estimated $608,750 public dollars the project will require (the private sector is investing approximately $1,000,000 in this project).

City of Fort Myers Southwest Florida Enterprise Center
The Council assisted the City of Fort Myers with its application to the EDA for financial assistance to develop and expand this business incubator. The Southwest Florida Enterprise Center will provide each tenant with expertise in business startup, planning, budgeting, operations, and marketing. Construction on the new Center is scheduled to begin in 2006, creating 63 jobs. Once finished in 2007, the ongoing operation of the new businesses in the Enterprise Center is expected to directly generate about $12,181,000 per year and 116 jobs. The indirect and induced impacts of the new facility are expected to add another $4,400,000 and 56 jobs to the community. A second phase of the project is planned for 2008 and will include an administrative and training center, conference rooms, and more than 7,000 square feet of leaseable office space.