Annual Report
This report summarizes the work of the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (SWFRPC) across Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Sarasota counties.
REGIONAL POPULATION
| County | April 1, 2024 | April 1, 2025 | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 210,645 | 223,430 | +12,785 | 6.1% |
| Collier | 408,381 | 413,314 | +4,933 | 1.2% |
| Glades | 12,815 | 13,055 | +240 | 1.9% |
| Hendry | 45,413 | 47,085 | +1,672 | 3.7% |
| Lee | 827,016 | 839,223 | +12,207 | 1.5% |
| Sarasota | 479,027 | 487,640 | +8,613 | 1.8% |
| Total (6 counties) | 1,983,297 | 2,023,747 | +40,450 | 2.0% |
Source: BEBR, University of Florida, Florida Estimates of Population 2025 (April 1, 2025) and 2024 (April 1, 2024), Table 3. The April 1, 2026 estimates are not yet published by BEBR.
FAST FACTS
GRANTS
FUNDING SOURCES
| Source | FY 2024-25 | % of total | FY 2025-26 | % of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal/State Grants | $619,087 | 86.8% | $707,141 | 86.3% |
| Member Assessments | $61,308 | 8.6% | $70,539 | 8.6% |
| Contracts | $18,000 | 2.5% | $27,000 | 3.3% |
| DRI & Misc. | $15,024 | 2.1% | $15,008 | 1.8% |
| Total revenue | $713,419 | 100% | $819,688 | 100% |
FY 2025-26: Budget Amendment #4. FY 2024-25: Year End Closeout Budget Amendment. Member Assessments: Collier, Glades, and Hendry counties and the Town of Fort Myers Beach. DRI & Misc. combines DRI/NOPC fees with interest and miscellaneous income.
Financial summary, FY 2025-26
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | $819,688 | Budget Amendment #4 |
| Total expenses | $763,558 | Budget Amendment #4 |
| Net income (unaudited) | $56,128.35 | Sage closeout |
MAKING AN IMPACT
Brownfields
SWFRPC completed its EPA-funded regional Brownfields assessment program, whose project period ended September 30, 2026. The program completed Phase I environmental site assessments on 8 properties and Phase II assessments at 3 sites in Moore Haven, along with a cleanup alternatives analysis and a reuse plan for the Moore Haven marina. Staff also prepared a Regional Brownfields Revitalization Framework Plan. The assessments give property owners and local governments, especially in rural Glades County, the environmental information they need to market, finance, and redevelop underused sites.
Local Emergency Planning Committee
SWFRPC staffs the Southwest Florida Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) under agreements with the Florida Division of Emergency Management. During the year staff administered the LEPC, Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) 2025-2028, and Lee/Collier Hazard Analysis grants. HMEP-supported training included a February 2026 Hazardous Materials Technician cohort at Suncoast Technical College (21 students) and attendance at the 2026 Florida Hazardous Materials Symposium (14 students).
Economic Development
The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded SWFRPC a new Partnership Planning grant to update the region's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) and a Disaster Recovery Coordination award. CEDS planning is underway, and SWFRPC is recruiting a Regional Disaster Recovery and Resilience Coordinator. SWFRPC also continued grant administration for the Florida Heartland Economic Region of Opportunity (FHERO).
Cyber Resilience
SWFRPC launched the Southwest Florida Regional Cyber Resilience & Continuity Coordination Project, funded through the FY 2026 State Homeland Security Program (FEMA/DHS) and administered by FDLE in coordination with the Region 6 Regional Domestic Security Task Force. The 18-month project runs through February 2028 and will produce a Regional Cyber Incident Coordination Guide and Toolkit, two regional workshops, and a regional tabletop exercise in 2027.
Agriculture
Through the USDA Local Food Promotion Program, SWFRPC is developing the SWFL Virtual Marketplace, an online platform that connects local farmers and food producers with buyers across Southwest Florida. SWFRPC is partnering with University of Florida IFAS researchers and with Local Food Marketplace on the platform.
Resiliency
Through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Regional Resiliency grant, SWFRPC advanced the Southwest Florida Resilience Collaborative, Phase 2, strengthening regional coordination and access to resilience planning resources. A key resource is the SWFRPC Regional Resiliency Hub, which brings together data, planning tools, and information to support local governments and community partners in addressing shared resilience challenges. The grant was SWFRPC's second-largest revenue source in FY 2025-26.
SWFRPC also completed an interagency contract with the South Florida Regional Planning Council to support the statewide expansion of the Resilient Benefit Cost Analysis Tool, helping communities evaluate the benefits of resilience investments.
Value Of Volunteers
SWFRPC's AmeriCorps program marked a transition this year as Ms. Julie Bankston completed her service and Ms. Kara Clemons began her AmeriCorps VISTA assignment on September 8, 2026. Serving as the Regional Programs and Capacity Building VISTA, Ms. Clemons supports funding readiness, regional data systems, digital outreach, CEDS planning, and the Regional Cyber Resilience project, strengthening the Council's capacity to serve Southwest Florida communities.