The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Lee County and the Collaboratory a Community Change Grant of more than $19.3 million to help disadvantaged communities tackle environmental challenges related to disaster preparedness. This funding will increase community resilience, reduce pollution and build community capacity.
The project will invest in four organizations to create the foundation of a network of community resilience hubs to support residents during emergencies, such as hurricanes.
Resilience hubs are locations that provide supplies or social services residents need every day. These spaces can transition in a disaster to provide critical information, emergency support and health supplies to the surrounding communities.
These four hubs are planned to be used as the blueprint for the countywide network of hubs:
Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson St., Fort Myers
Franklin Park Elementary School, 2323 Ford St., Fort Myers
IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers
Pine Manor Community Center, 5547 Tenth Ave., Fort Myers
Along with community partners, the project will build the capacity of local organizations providing resilience services; help communities develop emergency plans; and equip the hubs with adequate supplies. It is intended to expand and improve the county’s emergency response planning and implementation network to support an all-of-community response during and after a severe event.
Stormwater and infrastructure improvements along Ten Mile Canal are also part of the project as are workforce development programs focused on the construction sector to support the construction of energy-efficient and resilient homes in the region.
The grant period is three years.
The project is aligned to 12 initiatives identified in the ResilientLee effort coordinated by Collaboratory and Lee County following Hurricane Ian. Like ResilentLee, this is a collaborative project enlisting partners to include:
The School District of Lee County
The Pine Manor Improvement Association
United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades
American Red Cross
City of Fort Myers
IMAG History and Science Center
To learn more about the Community Change Grants visit EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Grants Program webpage.
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