The Lee County Board of County Commissioners approved more than $229 million in disaster recovery grants Tuesday, including more than $44 million for Cape Coral projects.

Projects awarded for Cape Coral include:

– Community Recreation Center and Disaster Shelter, $29,904,200.18

This will be located in north Cape Coral and will offer after school care, day camps, behavioral and mental health services, therapeutic activities for individuals with disabilities, adult education and vocational training, as well as other programming during normal operations. It will also transition into a disaster shelter when needed.

– Weir and Rehabilitation Upgrade or Replacement Project, $10,824,119.63

This will replace and upgrade existing weirs throughout the city, as they offer flood control.

– Planning Initiatives, $4 million

This will go towards supporting recovery and resilience continuity planning, business community resilience planning and emergency communications planning.

“Receiving CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery) funds for these projects is a significant step forward for the City of Cape Coral,” Emergency Management & Resilience Director Ryan Lamb said in an email. “These grants will provide critical financial support to help us enhance our infrastructure and community services, ensuring greater resilience and preparedness for future disasters. The projects are designed to improve public safety, emergency response, and disaster recovery capabilities across the city. This is once in a generation funding and these projects will have generational impacts.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to use these grant funds to better prepare our community for future challenges. These projects are part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing public safety and resilience in Cape Coral. We look forward to working with our residents and stakeholders to ensure these initiatives are successfully implemented, providing lasting benefits for our city.”

In addition to project awards, Lee County will allocate more than $10 million for county-provided services in the city:

n Cape Coral EMS Base/Safe Room, $10,073,439.96

Although the Cape Coral EMS Base/Safe Room project is a county project, it will improve emergency medical services by providing a fortified space that ensures our first responders can operate safely and efficiently during extreme weather events, Lamb said.

The approval benefits about 20 public facility and infrastructure projects throughout Lee County.

The money is from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery allocation to Lee County.

The projects were unanimously recommended by the Public Facilities and Critical Infrastructure Evaluation Committee.

Lamb said the CDBG-DR funds will directly support the planning, design, and construction of these vital projects.

“For the Community Recreation Center and Disaster Shelter, the funding will allow us to build a multi-purpose facility that services both as a community hub and a safe haven during emergencies,” he said. “Lastly, the weir rehabilitation upgrade and replacement project will enhance our stormwater management systems, reducing the risk of flooding and mitigating potential damage during heavy rainfall.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in early 2023, announced it would allocate $1.1 billion for the Community Development Block Grant – Discovery Recovery funds to support long-term recovery efforts to Lee County following Hurricane Ian’s landfall on Sept. 28, 2022. The funds could be used for housing, infrastructure, economic revitalization, public services and planning that were affected by Hurricane Ian. The grant must be used for at least 70% for low-to-moderate income households.

Other projects for Lee County include:

– Pine Island Fire Station 2, $5,033,395.85

– North Island Water Tower and Facility Project, Fort Myers Beach, $4,681,844.90

– Salvation Army Center for Hope Campus, City of Fort Myers, $13,093,500

– Resilient Communications Towers, Lee County, $15,124,062

– Parks & Recreation Revitalization, Fort Myers Beach, $8,336,753

– S.T.A.R.S. Expansion and Category 3 Hurricane Shelter, City of Fort Myers, $11,495,337

– CoFM Wellfield Expansion, City of Fort Myers, $14,988,750

– LCEC Cherry States, Lee County, $792,300

– Ragsale/Pennsylvania/Arroyal Corridor Street Improvements, Bonita Springs, $21,000,000

– Moss Marina Booster Pump Station Relocation, LCU/Fort Myers Beach, $14,850,000

– Broadway Avenue West Improvements, Estero, $15,315,470

– Countywide Drainage Improvements, Lee County, $11,050,000

– Satellite Shop replacement and underground fuel tank replacement, Lee County, $6,000,000

– Shelter hardening and generator installation, Lee County School District, $8,000,000

– FISH of SANCAP building elevation, hardening, and associated site improvements for $6,990,194.24

– Sanibel Fire Station 171 for $9,142,388.24

– Reconstruction and road reconstruction for $12,460,000.

According to a release from the city, the funding will go before City Council for award acceptance.