DEP PROVIDES MORE THAN $750,000 TO LEE COUNTY FOR WASTEWATER PROJECTS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 13, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

DEP PROVIDES MORE THAN $750,000 TO LEE COUNTY FOR WASTEWATER PROJECTS

~Funding will help move forward major industrial, commercial and research projects~

TALLAHASSEE – A $761,250 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection allows Lee County to expand sanitary sewer service along Alico Road. Completion of this project will allow progress to continue on three major additions to Research and Enterprise Diamond – an innovation center designed to promote industrial, commercial and research development in the county.

By providing a central sanitary sewer service in the area, the project eliminates the need for on-site wastewater systems such as sanitary sewer package plants. This will allow for the construction of at least three large-scale developments within the Research and Enterprise Diamond, including the FGCU Emergent Technologies Institute, CenterPlace and Premier Airport Park.

“Making sure wastewater upgrades are accomplished in conjunction with these major projects is a cost-effective way to protect Florida’s environment while also benefiting Lee County’s economy,” DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. said. “DEP supports the county’s investment into eliminating a possible negative impact on the environment as this project moves toward completion.”

DEP’s funding is being matched by Lee County Utilities through user fees and wastewater connection fees, generating a total of $1,522,500 in funding for the wastewater expansion project.

Construction on the sanitary sewer service lines is expected to begin in 2015.