Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla., (Aug. 27, 2019) – More than 400 fashionistas and community supporters recently came together for the 11^th annual Love That Dress! event on Aug. 21, raising more than $150,000 in support of Pace Center for Girls, Lee County.
The ultimate feel-good shopping spree of the year, Love That Dress! featured shopping, music, silent auctions and cocktails at Embassy Suites by Hilton in Estero, where more than 3,000 dresses were available for purchase at deeply discounted prices.
“Love That Dress! gets bigger and better every year, providing our generous community a fun-filled opportunity to honor the female spirit while shopping for a cause,” said Event Chair Jennifer Pfenninger. “Beyond the fun and fashion of Love That Dress! is the critical need that the event helps fulfill by supporting programs that guide girls and young women in celebrating a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace. It’s truly the ultimate feel-good shopping spree!”
Celebrating 11 years of the community’s obsession with fashion and giving, the annual Love That Dress! campaign solicits donations of new and gently loved dresses, handbags, shoes and accessories. A series of collection events helped build an expansive inventory of fashion-forward apparel, thanks to the generosity of local businesses and community donors.
Proceeds from Love That Dress! support Pace Center for Girls, which provides academic programs and counseling services to girls and young women ages 11 to 18 who are working to overcome risk factors such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, foster home placement, neglect, grief, incarceration of a family member and physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
“Funds raised through Love That Dress! provide life-changing education, counseling, training and advocacy that help our girls overcome their respective challenges to become strong young women and productive, contributing members of society,” said Meg M. Geltner, executive director of Pace Center for Girls, Lee County. “We’re thankful for all who came out to this year’s Love That Dress!, joining our efforts to empower Pace girls in finding their voice and achieving their full potential.”
In addition, this year’s event offered the opportunity to win a 24-month lease on a new 2019 INFINITI QX50 SUV, with a drawing held during the Love That Dress! event. The lease was awarded to Kathleen McClanahan.
Sponsors for Love That Dress! include 96.9 WINK FM, A. Jaron Fine Jewelry, ABC-7, Arias Law Firm, Associates in Dermatology, Atilus, Boost Creative, Breaking Bread Company, California Closets, Caloosa Tent & Rental, Chico’s FAS, Dr. Garramone Plastic Surgery, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Fort Myers INFINITI, Get Efficient, Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Gulfshore Life, House of Wu, IBERIABANK, Image Matters, Jason’s Deli of Southwest Florida, Kelly Fayer Law Firm, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LAMAR Advertising, The Laser Lounge Spa, Lightning Wireless Solutions, Living Local, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co., P.A., MidGuard/Cube Smart, Miromar Outlets, Naples Flatbread Kitchen & Bar, New Beginnings Events, The News-Press Media Group, Nu Image Dry Cleaners, Prawnbroker Restaurant Group, Priority Marketing, Priority Payment Systems South Florida, Red Door Photography, Seminole Casino Hotel, Signs Now, Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, St. Charles Yacht Club, Stilwell Enterprises, TIAA Bank, Uncommon Friends Foundation and Unfiltered Unfined Wines.
To learn more about Pace Center for Girls, Lee County and its programs, please visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee or call 239-425-2366.
About Pace Center for Girls, Lee County
Since 2007, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has been providing girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. The gender-specific, strength-based program is one of 22 Centers throughout Florida, and is known throughout the nation as a best practices model for diverting girls from the juvenile justice system. Pace is a registered not-for-profit organization that relies on the support of individuals, businesses, civic/community organizations and churches in Lee County in order to serve girls and their families. Since its inception, Pace Center for Girls, Lee County has served more than 650 at-promise girls and young women, believing each one deserves an opportunity to find her voice, achieve her potential and celebrate a life defined by responsibility, dignity, serenity and grace. For more information on Pace Center for Girls, Lee County, call 239-425-2366 or visit www.pacecenter.org/locations/lee.
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IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Aug. 27, 2019) – Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents an evening with iconic comedian Louie Anderson live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $49 and are available at the casino, on www.jaytv.com/florida or by calling 800-514-etix. Attendees must be 21 years of age.
 
Anderson, a three­-time Emmy Award winner, is one of the country’s most recognized and adored comics, named by Comedy Central as “One of 100 Greatest Stand­-Up Comedians of All Time.” His career has spanned more than 30 years. He is a best-selling author, star of his own standup specials and sitcoms, and he continues to tour the country performing to standing-room-only crowds worldwide.
In 2016 Anderson was cast to co­-star along with Zach Galifianakis and Martha Kelly in the hit FX comedy series “Baskets.” Anderson plays the extraordinary role of Christine, the matriarch of the Baskets clan. He based the character on his mother and his five sisters who were all a major presence in his life. Anderson won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and a Critics’ Choice award for Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series for his role as Christine Baskets in 2016 and received a second Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series nomination for the role in 2017.
Sharing the ups and downs of his childhood experiences as one of eleven children in Minnesota, Anderson crafted comedy routines that rang true for his early club audiences while reducing them to helpless fits of laughter, routines that led him from his career as a counselor to troubled children to the first­-place trophy at the 1981 Midwest Comedy Competition. Johnny Carson, the comedy icon for generations of rising stars, invited Anderson to make his national television debut on “The Tonight Show” in 1984. Appearances with Jay Leno, David Letterman and on “The Late Late Show” with Craig Ferguson, “Comic Relief,” Showtime and HBO specials followed.
 
Anderson has guest ­starred in sitcoms like “Grace Under Fire” and dramas like “Touched by an Angel” and “Chicago Hope.” He has had memorable featured roles in film comedies like “Coming to America” opposite Eddie Murphy, and the classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” In 2013 he took a dive on the ABC reality series Splash where he conquered his own fears while becoming an inspiration of hope. His standup special “Big Baby Boomer” premiered on CMT in 2013.
 
In 1995 Anderson put his creative energies to work on the Saturday morning animated series “Life with Louie.” The long-­running series based on Anderson’s own childhood and his life with his father won three Humanitas Prizes for writing on a children’s animated series, making him the only three­-time recipient of this award. The series was nominated for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program and Anderson won two Emmys for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program.
 
His best-selling books include “Dear Dad – Letters From An Adult Child,” a collection of alternately touching and outrageous letters from Anderson to his late father, “Good­bye Jumbo…Hello Cruel World,” self-help for those who struggle with self-esteem issues, and “The F Word, How To Survive Your Family.” Anderson’s most recent book, “Hey Mom” (April 2018 Simon and Shuster) combines wry wit and poignant humor while sharing his journey of turning life’s challenges into joy as well as plenty of wisdom he gained from his late mother.
 
About Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee
Open 24/7; 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming and entertainment destination. The 51,000-square-foot plus casino offers 1,400 slots and 38 live table games including Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21. Dining options include the award-winning 1^st Street Deli, Asian fusion restaurant Lucky Mi Noodle House, and the recently renovated and 24-hour EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Seminole Casino Hotel’s nightlife is highlighted by the Zig Zag lounge, home of the Zig Zag Girlz, “where the party never ends” featuring nightly live entertainment and no last call, as well as the new Corner Bar. Additional entertainment and events are held at the Seminole Center, an indoor/outdoor special event center featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. The new Seminole Casino Hotel is the first upscale hotel to open in or near Immokalee and offers suites and deluxe guestrooms with modern décor and features, plus amenities including a swimming pool with private cabanas, 24-hour fitness studio and free Wi-Fi.
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 26, 2019) – During July, 570,977 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fla., an increase of 1.8 percent compared to July 2018. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 8.7 percent compared to last year.
The traffic leader in July was Delta Air Lines with 150,177 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (113,081), American (97,112), JetBlue (64,261) and United (48,590).
Southwest Florida International Airport had 4,675 aircraft operations, a decrease of 1 percent compared to July 2018. Page Field saw 9,343 operations, a 31.6 percent increase from July 2018. In addition, nearly 2.9 million pounds of air freight moved through Southwest Florida International Airport in July 2019.
Southwest Florida International Airport served nearly 9.4 million passengers in 2018 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit www.flylcpa.com or Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flyRSW.
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Tuesday, October 29, 2019
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
(Business Casual)
Pelican Preserve Golf Club
9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33913
 
________________________
 
 
Keynote Speakers
 
Ken Brown
R.O.S.C. Quality Improvement Specialist, Florida Dept. of Children and Families
 
Dan Stuckey
Board Chairman, ARCHway Institute for Addictive Disease and Co-Existing Mental Health Disorders
_____________________
 
General Admission:
Individual Tickets – $50
Tables of 10 – $500
 
Treatment and Recovery Providers
Vendor Table: $150
 
Event Sponsorship Opportunities:
Hope Fund Sponsor: $5000
Presenting Sponsor: $1,000
Platinum Sponsor: $500
Gold Sponsor: $250
Silver Sponsor: $100
(Package details available at www.thearchwayinstitute.org)
___________________________________________________________________________
 
100% of your donations will support ARCHway’s efforts, in the Lee County, to provide resources and financial assistance to individuals seeking treatment and recovery from the disease of addiction!
_____________________________________
 
For more information on becoming an event sponsor, purchasing general admission tickets or tables, reserving a vendor table or donating auction items please contact:
Matt Lieberman at (314) 650-9692 or [email protected].
 
REGISTER ONLINE TODAY
www.thearchwayinstitute.org/lee-county-area-fundraising-dinner-auction/
 
ARCHway Institute is a qualified 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
Please consult your tax advisor regarding specific questions about your deductions.
ARCHway Institute
Lee County Fundraising Dinner & Auction
Sponsorship Packages, Ticket, and Table Pricing
ARCHway Sponsorship Levels:

 
 
Hope Fund Sponsor: $5000

• Includes 2 table of 10
• Includes 1 vendor table
• Acknowledgement by emcee at beginning of evening
• Screen recognition throughout evening
• Name recognition on prominent event signage
• Name recognition in event program
• Learn more about The ARCHway Hope Fund at http://www.thearchwayinstitute.org

 
Presenting Sponsor: $1000

• Includes 1 table of 10
• Includes 1 vendor table
• Acknowledgement by emcee at beginning of evening
• Screen recognition throughout evening
• Name recognition on prominent event signage
• Name recognition in event program

 
Platinum Sponsor: $500

• Includes 1 vendor table
• Screen recognition throughout evening
• Name recognition on prominent event signage
• Name recognition in event program

 
Gold Sponsor $250

• Name recognition on prominent event signage
• Name recognition in event program

 
Silver Sponsor: $100

• Name recognition in event program

 
Event Ticket(s) / Table(s):
 

• Individual ticket: $50
• Table of 10: $500

 
Treatment and Recovery Providers
 

• Vendor table: $150

 
Auction Items and Other In-Kind Donations are appreciated.
 
Unable to Attend? 
Please consider making a donation of any amount to ARCHway
or purchasing an event ticket for a person in recovery who would not otherwise be able to join us!
 
You can make your donation online at
https://thearchwayinstitute.org/lee-county-area-fundraising-dinner-auction/   
or mail cash or check using the form on the back side of this document
 
For more information contact Matt Lieberman at (314) 650-9692 or [email protected]

Alera Group, a leading national insurance firm, today announced its acquisition of Comprehensive Benefit Administrators (CBA), effective August 1, 2019. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce member, Joe Girvan, represents CBA in Southwest Florida.  The company also has offices in Tampa and Norwell, Massachusetts.  CBA creates benefits programs that are focused on exceeding client expectations while minimizing costs. Their expertise in brokerage services, claims administration, and enrollment allows them to design tailored benefit plans that deliver measurable results for their clients.
“We are excited to welcome Comprehensive Benefit Administrators to the Alera Group team,” said Alan Levitz, CEO of Alera Group. “Mike McKenna and the CBA team’s professionalism and industry expertise are an exciting enhancement of our existing solutions as we continue to enhance the client experience.”
“Becoming an Alera Group company is a fantastic step for our firm as we continue to serve our clients with excellence,” said Michael McKenna, President of CBA. “We look forward to offering national resources to our clients alongside our powerful local relationships.”
All CBA employees will continue operating out of the firm’s existing locations under the name Comprehensive Benefit Administrators, an Alera Group Company, LLC.
Alera Group was formed in early 2017 and is one of the nation’s foremost independent insurance agencies. For more information on partnering with Alera Group, visit Partner With Us at www.aleragroup.com.
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About Alera Group
Based in Deerfield, IL, Alera Group’s over 1,700 employees serve thousands of clients nationally in employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management. Alera Group is the 15th largest privately held firm in the country. For more information, visit www.aleragroup.com or follow Alera Group on Twitter: @AleraGroupUS.
 

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Aug. 23, 2019) – Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee has upgraded its coffee service to enhance the customer experience and is now offering Lavazza coffee products and equipment in the 1^st Street Deli, Cappuccino’s, and the EE-TO-LEET-KE Grill, as well as the High Limit area of the casino.
Lavazza is an authentic Italian family company and a leading global coffee company. Established in 1895 in Turin, Italy, Lavazza invented the concept of blending – the art of combining different types of coffee from different geographical areas – in its early years and this continues to be a distinctive feature of most of its products.
“We are always looking for ways to enrich our food and beverage offerings,” said Tariff Albakry, Seminole Casino Hotel Food and Beverage Director. “Lavazza coffee has an international reputation for superior coffee and state-of- the-art coffee preparation equipment. We are proud to make such distinctive coffee products available to our patrons.”
About Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee
Open 24/7; 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming and entertainment destination. The 51,000-square-foot plus casino offers 1,400 slots and 38 live table games including Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21. Dining options include the award-winning 1^st Street Deli, Asian fusion restaurant Lucky Mi Noodle House, and the recently renovated and 24-hour EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Seminole Casino Hotel’s nightlife is highlighted by the Zig Zag lounge, home of the Zig Zag Girlz, “where the party never ends” featuring nightly live entertainment and no last call, as well as the new Corner Bar. Additional entertainment and events are held at the Seminole Center, an indoor/outdoor special event center featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting system. The new Seminole Casino Hotel is the first upscale hotel to open in or near Immokalee and offers suites and deluxe guestrooms with modern décor and features, plus amenities including a swimming pool with private cabanas, 24-hour fitness studio and free Wi-Fi.
Located at 506 South 1^st Street in Immokalee, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is easily accessible to all of Southwest Florida via I-75 and Southwest Florida International Airport is only a 45-minute drive from the casino. Located between Miami and Naples, north of Alligator Alley on Highway 846, it is five blocks south of Highway 29. Approximately 30 minutes from Naples and Fort Myers, the casino is a 90-minute drive from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Seminole Casino Hotel participates in the Seminole Players Club Wild Card Rewards Program whereby players earn and redeem comp dollars at all Seminole Casinos in Florida. For more information, call toll-free (800) 218-0007 or visit moreinparadise.com or facebook.com/SeminoleCasinoHotel/.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 23, 2019) – Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties dedicated an unprecedented 11 new homes over a three-day period in mid-August, celebrating the lifechanging impacts that result from purchasing a safe, affordable home.
Surrounded by volunteers, donors, friends and Habitat for Humanity staff, 11 families in Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs and LaBelle were handed keys to their new homes at separate dedication ceremonies on the front steps of their new homes.
“Each of these hardworking families completed more than 300 hours of ‘sweat equity’ and met all of Habitat for Humanity’s requirements for home ownership,” said Becky Lucas, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties. “It’s such an emotional moment seeing parents and children walk through the front door of a brand-new home – their own home – after so much hard work and dedication that brought them to this point.”
Homeowners also must complete financial literacy and home maintenance classes, pay closing costs, and commit to paying an affordable monthly mortgage payment.
Since 1982, more than 1,600 Lee and Hendry families in need of a hand up have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve their home. Alongside volunteers, Habitat homeowners help build their own home.
Generous individuals, businesses and organizations help provide resources to build each Habitat for Humanity home. The 11 homes dedicated Aug. 14-16 were built through the generosity of The Edwardson Family Foundation, The Ann Pettersson-Power Charitable Gift Fund, Dennis and Darlene Kozlowski, Alan Einhorn and Vicki Cooper, Habitat for Humanity Restore, Bonita Bay Club, David and Linda Lucas, and Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.
About Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties
Since 1982, 1,600 families in need of a hand up have partnered with Habitat Lee and Hendry to build or improve their home. Habitat homeowners, alongside volunteers, help build their own home and pay an affordable mortgage. Through volunteering, financial or material donations, everyone can help Lee and Hendry county families achieve strength, stability and independence. Through shelter, we empower. For more information, visit www.Habitat4Humanity.org.

Fort Myers, FL (August 23, 2019) – Craft beer enthusiasts will delight in over 60 brews to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida at the 8th Annual Brew-Ha-Ha Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, October 19th at Mercato in Naples. Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats, along with Evolution Trailer Technologies Inc. and Sportboats Marine, are the presenting sponsors this year. The 2019 roster provides an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful array of craft beers, courtesy of Coastal Beverage, with a spotlight on Florida Breweries. Brews on tap: Wicked Weed, Brew Bus, Funky Buddha, Green Bench, Sweetwater- just to name a few! Guests can enjoy an evening of craft beer tasting, stein holding contests, raffle, photo booth fun courtesy of Naples Photo Booths, and live music by local band, Soulixer, a “3-piece cosmic concoction of Indie Rock and Soul.”
The event will take place on the lawn across from The Pub. Gates open at 5pm with unlimited beer tastings available until 8pm. Discounted tickets are available until October 18th for $35 at rmhcswfl.org/events. Tickets will be $40 at the gate. A VIP Brewmaster’s Ticket is available for $65 and includes early access starting at 4pm, access to VIP tent and dedicated restrooms, with exclusive beer, cheese pairings courtesy of Whole Foods Naples, and unlimited bottled water, soda, and snacks. Lawn chairs, blankets and well-behaved pets are welcome. Participating Mercato restaurants will serve menu items for purchase. No coolers or outside food will be permitted.
For more information on the event or how to become a sponsor, please call Amy at 239-437-0202.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida is to create, find and support programs that directly impact the health and well-being of children and their families in Southwest Florida. RMHC of Southwest supports the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program, Ronald McDonald Family Room®, as well as Grants and the RMHC U.S. Scholars Programs. To learn more, visit www.rmhcswfl.org OR www.facebook.com/RMHCswflorida/
About Mercato
Anchored by Whole Foods Market and Nordstrom Rack and featuring Silverspot, a 12-screen luxury cinema, Mercato offers more than 20 notable restaurants, eateries and bars, over 20 upscale retailers and 100,000 square feet of Class-A office space. Mercato hosts more than 40 events year-round including monthly concerts and outdoor movies. To learn more, visit www.MercatoShops.com OR www.facebook.com/mercatonaples.

Fort Myers, FL (August 23, 2019) – Craft beer enthusiasts will delight in over 60 brews to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida at the 8th Annual Brew-Ha-Ha Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, October 19th at Mercato in Naples. Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats, along with Evolution Trailer Technologies Inc. and Sportboats Marine, are the presenting sponsors this year. The 2019 roster provides an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful array of craft beers, courtesy of Coastal Beverage, with a spotlight on Florida Breweries. Brews on tap: Wicked Weed, Brew Bus, Funky Buddha, Green Bench, Sweetwater- just to name a few! Guests can enjoy an evening of craft beer tasting, stein holding contests, raffle, photo booth fun courtesy of Naples Photo Booths, and live music by local band, Soulixer, a “3-piece cosmic concoction of Indie Rock and Soul.”
The event will take place on the lawn across from The Pub. Gates open at 5pm with unlimited beer tastings available until 8pm. Discounted tickets are available until October 18th for $35 at rmhcswfl.org/events. Tickets will be $40 at the gate. A VIP Brewmaster’s Ticket is available for $65 and includes early access starting at 4pm, access to VIP tent and dedicated restrooms, with exclusive beer, cheese pairings courtesy of Whole Foods Naples, and unlimited bottled water, soda, and snacks. Lawn chairs, blankets and well-behaved pets are welcome. Participating Mercato restaurants will serve menu items for purchase. No coolers or outside food will be permitted.
For more information on the event or how to become a sponsor, please call Amy at 239-437-0202.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida is to create, find and support programs that directly impact the health and well-being of children and their families in Southwest Florida. RMHC of Southwest supports the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program, Ronald McDonald Family Room®, as well as Grants and the RMHC U.S. Scholars Programs. To learn more, visit www.rmhcswfl.org OR www.facebook.com/RMHCswflorida/
About Mercato
Anchored by Whole Foods Market and Nordstrom Rack and featuring Silverspot, a 12-screen luxury cinema, Mercato offers more than 20 notable restaurants, eateries and bars, over 20 upscale retailers and 100,000 square feet of Class-A office space. Mercato hosts more than 40 events year-round including monthly concerts and outdoor movies. To learn more, visit www.MercatoShops.com OR www.facebook.com/mercatonaples.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 22, 2019) – The Lee County Port Authority, Board of Port Commissioners, county officials, business partners and other state and federal representatives held a groundbreaking ceremony today marking the official start of the construction phase for a new Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, Fla.
The new ATCT is an $80 million project that will replace the current tower, built in 1982, with a state-of the-art-facility located next to the airport’s Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Station. The ATCT project is funded with money from the Florida Department of Transportation and Airport Passenger Facility Charges. The construction phase of the ATCT will support more than 300 jobs and operation of the tower is planned for summer 2022.
“With record-breaking passenger growth during the past several decades, the new Airport Traffic Control Tower project is a crucial investment in RSW’s infrastructure and will enhance the safety and capacity at Southwest Florida International Airport,” said Jeff Mulder, A.A.E, executive director of the Lee County Port Authority. “Commercial air transportation is vital to our community as it connects our region to the rest of the world and allows us access to an increasingly global marketplace.”
The new tower will be approximately 200 feet tall from the ground to the cab roof, which is more than twice the height of the existing tower. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Controllers will be able to view the entire airport and runway approaches under the current and future parallel runway configurations for both air and ground control.
“We will equip the new tower with the latest technologies so FAA Air Traffic Controllers can continue to provide the safest, most efficient service for flights at RSW for decades to come,” said Michael O’Harra, regional administrator for the FAA Southern Region. “Strengthening the infrastructure at this growing airport will benefit travelers in Fort Myers and throughout the National Airspace System.”
Southwest Florida International Airport served nearly 9.4 million passengers in 2018 and is on pace to reach 10 million passengers in 2019. Southwest Florida International Airport is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit www.flylcpa.com.