Mar 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen Hawes, Lee County Human Services
              (239) 533-7930

BOARD APPROVES SIDEWALKS IN NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 22, 2005) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved $286,000 of sidewalks and storm water drainage projects in three neighborhood districts - Pine Manor, Page Park, and Harlem Heights.

The contractor is Gulf Paving and the 1,761-feet of projects are funded through Community Development Block Grants. The projects are:

Pine Manor ($85,880)

6th Ave. from Cypress Dr. to Maple Dr. (east side), drainage only
Page Park ($135,490)

Second Street from Danley to Center Dr. (both sides), sidewalk and drainage
Second Street from South Rd. to the end (west side), drainage only
Harlem Heights ($64,320)

Hagie Dr. from S. New Have Dr. to Duera Mae (west side), sidewalk and drainage
The Neighborhood Districts Program - which is administered by the county's Department of Human Services - was established in 1995 to develop strategies for revitalizing neighborhoods with affordable housing, improved living conditions and expanded economic opportunities. District committees of local residents help plan their communities' needs and come up with a program for meeting those needs.

Other neighborhood districts are: Charleston Park, Palmona Park, and Suncoast Estates.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds are used for improvements in the neighborhoods, primarily through Community Development Block Grants. About two-thirds of the funding has been used to construct capital projects (water and sewer lines, roads, sidewalks with stormwater drainage, neighborhood parks and community centers); 23 percent has gone to affordable housing (new construction and rehabilitation) and the remaining 11 percent for public service activities.

Lee County Human Services provides a complement of integrated services to low-income families and disadvantaged neighborhoods, including emergency financial assistance, housing assistance, counseling services, housing rehabilitation, neighborhood infrastructure improvements and neighborhood building, and services for the homeless. The department employs 47 people and has a Fiscal Year 2005 budget of $21.6 million.

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