Collier County requests state funding for beach renourishment.
The Collier County Board of Commissioners granted approval on Tuesday to the application for a long-term financial plan intended for upcoming beach revitalization projects.
The county’s primary request in the proposal, which will be sent to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), is for upcoming tourism-related projects.
One year after Ian, Collier County is still rebuilding its beaches and berms while also adopting additional safety measures, according to a recent article by Bella Line of Fox 4.
Although Collier County is well-known for having immaculate beaches, the counties are still in the process of rebuilding after Hurricane Ian, about a year ago, destroyed much of Southwest Florida.
“The main draw for tourists is our beaches,” Collier County Tourism Division PR and Communications Manager Sandra Rios stated.
Even after Ian destroyed the coastlines, tourism remains Southwest Florida’s main source of income. Quick recovery was always the aim, according to Rios.
1.7 million tourists visited Collier County last year, bringing in $2.9 billion to the region amid the aftermath of a significant natural disaster, according to Rios.
The county is looking for additional cash in order to maintain the beauty of these beaches and repair any damage.
Even though Ian caused a lot of damage, Collier County’s Coastal Zone Manager, Andrew Miller, notes that a lot of nice sand was still present.
“Hopefully, there won’t be any more storms before fall, but if there are a few more between now and then, we might need to undertake another emergency project,” Miller stated.
In order to obtain reimbursements for potential future improvements, Miller and his team are requesting from the state a long-range budget plan to assist with the costs of berm and beach repairs. The county’s economy and tourism will benefit from these initiatives.
As for future projects, Miller says Collier County is still waiting to find out how much the state will pay and how Collier compares to other counties.
The original article can be found on Fox 4.