The Bonita Estero Rail Trail project (BERT) is not just a local initiative but a crucial part of a larger vision to complete the 420-mile-long Florida Gulf Coast Trail. This ambitious plan aims to connect communities from Tampa-St. Petersburg down to Naples, and the...
Community Planning Articles
Lee Health Coconut Point 5 Year Anniversary
Lee Health Coconut Point 5 Year AnniversaryWritten by Allan Bowditch, Engage Estero’s Chief Communications...
The Impact of Urbanization: GECR Quarter 4, 2023
November 2023 Greater Estero Community Report Our 4th GECR summarizes the outcome of the recent Public Forum on the...
How Impact Fees Support Infrastructure in greater Estero
How Impact Fees Support Infrastructure in SW Florida What you need to know.Most people believe “Growth should pay for...
Unraveling the Mystery of Development Impact Fees
Unraveling the Mystery of Development Impact FeesFew people outside the local, county, and state government agencies understand "Development Impact" fees. Engage Estero monitors impact fees and their use in Estero and surrounding areas. The following information will...
Workforce Housing: Encouraging Developments
Workforce Housing: Encouraging Developments!In March 2022, the ECCL, now Engage Estero, released an article titled "Why We Need Workforce Housing in the Greater Estero Area." The article explained the increasing difficulties facing middle-income workers in buying or...
Southwest Florida Regional Economic Indicators
The period following the landfall of hurricane Ian in late September has been difficult for both businesses and the public. Not only have many in Southwest Florida had to cope with the tragic aftermath, but there was also a period of high inflation and difficult...
Charting the Future of the ECCL: GECR Quarter 4, 2022
The ECCL is pleased to provide the 4th quarter’s Greater Estero Community Report (GECR) for 2022. This report focuses on the research and planning used to choose our future action priorities and how we are changing how we represent those priorities to the...
Bonita Estero Rail Trail
Rails to Trails There are efforts to build a public biking and pedestrian trail in the Greater Estero area, linking with other Florida trails. The ECCL has been tracking these efforts and alerting residents of opportunities to get involved.Background The Lee County...
Development and Transportation: GECR Quarter 3, 2022
Development and Transportation The ECCL is pleased to provide the 3rd quarter’s Greater Estero Community Report (GECR) for 2022. Each article in the report focuses on economic progress in our area, including insights into current developments and what we expect to see...
Why we need workforce housing in the Greater Estero Area: GECR Special Report
Why We Need Workforce Housing in the Greater Estero Area By Allan Bowditch ECCL Chief Communications OfficerIntroduction In many cities across the country, it is increasingly difficult for middle-income workers to buy or rent housing in the areas in which they work....
Benefit from FGCU Interns and Volunteers
Local Organizations Benefit from FGCU Interns and Volunteers The Greater Estero Area reaps multiple benefits from having a major university campus in our community, from cultural opportunities, an influx of younger consumers and workers, and the economic...
East Corkscrew Road Developments: GECR Quarter 3, 2021
Developments on East Corkscrew Road and their Impact on Safety, Transportation and Services The ECCL is pleased to provide the third quarter’s Greater Estero Community Report (GECR) for 2021. This report goes into detail on the numbers of homes and car rides projected...