The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District was awarded a $5 million Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery grant through Lee County, funded by HUD following Hurricane Ian, to support replacement of the fire station in St. James City, built in 1975.

During the past several years, the district has been actively working through the design, permitting, and planning phases of this project. When the project entered the sealed bid process, construction bids came in higher than anticipated due to current economic conditions and rising construction costs. To move the project forward, the district requested additional funding from Lee County to cover the gap between the original grant and the lowest responsive bid.

With the leadership and support the Lee Board of County Commissioners and Lee County Administration, an additional $607,087 was approved by commissioners on Tuesday, April 21, that will cover the awarded contract price for Station 2. This was made possible by the hard work and dedication of many individuals within the district.