Building Cape Coral Forward
In 2024, Mayor Gunter advocated for and received a $25 million dollar grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This money was applied to the connection fees for the N1 East & West Utilities Expansion Project, saving each property owner approximately $2,400.00.
Mayor Gunter’s strategy for funding the city’s massive growth focuses on shifting the financial burden away from residents through aggressive grant acquisition and policy-driven revenue streams.
His specific “creative” and primary solutions include:
1. Aggressive State and Federal Grant Pursuit
Gunter has shifted focus toward securing external funds to offset the high costs of the Utilities Extension Project (UEP), which can cost individual homeowners tens of thousands of dollars.
Alternative Water Supply Grants: Secured a $6.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) specifically for reclaimed water infrastructure in the North 1 East project area.
Environmental & Drought Resilience: Added $6 million in DEP funding for the Northeast Reservoir Project to secure the city’s freshwater canal supply during droughts.
2. Updated Mobility Fee System
To fund future transportation needs without relying solely on property taxes, the city updated its mobility fee system. This system caps yearly increases at ensuring a steadier stream of revenue from new developments to pay for the road and infrastructure improvements they necessitate.
3. Public-Private Collaboration
Gunter advocates for leveraging private sector capital for large-scale municipal improvements. He has specifically cited public-private collaboration while protecting taxpayers from the full brunt of the costs.
4. “Infrastructure First” Development Policy
He maintains a “no infrastructure, no project” stance for mega-developments like Seven Islands or the old golf course. By requiring developers to have a “defined scope” for infrastructure before approval, he aims to ensure that private projects contribute to the necessary utility and road upgrades rather than straining existing city resources.
Key Infrastructure Projects & Developments (2026):
Utilities Extension Project (UEP) Continued construction in the Northwest and Northeast areas, bringing central water, sewer, and irrigation to replace septic tanks.
Roadways & Traffic: Major projects include extending Andalusia Blvd and upgrading intersections like Andalusia/Kismet and Andalusia/Jacaranda. New signals are planned at intersections such as Santa Barbara/Tropicana and Chiquita/Embers.
Water Management: A new water main and pump station are being built to rehydrate freshwater canals. Construction is ongoing at the Everest water reclamation facility.
Development Projects: The $700M Cape Coral Grove town center (Pine Island Rd) begins vertical construction in late 2026. The Seven Islands project is progressing in the west.
Infrastructure Funding: The city has a $1.4B budget for 2026, which includes $23.9M specifically for infrastructure and community development, with a $6.5M grant for water projects.
Significant investment is ongoing to meet the demands of a growing population and to support economic development.
