The City of Cape Coral was awarded a $25 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to help pay for the Utilities Extension Project (UEP).

City Council voted to accept the grant at Wednesday afternoon's Council meeting. The funding will be split among the North 1 West and East UEP projects, reducing each property owner’s assessment by approximately $2,400.

Last year, Executive Lobbyist Dane Eagle of Ballard Partners alerted the City of Cape Coral that Governor DeSantis set aside funding for septic-to-sewer conversions. Eagle assisted the City's Utilities Department with applying for this first-of-its-kind grant.

The application process was highly competitive, and the City is proud to report it received the maximum award of $25 million. Additional grant funding is available this year, and the City is preparing another application.

The City plans to apply for the grant each year and is hopeful the state will continue to fund the water quality grant program.