About The Fort Myers River District

MyRiverDistrict.com has been created to provide visitors a comprehensive site to explore the many offerings of the Fort Myers River District. There are so many wonderful businesses, organizations and events that call the River District home. This site is a collaborative effort between the Fort Myers Conference & Convention Council and the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency. At any time if you have suggestions on how we can improve the site, please feel free to “CONTACT US”.

Who We Are

The City of Fort Myers created the Downtown Redevelopment Agency (DRA) in 1984 to combat the deteriorating conditions within the downtown commercial area. Originally established as an Independent Special District, the City Council appointed itself the governing body of the City's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), under the auspices of Florida Statute Chapter 163, in 1988 and the DRA then became a division of the CRA. Currently, the City Council, along with the Mayor, serves as the Community Redevelopment Agency Board.

The Fort Myers River District is a TIF district. Tax increment financing (TIF) is a unique tool that allows municipalities to promote economic development by earmarking property tax revenue from increases in assessed values within a designated TIF district. It is used to leverage public funds to promote private sector activity. Any funds received from a tax increment financing area must be used for specific redevelopment purposes outlined in the statute, and not for general government purposes. The CRA is the governing body which oversees the usage of these funds for the areas improvements.

The role of the DRA was expanded in the early 2000's to manage the City's twelve other redevelopment districts. As a result, the name was changed to the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency (FMRA) to better reflect redevelopment efforts throughout the City. The FMRA currently oversees fifteen redevelopment districts within the City limits.

CRA Commissioners

Thomas Leonardo – Chairman

Michael A. Flanders – Commissioner

Randall Henderson, Jr. – Mayor

Teresa Watkins - Commissioner

Johnny Streets, Jr. – Commissioner

Levon Simms - Commissioner

Forrest Banks- Commissioner

Conference & Convention Council

The Fort Myers Conference & Convention Council (CCC) is the official advisory board of Harborside Event Center. The CCC is comprised of professional business leaders from across the City of Fort Myers and Lee County with specific interest in the marketing of Harborside Event Center and the Fort Myers River District as a convention and tourist destination. The CCC Board Members all serve in a volunteer capacity for the benefit of the City of Fort Myers. The CCC is tasked by City Council to advise facility management and oversee the associated marketing expenses of the venue and surrounding River District area. It is the mission of the CCC to assist City leaders with the expansion planning of the waterfront to create a convention/tourist destination that will provide positive economic impact to the surrounding River District area and Lee County. The CCC works jointly with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau in the distribution of marketing funds to the venue, which are specifically earmarked for marketing Harborside Event Center to out of town meeting, exhibition and convention planners. The CCC has also developed the Community Art Showcase as a benefit to the local art community and enthusiasts. The showcase is now spearheaded and curated by ArtFest Fort Myers. For more information about the Community Art Showcase please Click Here!