Collier County veterans get $9M for community center groundbreaking

NAPLES, Fla. (WINK)—Veterans in Collier County received a $9 million boost toward a community center.

The Collier County Veterans Community Center, a project years in the making, now has the funding needed to break ground. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart hand-delivered the federal check this morning.

WINK News reporter Maddie Herron attended the ceremony. Veterans at the ceremony told her the center will provide essential services to the veteran community, and that the check is the final funding push to make it happen.

Dozens of heroes gathered at VFW Post 7721 to celebrate the new facility and watch as Diaz-Balart hand-delivered $9 million in funding. The veteran community center will be built at the former Golden Gate Golf Course, off Golden Gate Parkway.

The facility will include 120 nursing beds, a recreation center, an auditorium, and other resources veterans will have right in Collier County. Herron spoke with Diaz-Balart, who said he worked to secure the funds after county leaders told him there was a gap they needed help filling.

"Collier County prides itself as being the most veteran-friendly place in the entire country, but that requires more than just words," Diaz-Balart said.

Betty Bailey, president of VFW 7721 Auxiliary, explained the impact of the funding.

"This $9 million will now allow us to do the groundbreaking and do the official start of construction for this facility," Bailey said.

The groundbreaking is scheduled for a few weeks from now. The entire project is expected to be finished by 2030.