Through the Equitable Resilience Program with EPA, SMM is working with 15 communities across the south and southwest. Fort Myers, Florida is experiencing rapid growth, making it one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States. Located in Lee County, Fort Myers boasts a diverse demographic composition and is a popular tourist destination thanks to its many beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.

The entire region was impacted by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The storm left a trail of widespread damage, disrupting the lives of countless residents and exposing the vulnerability of the city's infrastructure. In the wake of this natural disaster, the need for enhanced resilience measures, including resilience hubs, and targeted support for the most vulnerable communities within Fort Myers became more apparent.

After the storm, many residents struggled to access essential services and resources, demonstrating the importance of having a network of support centers strategically located within the community. The Resilient Lee Recovery Taskforce, convened in response to the hurricane, identified resilience hub projects as among the most widely supported initiatives by the public. This overwhelming support underscores the community's strong desire for increased preparedness and comprehensive support systems to help them navigate future crises.

The community-based organization, Collaboratory, in coordination with Lee County, is creating four pilot resilience hubs as the starting point for an entire network across Lee County, and eventually throughout a five-county region.