Cape Coral tries to lure development

CAPE CORAL — City officials hope a new Veterans Administration health care center that draws thousands of patients a year will spur development in the area.

The Cape Coral Economic Development Office will host a forum on the newly created Veterans Investment Zone Feb. 28. The city is pursuing development of a medical campus and other opportunities.

The new 220,000-square-foot Veterans Affairs health center provides health care services to 202,000 veterans from a five-county area. It is located at 2489 Diplomat Parkway E. in Cape Coral, and it opened last year.

The investment zone covers 430 acres within a 1-mile area of the Veterans Affairs center. The land is zoned industrial, commercial and mixed use, and city officials say they can customize incentives for developers.

The Feb. 28 forum will take place at the Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway, from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. There is no cost to attend. For more information, click here.