Collier County is looking to secure $6 million in federal funding to build a veteran services center and museum on the county-owned Golden Gate golf course property. The proposed facility at 4110 Golden Gate Parkway will be adjacent to the proposed 120-bed state veterans nursing home.
It would replace plans for Collier County Public Schools’ career and technical training center. The school district announced in February it won’t pursue the project on the site.
Commissioner Burt Saunders brought forward the discussion at a March 12 commissioners meeting, proposing the county seek $6 million through a community project funding application through U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart. The board voted unanimously to submit an application for the project.
Saunders, who served in the Florida Senate with Diaz-Balart, said this facility would be multifaceted, providing space for all the veterans service offices and organizations, along with being a military museum.
David Hines, president of the Naples Military History Museum, and spoke to commissioners about the need for more space. The museum has been at Naples Airport since 2011 and has one 800-square-foot room packed with artifacts and donations. Hines said that there are about 5,000 World War II artifacts that have been in storage since a 2020 airport remodel cut the museum’s space in half. The museum is in danger of permanently closing, he said.
“Even though we’re in a small 800-square-foot area, we have been advised by the airport that they are going to remodel the other half, so that means we pack up everything and we move it out,” Hines said. “We presently have three storage hangars and three temperature control units that we are storing items at now. If we have to close the airport, we’re out of business.”
Speaking in favor of the project, Commissioner Rick LoCastro said the county shouldn’t give up if it doesn’t receive the full $6 million in funding.
“If we wind up not getting some of the money from the state or some of the other grants that we’re applying for, I don’t think it should kill this project,” LoCastro said. “I think we should think loud and proud and figure out some other things.”
Commissioner William McDaniel is also in favor of moving the project forward but is concerned about the cost of managing potentially five different museums around the county and how that will affect community funds.
Saunders said this would be an opportunity to support Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desire to make Florida the most veteran friendly state in the county.
“I’ve said many times that I want to make Collier County, and I know the board wants to make Collier County, the most veteran friendly county in the state and this is part of that that puzzle,” Saunders said.
In addition to the plans for a veterans nursing home, other projects that are in the works for the county-owned property include a 25-acre affordable housing property and a nine-hole golf course, driving range and restaurant designed by Arthrex.
It is unknown at this time if Collier County Public Schools has another site planned for its career and technical training center.
