At a meeting in Key West on Oct. 1, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (TDC) unanimously approved $11 million in grants to support tourism-related infrastructure across the Florida Keys. The allocations, confirmed in official TDC minutes and detailed in coverage by Keys Weekly, include a $2.5 million award earmarked for lighthouse preservation at the Key West Lighthouse and additional funding for coral restoration and beach maintenance projects stretching from Key Largo to Key West. The funds originate from bed tax revenues and are intended to enhance visitor attractions while protecting environmental and historical assets.

The TDC move represents a significant injection of resources into sectors that underpin the Keys’ economy. Tourism accounts for more than half of Monroe County’s economic activity and supports thousands of jobs in hospitality, guiding, retail and marine services. Local leaders and nonprofit partners view the grants as a way to both sustain tourism revenue and invest in long-term resilience, particularly as the region faces mounting climate-related threats to reefs and shorelines.

Key organizations identified as project partners include the Key West Art & Historical Society, slated to benefit from the lighthouse preservation funding, and environmental groups such as the Coral Restoration Foundation for reef-related work. The TDC is led by Executive Director Stacey Mitchell. While the council’s approval establishes the intention and initial allocations, the grants still require review and formal approval by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) during budget deliberations projected for early 2026.

The practical impacts of these projects are potentially wide-ranging. Beach maintenance can preserve public access for residents and visitors alike, while coral restoration efforts aim to rehabilitate reef systems that provide tourism draws for divers and snorkelers, support local fisheries, and help buffer the islands from storm surge. Investments in historical sites such as lighthouses contribute to cultural tourism, which brings a different segment of visitors and can extend the visitor season. Construction and project implementation would also create short-term jobs and contract opportunities for local businesses.

Officials and community stakeholders will be watching the BOCC process closely for final approval, as well as for more granular breakdowns of where and how the money will be spent. Further verification is needed on exact project allocations beyond the $2.5 million lighthouse figure; TDC agendas and subsequent BOCC materials are expected to provide those details and timelines. The Keys Weekly report published Oct. 10 provided a first in-depth public accounting of the TDC vote and next steps.

For residents, the proposed $11 million package ties directly to everyday concerns: economic stability, environmental health, and the preservation of landmarks that shape community identity. As the county awaits the BOCC’s formal action in early 2026, officials have an opportunity to engage the public on implementation priorities and to ensure these investments balance tourism promotion with protections for the islands’ natural and cultural resources.