Dawson Helps Lee County Acquire Coast Guard Permit

January 17, 2005

WASHINGTON , DC – Dawson and Associates has once again demonstrated why it is considered one of the nation's premier government relations firms. When Lee County officials in Florida needed a key Coast Guard permit to begin construction of the new Sanibel Island Bridge and Causeway, they immediately called on the experts from Dawson and Associates.

With a staff of experienced professionals, Dawson & Associates assembled a team of specialists to assist Lee County. The impressive lineup was led by Senior Vice President Mike Strachn as well as Senior Advisors Dick Sanderson, Sonny Callahan, Art Williams, and Joe Doddridge.

The Dawson team worked with Lee County to gain access and present their case to the important decision makers at the U.S. Coast Guard, their Civil Engineering Unit in Miami, and federal officials in Washington, DC. Dawson 's contacts helped open doors and facilitate action from Florida Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez on behalf of Lee County.

Confronted with serious time constraints, Dawson and Associates also helped Lee County navigate complex regulatory issues with the Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. This efficient teamwork helped Lee County quickly acquire the necessary permit and begin construction of the much-needed project.

Jim Lavender, Public Works Director for Lee County, expressed his admiration in a thank you letter to Dawson & Associates, “By working both with the Legislative and Executive branches of the Federal Government in Washington, you opened doors to key officials and cut through potential positions of concern and delay in regulatory bodies. It was a powerful display of professional and political acumen! We had the permit issued and in hand less than 5 months from the time we asked you to begin your efforts on our behalf.” To read the entire letter, please click here.

Dawson's efforts helped Lee County provide numerous benefits to its citizens and the many visitors to the Sanibel and Captiva islands. Lee County will save several millions of dollars in construction and bonding efforts. Perhaps more importantly, the new bridge and causeway will dramatically improve hurricane evacuation for an area that was devastated by last year's storms. Lavender added that the new bridge and causeway, “assures that health and human safety is increased markedly.”

Dawson and Associates remarkable work for Lee County is just another example of why they have developed a well-deserved reputation for delivering favorable results for their clients.

Related Links

Learn more about Lee County Florida at their official web site.

For more information on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, visit the Chamber of Commerce web site.